The Greatest Treasure

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Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave a complete revelation of God's love for the souls, and the souls' love for God. This is unparalleled in any movement. or any religion. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that greatest treasure to be given out to as many people as possible. Therefore He has also taught a process—the simplest and most direct process: nama- sankirtana. Chanting the names of Krsna does not require any qualification except faith.

This prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's is now actually coming to pass. The Krsna consciousness movement is being distributed all over the world through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and people who were leading confused, chaotic lives are now feeling transcendental happiness. They are finding peace in sankirtana, and therefore they are acknowledging the supreme benefit of this movement. This is the blessing of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His prediction is now factually being fulfilled, and those who are sober and conscientious are appreciating the value of this great movement."

Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami was born in Delhi on Aug 14, 1944. He became an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1969 and accepted the renounced order of life, Sannyas in 1982. Currently he is GBC of ISKCON around the world. He successfully opened the Sri Sri Radha-Parthsarathi temple in New Delhi, amongst many throughout the world. Following in the footsteps of his spiritual master, He is spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the. world by giving people, transcendental knowledge, and cuidance resulting in solace, happiness and love of God.

Since our childhood, we are in search for the treasure of our heart — Pleasure or Happiness! And why not? Happiness is the birthright of every living being. Even the Vedic scriptures declare that the real nature of the pure soul is — anandamayo ‘bhyasat i.e. we, as pure souls, are full of bliss. But misidentifying ourselves to this temporary body we're subjected to an endless cycle of changing bodies, aging, disease, and death. In this regard a famous English saying is "Pleasure is the measure of your treasure." We're trying to find pleasure in this mortal world, which is full of anxiety and misery. Misunderstanding the source of real happiness, we are trying to get the pleasure from the dead matter by inventing many gadgets, luxurious facilities to pamper the body but are unable to get permanent happiness.

In order to find out the greatest treasure of this human form of life, we must find out the source of all the pleasure — Krsna — and know more about Him. Vedic scriptures teach us how to find the treasure of heart, which is forgotten from time immemorial. One way is to find out someone who knows the real meaning of human form of life and how to achieve it. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.29-30, King Nimi is saying:

"For the conditioned souls, the human body is most difficult to achieve, and it can be lost at any moment. But I think that even those who have achieved human life rarely gain the association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuntha. Therefore, O completely sinless ones, I ask you to kindly tell me what the supreme good is. After all, even half a moment’s association with pure devotees within this world of birth and death is a priceless treasure for any man."

Now we are entangled in the cycle of birth, old age, disease and death. Because our entire situation can be devastated in a single moment, we are constantly in fear. But the pure devotees of the Lord can teach us the practical way to free ourselves from material existence and thus abolish all types of fear. According to Bhagavadgita, the goal of life is to free oneself from the cycle of birth and death and reinstate oneself as an eternal servant of God on the platform of spiritual bliss. One who is actually intelligent is overjoyed to gain the association of a pure devotee of the Lord, by which one’s life can easily be perfected.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says, "The materially conditioned souls spend their days and nights discussing various topics of sense gratification. They never find time to hear about transcendental knowledge. But if even only briefly or accidentally they hear hari-kathd, topics of Krsna, in the association of pure devotees of the Lord, their propensity to suffer in material existence will slacken. When one sees liberated persons, hears about Krsna from them, remembers their saintly behavior and so on, one’s tendency to bind himself in the illusion of sense gratification is diminished, and he becomes eager to serve the Supreme Lord." In this way the conditioned soul finds the greatest treasure of life in the association of devotees of the Lord.

The unique contribution of Lord Caitanya is His detailed exposition of the highest rasa, which He personified by acting as a devotee of the Lord, experiencing pure love in the mood of Sri Radha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted this greatest treasure to be given out to as many people as possible. Therefore He also taught a process—the simplest and most direct process: nédma-sankirtana. Chanting the names of Krsna does not require any qualification except faith. Birth, caste, race, country, profession, and education are not considerations in chanting God’s names. The only requirement is a sincere acceptance of one’s own position as the servant, offering service out of selfless love to the most attractive, deserving object: Krsna.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged His followers to distribute the names of Krsna freely to all. He desired that not only the Indians, but the whole world, take up the chanting of Krsna’s Holy names and attain the greatest treasure—love of God.

He ordered His followers to distribute the names of Krsna and teach others about Him. Srila Prabhupada, being the Commander-in-chief of Lord Caitanya, in the same mood distributed this Holy name freely to anyone and everyone he met. He distributed this greatest treasure throughout the globe and now his followers’ are carrying on the movement he started. In Sri Harinama Cintamani Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says.

It is a wonderful opportunity to find the meaning of life in the association of devotees, who have found the greatest treasure — the Holy Name of Krsna. This book is a compilation of selected lectures of Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami, which he gave in the various parts of the world. He has spoken about the glories and practical aspects of spiritual life and how to achieve the desired success in life.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the devotees who helped me to compile and publish this wonderful book for the pleasure of Vaisnavas. First and foremost I would like to thank Sitarani Devi Dasi and Anand Caitanya Dasa for their editorial services. I am also thankful to Sammohini Rupa Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Sneha & Bhaktin Manisha as associate editors. Two other devotees whose efforts are invaluable are Guru Caran Dasa and Amal Caran Dasa, who transcribed all of the lectures for this book. I would also offer thanks to Vrindavan Vinod Dasa for designing the beautiful cover and Anuttam Hari Dasa for spending hours and hours working with me on the layout. My special thanks go to Nandgopal Jivan Dasa for sincerely assisting in presenting this book in the best way for the pleasure of devotees.

By the kind assistance of these wonderful souls I have been able to complete this book. Without them it would not have been possible. The sole purpose of this book is to make available that content which is the very heart of Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami, who is tirelessly serving his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada to spread Krsna consciousness around the world. We pray to Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha- Parthasarathi to kindly bless them all with Their unalloyed devotional service, which is the most wonderful thing.