Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Reflections on Sacred Teachings VI Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Srimati Radharani is the hladini-sakti, the internal potency of Krishna. She is the mother of devotion, the topmost devotee, and therefore the overseer of the entire province of bhakti. Thus, aparadha means becoming devoid of Radharani by creating a situation by which the blessings, the mercy, the protection, and the benediction of the divine caretaker of bhakti is absent. "This sixth volume of commentary shines a spotlight on the central tenet of Vaisnava character-service to others- as described in Indic texts such as the Padma Purana and Narada-panacaratra and in medieval works such as Caitanya-caritamrta and writings of the Gosvamis of Vrndavana. These texts differentiate Salvationists, whose primary interest is their own safety, from Vaisnavas who place higher value on the well-being of others. Effective spiritualists honor God within their own hearts and the hearts of others-a gesture that energizes rather than dampens enthusiasm and initiative. In his calm yet unambiguous style, Bhakti Tirtha Swami sends his message out to devotees young and old. The spiritual world, he reminds us, is a place governed by respect, compassion, forgiveness, and love. It was a message he embodied in his too brief career and one that, if taken to heart, can transform a world at war to a world at peace." -- Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara dasa) Author: Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison