Introduction

By the grace of Goswami Prabhu and our Gurudev the first English edition of Sadhana Path is now published. We are happy to present this book in revised and enlarged form as this will cater to the long standing demand of those who are more comfortable in English, both in India and abroad.

This book consists of five chapters. Chapter-1 contains a brief introduction of Shree Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chapter-2 contains the greatness of naam samkeertan and Shikshashtaka verses written by Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. A brief introduction of Shree Shree Bijoy Krishna Goswami is contained in Chapter-3.

Chapter-4 contains some instructions of Goswami Prabhu, a collection of his lectures and sermons and the contents of a booklet on Yogasadhan in the form of questions and answers. Chapter-5 contains some hints on Sadhana for the uninitiated and also a collection of hymns cherished by Goswami Prabhu.

Collection of Goswami Prabhu’s lectures and sermons numbering fortyone, in Chapter-4, is likely to be looked upon as very helpful to the spiritual aspirants. Goswami Prabhu’s lectures in Dhaka and elsewhere used to draw huge crowd belonging to all sections of society including non-Hindus, who used to listen to him spellbound. These sermons motivated them into turning their lives into pious ones. The non-sectarian and broad theme of his lectures were an attraction for his audience.

Some of his disciples asked him as to where they should go to get answers to their spiritual problems after he would be no more. Goswami Prabhu answered that his Lectures and Sermons were there for them. Vedas and Vedantas are like a forest (where people are likely to be lost in their efforts to find answers) but this contains the core of all scriptures. “This book is as authentic as the scriptures. In due time this will be worshipped and respected like the scriptures”.

The contemporary orthodox Brahmos could not accept the broad views of Goswami Prabhu on dharma, propagated after his initiation by Swami Brahmananda Paramhansaji. To allay their skepticism Goswami Prabhu had answered their queries in the form of a booklet as mentioned above in Chapter-4.

Under the instruction of our Gurudev Swami Asimananda Saraswati (1904-1968), we have been travelling to various parts of India performing Naamsamkeertan since the last thirty years. To cater to the demand of the devotees we have published Sadhana Path in Hindi and subsequently it was translated into Bengali, both containing quotes from Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shree Bijoy Krishna Goswami Prabhu, that give a guideline for the spiritual aspirants.

The English translation has been done by Shree Debkumar Bhattacharya within a reasonable time. We appreciate his dedication to this work and his devotional spirit.

We shall appreciate suggestions for improvement of the book from our valued readers.
We pray to Shree Shree Goswami Prabhu for the welfare of all.

— Swami Amalananda Saraswati

Translator's Note

Sermons and messages of Shree Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and that of Sadguru Shree Bijoykrishna Goswami are pots of nectar for the spiritual aspirants, which enliven one’s spirit in attaining greater spiritual heights. Swami Alokananda Saraswati and Swami Amalananda Saraswati of Shree Shree Bijoykrishna Bhakta Sangha, Raghunathpur, have collected exactly those materials and presented them to devotees, initially in Hindi and later in the Bengali language. They have also indicated means of attaining Sadguru as found in the scriptures. These were not available earlier in such a compact form.

When the demand came for an English version, incidentally I was called upon to do the job. I do not have the best of qualifications for this task. I am well aware of my limitations. But still I have to do it. I therefore say like the Christian prayer, “Oh Lord, thank you for giving me this opportunity whereas many others had it not. ”

To maintain the message and the spirit of a subject from any language to a different one is very difficult. The translation is likely to suffer distortions, however carefully it is done. But one has to accept it while reading, as this is the only way one can learn the contents in another language. I beg to be forgiven for the inadequacies and errors that may still remain in the contents inspite of best efforts given to make it presentable.

I am indebted to my wife Tapati and my co-disciple Tushar Bagla for their assistance in correcting the manuscript and in completing the task.

I am extremely grateful to Swami Alokananda Saraswati and Swami Amalananda Saraswati for their blessings, encouragement, guidance and support in the process of translation but for which this task would not have been accomplished by me.

May Goswami Prabhu bless us all.

— Debkumar Bhattacharya.

Foreword

Almost all the devotees of India know the names of Shree Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the famous mahatma Shree Shree Bijoykrishna Goswami Prabhu. Apart from a brief introduction of Shree Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shree Shree Bijoykrishna Goswami Prabhu, some of their sermons are published in this book.

The heart of the mahatmas are as pure and soft as the pure cream of milk. Their hearts are pained at the suffering of humanity. About six hundred years ago human lives were in turmoil because of severe unrest. Being influenced by illusion and ignorance and sins and unrighteousness the human race lost sight of what was right or wrong. Consequently they lost sight of Truth, Well being and Beauty. During this period of distress, a great ascetic Shree Adwaita Prabhu belonging to Shantipur of Nadia district, of West Bengal kept praying to Lord Shree Krishna with tulsi (basil leaves) and water of the Ganga with absolute earnestness requesting Him to come down to earth. Lord Krishna has said in Shreemad Bhagavat Gita– Whenever, O descendant of Bharata, righteousness declines And unrightousness prevails, I manifest myself.

To establish righteousness (dharma) God reveals Himself and brings along with Him, Mahatmas of prophetic virtues. The accomplished Vaishnava mahatmas have said that Lord Shree Krishna himself came in the form of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal. And those who had come as companions in his divine play were Shreemat Nityananda, ascetic Haridas Thakur, Pandit Gadadhar, Acharya Shreebas, Ray Ramananda and countless courtiers apart from Sanatan, Roop Goswami and others.

Around this time other parts of India also saw the arrival of Godsent Mahatmas. Special mention can be made about some of them. They are Guru Nanak, Tulsidas Goswami, Meerabai, Swami Haridasji, Swami Ramananda, Sant Tukaram, Shree Narsi Mehta, Shree Ballavacharya and others. The appearance of such great souls rejuvenated the movement of devotion that had become almost extinct.

About three hundred years after the advent of Mahaprabhu an atmosphere of restlessness once again prevailed in the country. For the well being of people then appeared Mahatmas like Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Shree Tailangaswami, Shree Bholananda Giri, Shree Gambhirnathji, Shree Ramdas Kathiababa, Shree Bijoykrishna Goswami and others. All these mahatmas had their respective fields of work as regards to the preaching of dharma.

With the passage of time some of the paths shown by Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had become extinct. Sadguru Bijoykrishna Goswami initiated the revival of the Vaishnava path of dharma preached by Mahaprabhu. The advent of Sadguru Bijoykrishna was particularly meant for giving the priceless love and devotion of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the common people. As Sadguru he has given the powerful name of God to people of all sections.

We take boundless joy in being able to dedicate this book to the God loving populace on the occassion of the five hundredth anniversary of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We trust it will be easier to appreciate the lessons and sermons of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on studying the life and sermons of Sadguru Bijoykrishna Goswami.

We are charmed to receive various co-operation from the devotees in the publication and publicity of this book on the five hundredth anniversary of Mahaprabhu. We offer our dedicated salutations at the feet of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sadguru Bijoykrishna Goswami.

— Swami Alokananda Saraswati
— Swami Amalananda Saraswati

Recognition

Swami Amalananda Saraswati of Shree Shree Bijoy Krishna Bhakta Sangha, Raghunathpur has done a splendid job in bringing out this book for the English speaking mass, providing them with an access to this realm of treasure."