The Gauḍīya Vedānta Samīti extensively spread the message of pure bhakti. As a result, many new devotees joined the mission and began striving to follow the precepts of devotion. There were not enough rooms for everyone in Devānanda Gauḍīya Maṭha. To accommodate, the brahmacārīs propped up the enormous woks primarily used for the annual Navadvīpa-dhāma Parikramā, and slept underneath them at night.
Śrīla Gurudeva was staying with Ācārya Kesarī at Devānanda Gauḍīya Maṭha when a young man came to live at the temple. He served throughout the day and pleased everyone with his behavior. One morning a few weeks after the novice arrived, Gurudeva and other temple devotees woke and found many of their possessions missing. After searching throughout the day, they gradually found the items scattered all over the temple. The pattern continued—every morning the devotees woke to find their belongings misplaced. The temple manager requested Gurudeva to find the perpetrator, so he hid in the temple courtyard at night. After midnight, the neophyte devotee crept into the rooms of the brahmacārīs, took their possessions, and with a broad smirk, hid them in various places.
In the morning, Ācāryadeva was informed of the situation. He called the young man to his room and asked him, “Why don’t you sleep at night? What are you doing?”
“O Guru Mahārāja,” he said, “I stay awake to make sure no animals or thieves come and disturb the temple.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Ācārya Kesarī said. “I know what you are doing.”
“Guru Mahārāja, you are very merciful, please change my wicked behavior.”
“Why do you have this bad habit?”
“I used to be a thief,” the man said. “By your mercy I desired to change my sinful ways and follow a life of devotion. But I cannot change my past nature, and so I stay awake at night and take something from one place and put it on another. Only after causing mischief am I able to fall asleep. O Gurudeva, please purify me!”
“Don’t worry, you will soon change since you have revealed your heart,” Ācārya Kesarī said. “If one openly tells the weakness of his heart to his guru, then he will gradually be freed of his vices and will develop saintly qualities. Although it is very difficult to change your past nature and habits, if you are sincere and remain in the association of advanced devotees, you will soon be transformed into a pure Vaiṣṇava.” By the grace of Ācāryadeva, the newcomer’s heart was purified and he became a stalwart devotee.
Ācārya Kesarī often stayed in the Chuṅchuṛā Maṭha branch of the Gauḍīya Vedānta Samīti, outside Kolkata. Śrīla Gurudeva stayed there with him, assisting with publications and other services. On most evenings, many influential gentlemen—lawyers, government officers, and politicians—would come to meet with Ācāryadeva. They spoke about issues of the day and gave their views on how one should live in society. They also discussed different spiritual paths mentioned in scriptures like the Bhagavad-gītā—although they personally did not adhere to any fixed practice. Ācārya Kesarī patiently listened to their discussions, and when consulted on a specific topic, he would unpretentiously nod with a, “Yes, yes,’’ without giving a full answer.
One evening, after the gentlemen had left, Śrīla Gurudeva asked, “Guru Mahārāja, why don’t you respond to their questions?”
“They have come to satisfy their own desires,” Ācārya Kesarī replied. “They are not eager to hear my advice. They make a show of coming to the temple and associating with sādhus, but they have no intention of implementing bhakti in their lives. When they speak to me, I remain silent, and then they are satisfied, thinking, ‘He is listening to me with respect.’ While Duryodhana was engaged in many sinful activities (as described in the Mahābhārata), Bhīṣma and Droṇa did not correct him. Duryodhana thought they supported him because of their silence, but in reality, the recipients of their blessings were the Pāṇḍavas.”
Many locals also used to come to receive guidance from Ācārya Kesarī. Unaware that inquiries other than those regarding spiritual topics detract from the significance of consultation with a sādhu, they asked about topics relating to their families and worldly life.
Ācārya Kesarī kindly spent time dealing with all who came—capturing their hearts with his sweetness.
Śrīla Gurudeva stayed nearby Ācārya Kesarī in case anything was needed, but sometimes he moved about addressing needful services. One day, Ācārya Kesarī instructed him, “Gaura Nārāyaṇa, even if I am speaking to locals about topics that seem unrelated to bhakti, you should still remain close. Kṛṣṇa’s glories and love will be hidden there.”
Why did Ācāryadeva give this instruction? The Sun emanates light and warmth that is beneficial to all beings. In the same way, pure devotees radiate unalloyed love for God. People take energy from the Sun and use it for sense enjoyment, making their hearts even more chilled towards God. By basking in the rays of love emanating from a pure devotee, a person’s heart will soon melt in love of God. Many people hide from the Sun, satisfied with artificial light. Similarly, many resist the company of devotees, happy in their family life and afraid their material attachments would be severed.
One afternoon, a fisherman grew weary on his way home. He entered a flower garden to take a nap but was unable to fall asleep. “Why can’t I sleep?” he thought. Then he placed the empty basket that had held fish over his head and at once fell asleep. The foul smell of fish pleased him, while the sweet scent of roses was disturbing.
Many people come to Bhagavān’s temple and associate with Vaiṣṇavas, yet remain bound by mundane desires and attachment to family life. Thus enamored, they do not consider devotees their real family. By the power of Kṛṣṇa’s holy names, pure devotees transform the nature of sense enjoyers who come to cause distractions; however, if neophyte devotees try to change others, they themselves may be dragged into a sordid nature rather than lifting others to a higher state of consciousness. Therefore, the sincere aspirant must always pray to maintain attachment solely for the Lord, not for material objects and reputation. As said by Tulasī Dāsa:
kāmī hī nāri pyārī lobhī hī priyā jimi dāma timi raghunātha nirantara priya lago mohi rāma
[As a lusty man is attracted to women and as the greedy adore wealth, similarly, may I always have unalloyed attachment for my Rāma.] [Excerpted from the Bhakta Bandhav Publication “Sri Guru Darsana“]