Sri Sri Binode Bihari Das babaji Maharaja of Barsana

A nice definition of The Process that I am trying to follow

"...true religion is not the property of any sect, caste, or creed, but the nature of all living beings. Our nature is to love God, but this love has been forgotten since time immemorial. Such love of God must be unconditional to completely satisfy the self.

We are spirit souls, but in ignorance, we identify this temporary body with the self. The cause of all suffering is forgetfulness of our relationship with God, consciousness of this relationship can easily be awakened by the chanting of God's names.

This process, which revives our dormant love of God, is called bhakti-yoga."
-Paraphrase of Sri Radhanatha Swami Maharaja

Dear readers, I am back. Please forgive my absence.
The Babaji (Vashnava renunciate) about whom I wrote about earlier under the heading "Part One" (Sri Binode Bihari Das Babaji Maharaj) has written an amazing guide for those who would attempt to tread the ancient path of Bhakti (devotion to Krsna, the Absolute Person, God if you will) according to the desires of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. With some slight editing for grammar, this is page 92-93 of this text. Just really inspired and wanted to share. Radhe Radhe!

1. Q: To what degree is my heart pure?
A: To the degree I have stopped seeing faults in others.

2. Q: How much have I progressed in bhajan(the process of and practice of devotion to Krsna)?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego, material desires
and thoughts other than those of Sri Bhagavân (Krsna or, "that person who possesses the six auspicious qualities in infinitude" in other words, God).

3. Q: How much have I gained Bhakti Devi’s (devotion for Krsna personified conceptually) mercy?
A: I have gained Bhakti Devi’s mercy to the extent that I consider myself
lower than others, unworthy and fallen.

4. Q: How fearless have I become?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego and taken
shelter of Sri Govinda’s (Krsna's)lotus feet.

5. Q: How much of a pure devotee (of Krsna) have I become?
A: To the extent I have stopped seeing faults in others and forgiving.

6. Q: How much has my intelligence become clear?
A: To the extent I can seek out my own faults and try with body,
speech and mind to improve myself.

7. Q: How free have I become of false ego?
A: To the extent I can hear harsh words of an evil person and
not become agitated.

8. Q: How illuminated is my heart with bhakti?
A: To the extent it has become free of false ego and it is agitated for the
darshan (mystical glimpse - defined as seeing and being seen) of the Divine Couple.

9. Q: How liberated am I?
A: As much as I am free of material desires.

10.Q: How detached am I?
A: As much as I have become disinterested in worldly matters.

11.Q: Am I deprived?
A: Yes, if I am still waiting for that auspicious moment to arrive when
I will begin bhajan (practices of devotion to Krsna).

12.Q: Am I qualified to receive Sri Bhagavân’s mercy quickly?
A: Yes, if I think –“I don’t have one second to lose. Death will come
any moment and snatch me.” Thinking like this, if I accept all sorrow
amidst innumerable troubles and tribulations and I continue in the
endeavors of bhajan with firm determination. ((We can gain Sri
Bhagavân’s kripâ (mercy)more quickly in unfavorable circumstances than
when our situation is favorable). How fast I will gain
kripâ - unfavorable circumstances are the tests.)

13.Q: Am I foolish?
A: Yes, I am, if I consider this destructible material body to be mine.

14.Q: Am I intelligent?
A: Yes, if by using this body that is material, destructible and full of
suffering - I am able to obtain the transcendental, eternal and
blissful Sri Govinda - I am truly very intelligent.

"But things aren't so simple. Scattered among the world's top scientists are those who do believe in a conscious intention behind nature's processes. I think of people such as Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, and Professor Bill Phillips, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1997. The presence of such people poses awkward questions for the view that evolutionary theory and a sophisticated scientific brain lead inexorably towards atheism. There must be more to the so-called "science versus God" story than this.

Indeed, the fact that there are brilliant scientists who believe in God and brilliant scientists who don't makes it clear that the conflict is not a simplistic one between science and religion, but between opposing world views - naturalism and theism."

A great article highlighting the critical pivot around which this debate orbits.

http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/why-not-every-scientist-worships-at-darwins-feet-20080818-3x8u.html?page=1

After returning to Baba's asrama, he wrote on his dry-erase board, "What will you take?" for food. We told him we were fine and not to feed us. Baba shook his head and wrote " if you like, I will make my special sweet rice". We fell over each other saying that Baba should just make whatever he wanted and we will take anything.
Baba then wrote " if you ORDER me I will make my special sweet rice".
He then underlined and circled "sweet rice".

