Summary: During this month of Kartik we have been honoring the pastime in which Lord Krishna, who is feared by fear personified, becomes afraid! And what is it that He becomes afraid of?

Summary My first introduction to the sequence of these 4 items - "life, wealth, intelligence and words" - was hearing Srila Prabhupada point to these 4 as the standard criteria we should use to evaluate the success of our preaching efforts. When we extend to others the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we want to see if some transformation of heart is taking place, namely those persons who we contact at least offer their words of appreciation of the devotees -- their qualities; their caring, loving and gentle behavior; the wonderful way in which they present the message of pure devotion; the message itself, etc.

Summary: The scene within this section quoted from Srimad Bhagavatam finds the offender, Durvasa Muni, approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead for relief from the reaction to his offense to Maharaja Ambarisa.The words spoken in response by Lord Visnu to Durvasa Muni are most wonderful! Text 68 is the conclusion of a series of prior statements in which the Supreme identifies Himself as "subordinate to" and "not independent from" His own devotee. He cannot find any meaning to His transcendental bliss or His unlimited opulences without the loving exchanges with His devotee. These statements are most astounding!

Summary: In this section of Sri Bhakti Sandarbha, Jiva Goswami summarizes key passages in Srimad Bhagavatamwhich disclose that the essential duty of every living entity is to render loving devotional service to the SPG. All other duties which one may have in life bear spiritual fruits if one learns the art of dedicating them to ultimately fulfill this one duty. Because we will be observing the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadev on 25-May, I thought that the following section of Sri Bhakti Sandarbha would be particularly a very nice meditation for everyone. The very teachings which Prahlad Maharaja offered to his classmates were the very irritation that irritated his demoniac father to the point of his attempting to destroy Prahlad.

Summary: The theme of the role *faith* for one who is advancing on the path of bhakti was the theme of a recent Yatra in Udupi, which a number of devotees recently took part in. Below are some quotes which expand upon this same theme. The message is absolutely clear: faith is the unflinching confidence that upon attaining one thing --- Krsna-bhakti --- one is provided with all other desirable achievements. Absolute faith, unflinching faith, rests in Krsna-bhakti only. Faith in any other result or any other process will be unavoidably transient and ultimately disappointing. Attaining this faith rests upon guru-kripa, which includes very careful guidance and training.