Preface

By the causeless mercy of Paramaradyatama Gurupadapadma, Om Visnupada Paramaharhsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, the following series of his lectures is presented.

In June 1999, Srila Narayana Maharaja spent ten days at the New Vraja community in Badger, California. There he gave a series of classes on the deep meanings of the Srimad Bhagavatam from the First Canto to the Tenth, culminating in the inner significance of Sri Krsna's pastimes in Vrndavana. Srila Maharaja explained that each stoka of the Bhagavatom has many levels of meanings. When a faithful hearer understands these meanings in the association of Krsna's pure devotees, he becomes free from hunger, thirst, illusion, unhappiness and fear, and ultimately attains the association of Krsna Himself.

"One should taste the meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam in the association of pure devotees. One should associate with the devotees who are more advanced than oneself, and who are endowed with a similar type of affection for the Lord."

Srila Maharaja told his audience that never before had he explained such elevated meanings in western countries, although he had discussed them for many years with devotees in Mathura and Vrndavana. When he completed his lecture series, he requested that these discourses be presented as a book for distribution to a large reading audience. He pointed out that he cannot share his heart's realizations as easily in English as he does in Hindi because English is not his native language. For this reason he wanted the lectures edited so that the meanings would be easily accessible to a wide range of western readers. While preparing this publication we asked Srila Maharaja many questions for clarification. We also asked his secretary, Sriman Navina Krsna Brahmacari 'Vidyalankara' who has been hearing these lectures in Hindi for the past twenty years. Their responses were then added, sometimes in the body of the lectures, and sometimes as foot- notes.

In order that the flow of the Bhagavatam topics develop in an uninterrupted way, Srila Maharaja wanted the other subjects on which he lectured alternatively with the Bhilgavatam classes to be placed together in a separate section of the book. Part One, therefore, is the series of seven evening classes on the Bhagavatam; Part Two consists of Srila Maharaja's explanations of Gaudiya Vaisnava bhaianas; and Part Three is comprised of his morning classes at the homes of the New Vraja residents as well as other topics that he discussed in the evenings before delving into his main point-the secret truths of the Bhilgavatam.

Throughout his discourses Srila Maharaja often quoted verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam and, although he explained their purports, he did not always give the translations. Therefore, after each verse quoted, we have added the translations of Paramaradyatama Guru- padapadma Nitya lila Pravista Om Visnupada astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada. taken from his Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) publications. In addition, we have inserted explanations from these BBT books as footnotes to define certain Sanskrit terms mentioned in the lectures. We want to express our gratitude to the BBT for allowing us to use these invaluable books as references. It was by Srila Prabhupada's request and inspiration that Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja is now preaching in the Western countries. We think that readers will be satisfied to see how the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Maharaja complement and illuminate each other.

During Srila Maharaja's western tour in California and elsewhere, unedited transcriptions were e-mailed to his disciples and well-wishers all over the world after each lecture. In this way his disciples could feel like they were practically participating in the classes. When the first transcriptions were mailed out, they were accompanied by a message that they were for those who are already very familiar with Srila Maharaja's English usage, and that they were not for general distribution. Due to the tremendous pressure of time-one or two transcriptions were sent every day for two months-it was not possible to clarify certain points during the tour. Some points, therefore, remained unclear due to linguistic irregularities. The message further explained that the lectures would eventually be edited, after Srila Maharaja was consulted on various concepts and information, and that they would then be clarified and embellished by his own comments. After that, they would be distributed widely and freely in book form.

We are very happy to present this publication to the Vaisnava community at large. We pray that our respected readers will excuse any mistakes and imperfections in our presentations of Srila Maharaja's instructions, and we hope that they will cherish this literature and find it helpful in their practice of bhaka.