Any reader can now go to the Pravachan of the Day by clicking on the Sri Brahmacaithanya Pravachans on the left top. Also, there is a Sri Brahmachaithanya Grid, which also enables the reader to go to the Pravachan of any day by clicking on the date of the callendar.
I wish to thank Sri G.S. Gokhale for compiling Sri Maharaj's Pravachans in to a book form. The Pravachans given in this blog are only copy of the Book 'Discoursses by Shri Sadguru Brahmachaitanya Maharaj (Gondavalekar) compliled by Shri G.S.Gokhale with a foreword by Prof.K.V.Belsare. English rendering done by : Shri V.C.Kelkar, Shri N.S.Jamadagni, Shri S.C. Marathe and Shri V.T. Jumde.
The Preface by the author is also posted here.
PREFACE
With great good fortune, I got access to the notes, made by some devotees, of the discourses of Shri Maharaj delivered in Marathi. I was charmed by the simplicity of language, the depth of thought, the straightforwardness arising from pure selflessness and direct experience, the skill of explaining abstruse propositions with the use of easy but appropriate illustrations, and words overflowing with love of God. I felt sure that this invaluable treasure would provide guidance to everyone, and so I found myself compiling these notes. In this undertaking, I received encouragement of revered Shri Tatyasaheb Ketkar, my respected father Shri Panditrao Gokhale, and some brother devotees. It took the present form of a page for daily reading, and saw the light of day in 1966.
Readers favorably responded to these Discourses, due to the simple, practical approach and the relief they bestowed on the mind in the turmoil and confusion caused by individual problems. In many cases, the life-style of readers slowly changed in approach, and took a different turn altogether. According to individual nature and circumstances, the readers discovered guidance, and a sense of peace and contentment. Many readers were drawn towards chanting nama which they could easily do while outwardly continuing their worldly activity. This could be easily gauged from the increasing number of devotees coming to Gondavale. The true mark of having visited a holy place consists of an increased love for God, that is, more frequent remembrance of Him, and an increased desire to chant nama. Many sadhakas have testified that a visit to Gondavale creates, and eventually stimulates, the desire to chant nama. .
All the first five editions of this book, totalling 45,000 copies, have been welcomed by readers and read with avidity. The book has since been translated and made available to readers in Hindi, Kannada, and Gujarati; the Discourses are therefore popularly read also outside Maharashtra. After the first five editions, the complete rights of this compilation were handed over to the Trustees of Gondavale Sansthan. The trustees accepted the rights, and decided to make the book available to the public In excellent quality at a rock-bottom price. A total of almost one and a quarter lakh copies of this compilation in Marathi have so far been sold out and the demand is growing continuously.
Judging by the wholesome effect of the direction by Shri Maharaj, as propounded in the Discourses, there grew an increasing desire among certain people for a version In English, a language known widely to the educated in this country, to those born and bred in English-speaking countries, etc. A concrete shape was given to this desire by the late Shri V.C. Kelkar of Sangli, then ninety years old, in the form of a type-written translation of the original. Another such complete translation was later presented by the late Prof. N.S. Jamadagni, the
widely-known Professor of English and Principal of Abasaheb Garware College of Pune. The present publication is an attempt, by Shri S.C. Marathe, at co-ordination of both these, blending his own flavour. Shri V.T. Jumde also rendered valuable assistance in the present publication.
I consider it my duty to thank my brother devotees, in particular, Prof. P. N. Wartikar of Ahmedabad, for the affectionate help in the original compilation; and also to the late Shri Anantrao Vaidya, who published the first five editions. Subsequent to the initial publication of this compilation, many devotees and well wishes had 'suggested some modifications in the presentation. At the time of the first publication by the trustees of Gondavale, they entrusted the task of revision based on these suggestions to three devotees: Shri N.V. Atre, Shri P.V. Patankar and Shri S.C. Marathe. In executing their onerous task, they took care to see that there is a minimum disturbance of the text, that not a word not uttered by Shri Maharaj enters in the text, and that no utterance is cited out of proper context. It is this slightly revised Marathi edition which has been used as the basis for the present English version. I thank Shri Rantnakar Joshi of K. Joshi, Block Makers, for their co-operation in printing this edition.
Those who had the opportunity to listen to the original discourses were indeed fortunate. We are immeasurably indebted to those who preserved them in the form of the notes, which are available to present-day readers as Discourses in Marathi.
It is sincerely hoped that this English rendering will be found useful by readers and seekers who could not avail of the contents due to language barrier. One can achieve uplift and contentment by reading even a single discourse of Shri Maharaj, and practising it with faith and sincerity. What loving compassion and sincere urge with which Shri Maharaj has tried to impress upon us the prime importance of chanting nama! He spent his whole life creating amongst people the love for nama. On the basis of his own varied and meaningful experience, he holds out an unfailing promise that if one practises the easy path of chanting of nama and thus remembers God continuously, one will definitely experience that God comes to without taking the trouble of searching for Him. "Whatever has fallen to your lot, perform your duty honestly, and ever remain in the company of nama. Assign all doership to Rama. Whatever be the difficulties do not forget nama. Do not forget till the last breath that God will certainly confer His grace on him who recites nama." This is the essence of these Discourses.
I pray very humbly at the feet of Shri Maharaj that whatever strength, blessings, and grace, he showered on me during the compilation of these Discourses, may continue till my last breath. Let nama be on my lips continuously till the end of my life. I earnestly and sincerely hope that those who read these discourses would feel attached to the chanting of nama, and thereby obtain peace of mind in worldly life.
Gondavale Govind Sitaram Gokhale
7th January 1994 Compiler
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