15 May 2023 evening – Ekadashi-tithi (English) – Mirepoix, France | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
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If Guru is pleased with you, Krsna protects you. If Guru is not pleased with you, even Krsna cannot protect you.
The nature of this material world is that you can never please everyone.
The sastras explain how to please Srimati Radhika. If Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas are pleased with you, everyone is pleased.
Ekadasi is the mother of pure devotion, it is she who bestows suddha-bhakti on us.
Upavasa means that we remain very close to the Lord on this day of ekadasi.
We know we are approaching the Lord when our anarthas begin to disappear.
Even a dog-eater becomes higher than a samavedi brahmana by chanting the holy names.
On ekadasi we should chant the holy names more, concentrate on nama-sankirtana and harikatha.
The song “Sri Hari Vasare Hari Kirtana Vidhana” by Vrindavan dasa Thakura tells how Sriman Mahaprabhu was absorbed with his devotees in Srila Srivasa Thakura’s house chanting the holy names on ekadasi day.
We can observe ekadasi from 8 to 80 years of age, otherwise it is optional according to the scriptures.
The trees, bushes, and flowers of Vrindavan serve Sri Krsna, as well as Krsna’s families (grihastha-ashram).
Lila of King Rukmangada, who by observing a fasting ekadasi-tithi in his past life (even though not performing pious activities), gains a birth as a king and a very prosperous life in his next life.
King Rukmangada’s new wife refuses to observe ekadasi, challenges the king to cut off her son’s head, and then the darshan of Lord Vishnu takes place, to test the king’s faith in ekadasi.
Under no circumstances should one stop observing Ekadasi (between the ages of 8 and 80).
We must follow the rules and regulations and chant the holy names.
We must learn the concepts of the scriptures through a pure devotee of the Lord by surrendering to Him.