We laughingly told him " Baba, we ORDER you to make your special sweet rice". He merrily bounded off to the kitchen with the biggest smile to prepare what would soon be the single most delicious thing I have ever had in my life.
After making japa for some time, we all sat down inside the kutir and leaf plates were put down in front of each of us. Baba then brought the largest single plate of rice I had ever seen. It was yellow from turmeric and saffron and had chilis, golden raisisn, brown raisins, cashews, and alot of various spices including cardamom pods. Baba heaped huge spoonfulls on to our plates and stopped only when they threatened to overflow with the subji and capatis and other breads that had very obviously come from vrajavasi madhukari that day. (I just realized that when the young Babajis opened their tiffin containers and took out the breads and put them on our plates, they were from madhukari. Vrajavasi madhukari! Wow- I feel very blessed and humbled to know that I received food from Vrajavasis!) After a short prayer, we dug in with gusto. I already told you that it was the best food I had ever tasted, but... I tell you, that the rice was spicy, sweet, savory and full of ghee. It was so soothing and stimulating and flavorful that my mouth wanted nothing more than to eat this dish always. Baba sat on a low bed and drew pictures of flowers on his dry erase board and waited for some room to be made on our plates at which time he shoveled more on to them.
I could not make the rice dissappear fast enough. Baba kept at it. I ate more and more and more kept coming. Friends, this sounds funny but after a lifetime of eating too much, I had met my match. I quietly asked Madhavananda if I could stop eating and he said something to the effect of, "well, you need to do what you need to do".
I decided that after a lifetime of over-eating nasty (non-veg) things till I was fat, I would not miss this opportunity to eat anything and everything that Baba was giving.
(I know that would not be practical in the long term, but I did not know how long I would be with Baba, so...)
After dinner and washing, we sat down on our beds.

So, as we continue our story, we were walking the long and winding path up the hill to the Shriji Mandir where Baba takes darshan every day after parikrama. Have I mentioned the very sharp stones? We had gone off the path about twenty feet and Baba was looking around him. Left and right he was searching the scrub and bushes with a quizzical look on his face. He looked at Nitai Das (who btw looks like a younger version of Baba) who looked just as puzzled. Nitai Das began making strange guttural noises at regular intervals like a shouted grunt at the diaphragm level. Then it happened.
While walking up the path we had seen many signs informing pilgrims to beware of aggressive monkeys. We had seen a few monkeys loitering about, but no marauding troops of simian perfidy. However, after Nitai Das uttered his noises, there came a wave of fur and glimmering eyes up the ridge where we stood headed straight at Baba!
I instinctively looked at Baba and Nitai Das. They looked pleased and excited. The wave of monkeys ran at full clip up the hill and stooped just short of baba. Baba took the burlap sack from Nitai Das and gave each monkey a piece of dried capati. Each monkey happily took their piece and moved aside for the next. This went on with great zest by the monkeys when a large male grabbed the piece meant for another after he had finished his. Baba gave the monkey a gentle but firm push and fulfilled the almost victim's desire for bread. After the pieces had been distributed and the whole troop (around one hundred to one hundred and fifty monkeys) had been fed, Baba turned the bag upside down, shook it out and wrapped it up looking very satisfied.
Madhavananda and I looked at each other with some amazement.
We continued along the parikrama marg and came to a lila stali where the super-excellent devotees of Sri Sri Vallabhacarya ji were setting up a double throne and flower swings and rugs where pilgrims could come and take the blessings of sweet children dressed up as the Yugala Kishora. Baba took the blessings of the little RadhaKrishna and we all followed suit.
We arrived at Shriji Mandir (second time that day for me ) and we got in the darshan line. Baba made dandavat pranaams for a very long time, perhaps one and a half minutes and rose to take long darshan of Shriji. He then moved to the back where he could see but allow others look as well. Baba began muttering prayers too quietly to be audible. In a very short time tears were gently tracing the line from the outside corner of each eye and down his cheeks. He conscientiously wiped them away with his cadar as I stood amazed and humbled.
Humbled primarily because I had no eyes to see the form he was obviously beholding. I was simply being jostled by the crush of pilgrims and made my escape to the stone steps of the inner courtyard and watching the Sakhi Maharajas and pilgrims of various kinds including many babajis I had never seen before and all the while watching the back of Baba's head as he stood observing his heart's desire, Radha carana padma.
He then, after many minutes made pranams again and moved to the front of the outer courtyard facing Shriji's mandir door. He and many other babajis were making their japa and sitting closely with each other.

