Lord Gauranga or Salvation for all

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...IN THE BHAKTAS' MINDS. 129 For one who is desirous of having bhakti, it is, as a rule, necessary that he should pray for it, that is to say, be in a negative state of mind. This state of his mind enables the noviciate to receive the gift more readily and utilize it. The religion that the Lord was teaching, inculcated the doctrine that bhakti is the easiest and surest way of attaining God; that God has no family of His own, and that His adopted family is composed of His bhaktas; that is, of those who worship Him with bhakti. Nay, this religion goes even so far as o allege that God Almghty, irresistible and all-powerful though He is, is yet an obedient friend to his bhaktas. People now began to see that Nimai possessed the power of granting this bhakti, an invaluable gift, to any body he chose. They saw it every day that he had the power, not only of purifying a sinner, but also of making him an active bhakta or ardent devotee of God. A passive Sadhu, who is pure but has no bhakti for God, does not attract Him and is' not attracted towards Him. Without bhakti he is only a good man without God. This power, possessed by Ximai, of granting bhakti, created the impression that he was at the least some being higher than 'man. For, to grant bhakti to one is to make him something like a master in relation to God, who is a serving friend to his "bhaktas. So, when Nimai granted bhakti to a sinner he practically issued a mandate upon God Almighty to serve that man, sinner though he had been. "Who is this Nimai, then,' thought his companions, "who can thus issue a mandate upon the Al-inighty God 1 Is he somebody sent by God, or the He Himself f 13 130 COMMOTION IN THE BHAKTAS' MINDS. It must be borne in mind that the idea of God appearing to man in a...