In this very special multi-part livestream event, Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya shares with us the teachings of the great Vaishnava saint, Acharya and avesha-avatara known as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534). Though Sri Chaitanya was one of the most important and influential Vaishnava sages in recent centuries, he left us with only eight precious verses in his own writing, known as the Shikshashtakam (The Eight Instructions). In this series of talks, Sri Acharyaji comments upon these eight sacred teachings.
“Glory to Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.” (Shikshashtakam, 1)
“O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names. In these transcendental names, You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.” (Shikshashtakam, 2)
“One should chant the holy name of Lord Hari in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” (Shikshashtakam, 3)