The parikrama is a blur in my mind so bear with me.
First Baba chants japa loudly while walking. This is very attractive and his voice is so sweet. I especially remember his voice on ...Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Second, Baba walks fast. How fast? Baba never walked faster than a nice leisurely stroll. I found myself breaking into a run at several points to catch up.
Every person crossed Baba's path in any fashion whether verbally, waving, or by coming to say Radhe Radhe got his full attention and response in kind. Street urchins and various children running up to Baba (many) got full handshakes/hugs/head rubs/hair ruffles. In fact the face of one girl will be forever etched in my mind. A boy around ten years old was walking with his sister around eight years. They saw baba and walked right at him saying "Radhe Radhe, Baba". Baba ruffled the Boys hair and just before they walked off gently touched the girl's cheek with the index finger of his left hand. She had the biggest smile on her face and her eyes were half-closed. This was a typical interaction with the children on the parikrama marg.
This kind of exchange was not limited to children however. Teens, Young men and women and adults to very senior people all got at least a few seconds of baba's time on the walk.

One other event on the walk sticks out for me. An old man was begging in the doorway to a house. It was up on steps quite high such that the old man's feet were at chest level. When we walked by, the old man cried out for alms and Baba stopped and indicated he had nothing but chanted Radhe Radhe to the old man and then while chanting began massaging his hands, arms legs and feet. This man got a three minute massage and then we moved on.

Part two

We entered and I was amazed at the spacious and immaculate grounds of the asrama (really just a small concrete building surrounded by the largest Tulasi plants I have ever seen) and walked down a path made of perfectly smooth cow dung between huge jasmine bushes and marigolds. There was a beautiful little Siva shrine with Lingam/yoni and pancakshara mantra written in stone above the little mandap. The building sported a broad porch upon which two young Nitai vamsh babas were sitting doing japa.
We approached and made pranaams and introductions were had etc. We were told by a very beautiful and older looking Advaita vamsh babaji that Vinode baba was just finishing his morning bhajan and would come see us directly. From the window directly in front of us as we sat, we could hear Baba singing Bhagavat in a beautiful voice full of reverence. He then performed arati of his deities which when we peered thru the window we saw were a gigantic painting of Shriji and very nice Nitai Gaur deities and a very large picture of Sri 1008 Tinkudi Baba ( I am sure there were more, but...).
He sang Joy Shri Krishna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Hare Krishna Hare Rama, Shri Radhe Govinda in a lovely voice.

Several moments later he came out of the screen door and before Madhavananda and I could even think, Baba was on the ground making pranaams to us! We of course immediately followed suit and he gave us asanas and cushions to make us comfortable. He was observing mauna, (I think he does this every Kartik) so motioned to me and Madhavananda introduced me as his friend from America etc. I was at once struck by Baba's smiling face. His whole face radiated natural joy. His eyes themselves were smiling radiant brown orbs. His body was quite stout with heavily muscled arms and shoulders. His jatta was tightly coiled into a large ball on the diagonal of his head to his left. His tilak was very dark and vary large.
I don't want to sound like a hippy, but the overwhelming sense that I got from him was of love. I felt that he loved the Yugala Kishora and that he loved his Guru and that he loved anyone lucky enough to cross his path. I have spent a lot of time in the past few years meeting many Gurus (ISKCON) and reading all the books of the pre-eminent teachers of the tradition living and recently departed for the lila (IGM, Traditional). In some cases I was deeply impressed instantly; in other cases warmed to them after reading their books or hearing them speak. In a few cases I was repelled a reaction which I took to be unfortunate but impossible to ignore. I don't think I ever got such a strong vibe of love before.
When I met Baba, I was instantly taken with his face, mood and general aspect.
He immediately asked us by hand signs to stay the night. We readily agreed. He then asked us to take prasad. We told him we just ate (a lie- we didn't want to be trouble) he would not take no for an answer. We accepted and he disappeared into the kutir and began singing Harinam. We sat and made japa till he returned with two gigantic plates full of fresh cut fruit and sweets with little tulasi patra on top.
This was the freshest and most delicious fruit I have ever had. The sweets were also very opulent and savory. When we had emptied a little of our plate, Baba with his own hand placed more on. This went on till the gigantic plate that was sitting in front of Baba that he was serving from was completely empty. Needless to say we were completely satisfied. Baba sat with us for a short time and brought out a dry erase board to at least have the bare bones of communication. I honestly can't remember anything that was said by Madhavananda or me or anyone else at this point. Too full and happy . Sunset was soon approaching and Baba made some hand signs to Madhavananda who said that Baba makes parikrama of Barasana and takes Darshana of Shriji everyday- will you come? I told Madhavananda that I was too tired and my feet hurt more than I have ever felt in my life. Baba heard me and took his dry erase board and wrote,” short walk- you come" then erased it. “We go slow- I will show you something new" soon followed. At that moment I felt all my tiredness and fatigue and pain rise like a wave and I was sure I would not go. Instead I found myself saying "Baba, whatever you say, that is what I will do". In the exact moment that I surrendered, I felt that wave of tiredness and pain break and wash away followed by a total renewal of body and mind. I felt totally fresh and ready to run a marathon. The pain in my feet disappeared, and my energy level skyrocketed with my mood.
Baba and a young baba named Nitai Das who was carrying a burlap sack and Madhavananda and I set off. (There may have been others, but...)

