Pinnacle Of Devotion

Description

Book Specification

Item Code:	AZA188
Author:	Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami
Publisher:	Gaudiya Vedanta Publications
Language:	English
Edition:	2009
Pages:	240 (Throughout B/W Illustrations)
Cover:	HARDCOVER
Other Details	8.50 x 5.50 inches
Weight	390 gm

Book Description

Foreword

We all have a tendency to love. No one can live without loving someone. Even a tiger has this tendency; we see this in the way a mother tiger carries, maintains, and protects her babies. The problem, however, is where to place our love so that everyone will n be happy. In the beginning of life we love our parents, then our brothers and sisters, then our entire family, our beloveds, our community, nation, and even all of humanity. Yet, in spite of our giving so much love, we still feel frustrated. And it will continue to remain this way, o until we know the identity of our Supreme Beloved. As particles of sun-light or air expand without knowing where to end, so does our tendency to love whole-heartedly. According to co the timeless wisdom-books of ancient India called the Vedas, our 3 love can only be fully satisfied when it is fixed in r Krsna, the Absolute Truth, He is the reservoir of all pleasure, all worlds, and all relationships. Pinnacle of Devotion, its source of knowledge taken from the ancient mystical Vedas, teaches us how to love all living beings humans, birds, beasts, insects, and even trees and plants by the easy method of loving Krsna. Pouring water on the root of a tree is the universal and practical method of supplying water to all the leaves and branches. In that connection, the Vedas say that Krsna, the Supreme Person, is the root of all. All beings are His parts, and therefore by loving Him, everyone becomes happy. In this book you will find that this elevated concept is written in yery simple, easy to understand language, because the words herein were spoken that way by Srla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja and then transcribed. If you feel some hesitancy to continue reading because of the several Sanskrit verses, phrases, and words scattered here and there, please don’t miss this opportunity, even if this is the first time you are coming in contact with the Sanskrit language. Even if you don’t understand the language, the transcendentally powerful verses, which are like mantras for meditation, free us from false material love. Material love is always frustrating. Reading, hearing, and uttering these verses gives us an opportunity to enter the all-blissful, loving Reality. You will also be happy to know that all the Sanskrit verses, phrases, and words are always translated.

Sanskrit is the main language of the ancient Vedas, and it is the world’s original language. In fact it is the language that is spoken in the celestial planets as well as in the transcendental world.

The Sanskrit word veda means ‘the aggregate of knowledge.’ When knowledge comes to its most advance stage, it becomes a brilliant, spiritual love and affection. The quintessence of the Vedas is an ancient spiritual literature called Sri Caitanya-caritmta, and the essence of the Sri Caitanya-caritmta is vividly explained in this book, the Pinnacle of Devotion. Our respected readers will be introduced to that supremely beautiful love which is the ultimate goal of life and the foundation of endless, ever-fresh, and everunfolding fulfillment.

Introduction

In February 1997, Sri Srimad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja gave his divine teachings to devotees in Australia, where Y he spent three weeks, as part of his Bhakti Festival touring in the A West. There he lectured on the principle causes for r Caitanya Mahprabhu’s appearance in this world. He also revealed the special gift which Mahprabhu came to give the fortunate souls of this irona ge of Kali-yuga a gift which is the very pinnacle of attainment for the spirit soul.

In order to give his audience a platform for understanding this sublime topic, Srila Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja first gave four lectures based on Chapter One of r Caitanya-caritmsta. In these lectures, he explained the essential principal of the spiritual preceptor (guru-tattva), who is a manifestation of Sri Krsna, the personification of Absolute Reality. He also emphasized the importance of association with pure saints (sdhu-sanga). In the remaining nine lectures, he spoke on the primary purpose for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance, and explained with great care and in detail how one becomes qualified for His mercy.

Srila Nryana Gosvm Mahrja wanted his western audience to understand that the mission of his ik-guru and intimate friend, Sri Srimad Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, known throughout the world as rla Prabhupda, the Founder crya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness, was to fulfill this same principal purpose for which r Caitanya Mahprabhu appeared. In his discourses, he therefore quoted extensively from rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja’s r Caitanya-caritmsta, di-ll Chapters Three and Four. In order to elaborate on certain points in his discourses, we have added quotes from rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja’s books and recorded lectures as footnotes, all taken from rla Svm Mahrja’s Vedabase folio.

**Contents and Sample Pages**