Part One.

I have for a long time wanted to post my record of my meeting with Sri Binode Bihari Das Babaji Maharaj or Vinode Baba as he is known in Barsana and among our assembly here.
I must first offer thanks to Madhavananda for being the instrument of Sri Nitaichand's mercy and taking me to him and for babysitting me and keeping me from making too much a fool of myself.
Upon reaching Radhakunda and meeting with Madhavananda, we discussed the list of Gurus and noted Vaisnavas that I wanted to meet in the scant few days I had to spend there. I got to take Sri Ananta Das Babaji Mahraja's very kind association and was very happy. He was first on the list. Number two was Sanatana Das Babaji and as we all know, for various reasons, that was out of the question. Number three was Prankrishna Das Babaji. I have corresponded with sisyas of his and have alway been impressed by his dependence on Sri Nama Prabhu and his ecstatic mood. We were unable to find him. I was also unable to locate Fakir Mohan Das- he was probably still in Orissa.
That was it. I was out of ideas. Madhavananda said in an almost offhand way, "well, there is one very nice Baba in Barsana who I was very inspired by when I met him. He will probably be in Mauna, but we can make pranaams and see Barsana."
I was game for whatever he wanted to do so we set out the next morning.
We autorikshawed to Barsana and made parikrama of the hill (barefoot) and walked all the way (long way) up the hill and went to the AMAZING Shriji mandir there.

I am, for those who don't know me, very fat. Six feet one inch tall and 280lbs. I work a very physical job but walking barefoot on sharp stones up hill is not part of my usual program. Needless to say after the previous day of 14 km of walking around Gobardhan and Radhakunda I was at my absolute physical limit by the time we reached Vinode Baba's idyllic asrama.
I mean absolutely exhausted and on the verge of emotional upset due to it and the intensity of being in Mathura Mandala. I just needed to sit and ache and maybe nap.
We came to the gate of Baba's asrama and the soft sand soothed my feet slightly and the shade from the bowers of creepers and trees made the blazing sun less a factor. I did mention it was very hot, yes?

We entered and I was amazed at the spacious and immaculate grounds of the asrama (really just a small concrete building surrounded by the largest Tulasi plants I have ever seen) and walked down a path made of perfectly smooth cow dung between huge jasmine bushes and marigolds. There was a beautiful little Siva shrine with Lingam/yoni and pancakshara mantra written in stone above the little mandap. The building sported a broad porch upon which two young Nityananda vamsh babas were sitting doing japa.
We approached and made pranaams and introductions were had etc. We were told by a very beautiful and older looking Advaita vamsh babaji that Vinode baba was just finishing his morning bhajan and would come see us directly. From the window directly in front of us as we sat, we could hear Baba singing Bhagavat in a beautiful voice full of reverence. He then performed arati of his deities which when we peered thru the window we saw were a gigantic painting of Shriji and very nice Nitai Gaur deities and a very large picture of Sri 1008 Tinkudi Baba ( I am sure there were more, but...).
He sang Joy Shri Krishna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Hare Krishna Hare Rama, Shri Radhe Govinda in a lovely voice.

Several moments later he came out of the screen door and before Mdhavananda and myself could even think, Baba was on the ground making pranaams to us! We of course immediately followed suit and he gave us asanas and cushions to make us comfortable. He was observing mauna, (i think he does this every kartik) so motioned to me and Madhavananda introduced me as his friend from America etc. I was at once struck by Baba's smiling face. His whole face radiated natural joy. His eyes themselves were smiling radiant brown orbs. His body was quite stout with heavily muscled arms and shoulders. His jatta was tightly coiled into a large ball on the diagonal of his head to his left. His tilak was very dark and vary large.
I don't want to sound like a hippy, but the overwhelming sense that i got from him was of love. I felt that he loved the Yugala Kishora and that he loved his Guru and that he loved anyone lucky enough to cross his path. I have spent a lot of time in the past few years meeting many Gurus (ISKCON) and reading all the books of the pre-eminent teachers of the tradition living and recently departed for the lila (IGM, Traditional). In some cases I was deeply impressed instantly, in other cases warmed to them after reading their books or hearing them speak. In a few cases I was repelled a reaction which I took to be unfortunate but impossible to ignore. I don't think I ever got such a strong vibe of love before.
When I met Baba, I was instantly taken with his face, mood and general aspect.
He immediately asked us by hand signs to stay the night. We readily agreed. He then asked us to take prasad. We told him we just ate (a lie- we didn't want to be trouble) he would not take no for an answer. We accepted and he disappeared into the kutir and began singing Harinam. We sat and made japa till he returned with two gigantic plates full of fresh cut fruit and sweets with little tulasi patra on top.
This was the freshest and most delicious fruit I have ever had. The sweets were also very opulent and savory. When we had emptied a little of our plate, Baba with his own hand placed more on. This went on till the gigantic plate that was sitting in front of Baba that he was serving from was completely empty. Needless to say we were completely satisfied. Baba sat with us for a short time and brought out a dry erase board to at least have the bare bones of communication. I honestly can't remember anything that was said by Madhavananda or myself or anyone else at this point. Too full and happy.
Sunset was soon approaching and Baba made some hand signs to Madhavananda who said that Baba makes parikrama of Barasana and takes Darshana of Shriji everyday- will you come? I told Madhavananda that I was too tired and my feet hurt more than I have ever felt in my life. Baba heard me and took his dry erase board and wrote,"short walk- you come" then erased it. " We go slow- I will show you something new" soon followed. At that moment I felt all my tiredness and fatigue and pain rise like a wave and I was sure I would not go. Instead I found myself saying "Baba, whatever you say, that is what I will do". In the exact moment that I surrendered, I felt that wave of tiredness and pain break and wash away followed by a total renewal of body and mind. I felt totally fresh and ready to run a marathon. The pain in my feet disappeared, and my energy level skyrocketed with my mood.
Baba and a young baba named Nitai Das who was carrying a burlap sack and Madhavananda and myself set off. (There may have been others, but...)

The parikrama is a blur in my mind so bear with me.
First Baba chants japa loudly while walking. This is very attractive and his voice is so sweet. I especially remember his voice on ...Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Second, Baba walks fast. How fast? Baba never wlked faster than a nice leisurely stroll. I found myself breaking into a run at several points to catch up.
Every person crossed Baba's path in any fashion whether verbally, waving, or by coming to say Radhe Radhe got his full attention and response in kind. Street urchins and various Vrajavasi children running up to Baba (many) got full handshakes/hugs/head rubs/hair ruffles. In fact the face of one girl will be forever etched in my mind. A boy around ten years oldwas walking with his sister around eight years. They saw baba and walked right at him saying "Radhe Radhe, Baba". Baba ruffled the Boys hair and just before they walked off gently touched the girl's cheek with the index finger of his left hand. She had the biggest smile on her face and her eyes were half-closedas she walked away. This was a typical interaction with the children on the parikrama marg.
This kind of exchange was not limited to children however. Teens, Young men and women and adults to very senior people all got at least a few seconds of baba's time on the walk.

One other event on the walk sticks out for me. An old man was begging in the doorway to a house. It was up on steps quite high such that the old man's feet were at chest level. When we walked by, the old man cried out for alms and Baba stopped and indicated he had nothing but chanted Radhe Radhe to the old man and then while chanting began massaging his hands, arms legs and feet. This man got a three minute massage and then we moved on.
To Be Con't