DEVOTIONAL ROAD MAP

 Hare Krishna 

Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

 

Steady wins the race.
Studying the path, the road map, may bring a new light as to the direction, and the possible missed turns! 

√  First there is appreciation, attraction.

This is what I felt when I first met the devotees, as a teenager. This is the initial faith, adau sradha, that carries one through, our initial vehicle on the road back to Godhead. Disinterest in material pursuits was already there, it quickly became  followed by interest in spiritual advancement. Natural progression, when an alternative is presented. Finally there I had a purpose. I couldn't have gone on for a whole life making the pursuit of material happiness my goal. How futile! First you study, get a degree, get a job, a companion who may or not be compatible, faithful or loving, a house, a car, some children and pets and then? then what? you die.... I knew there must have been more to life than what met the eyes as it was highly unsatisfactory, un-motivating. I was already exploring that there must be something much bigger, much better in after life as the status quo was just not worth it. It left me indifferent at best.

Why not use my life to re-awaken my eternal relationship with Krishna in one of the 5 principle rasas? Now, THAT IS ATTRACTIVE.

HE is the best friend, lover, father, mother that anyone could ever imagine having. HE is eternal, so am I as I am more than this body, HE is the most beautiful, most lovable, HE possesses all opulences in full. Beauty, Renunciation, Strength, Fame, Knowledge, Wealth, HE is the epitome of all qualities... and HE loves me more than I can imagine, eternally, HE wants me back... I just have to walk towards HIM in total faith and abandon. 

Yes this is for me, I love Krishna consciousness.

√ Then comes sadhu sanga, association with pure devotees.

One has to engage himself in the service of a pure devotee. One must satisfy a pure devotee with his service. Guru Bhakti is said to unlocked the steel cage that surrounds the heart so that real love, Krishna Prema can manifest.

We cannot compromise for want of association with a pure devotee and accept the association of pretenders. We are repeatedly warned of association with those who are either engaged in loose association with the opposite sex or attached to such illicit association. They may be telling Krishna stories but if the purpose of the story telling is to attract the opposite sex, there is danger. Same applies for the more subtle search for name and fame. Of course there is also purification for the Romeo-story-teller or glory monger. Gradually he will become purified but it shouldn't be at our cost. These association will not be sufficient nourishment for our devotional creeper, it may instead grow unwanted inclinations, increase our bank of desires. We need to discriminate.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur writes in Bhakti Tattva Vivarta, a commentary on Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu about the different mixed or polluted conceptions of bhakti. He warns the devotees of these misconceptions and those who promote them. It is easy to recognize a blunt atheist and avoid their association, but there are more dangerous so called bhaktas. 

Those who propagate that Bhagavad-Bhakti is the highest dharma yet behave against the principles of sudha-bhakti (pure bhakti) and also instruct others against the principles of sudha bhakti can be especially harmful to us. In the name of bhakti they instruct us against the actual principles of bhakti and ultimately lead us onto a path which is totally opposed to bhagavad-bhakti.

One may not be able to live up to the standard expected by the sampradaya but to rationalize that it is proper is a great offense. Better to admit one's own fallen nature than to bring the standard down to fit one's inclinations. Pure Bhakti is described by Rupa Goswami in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.1.11 and is also quoted in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 19.167. It is worth extensive meditation and probably a good topic for yet another blog entry.

anyabhilasita-sunyam

jnana-karmady-anavrtam

anukulyena krsnanu-

silanam bhaktir uttama

"'When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires (such as those for meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and addiction to intoxicants), knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krsna favorably, as Krsna desires. (Bhakti RasamrtaSindhu 1.1.11)

√ It is followed by bhajana-kriya — performance of devotional service to Krishna (surrendering to the spiritual master, initiation marks that stage). 

My initiation - Portland Oregon 1972

I enthusiastically took initiation from Srila Prabhupada some 40+ years ago. That was so amazing. I remember telling my GBC, a more senior devotee who spoke to Prabhupada on my behalf, that I did not feel qualified. Of course I wasn't, the only qualification I had was eagerness. Srila Prabhupada was/is my qualification, whatever qualification I may have is only due to his mercy. This eagerness to be under the care of Srila Prabhupada and remain so for the rest of my existence was sufficient for him to take me on as a disciple. Unexplainable good fortune.

√Then comes anartha-nivritti, the removal of unnecessary things on the path of devotional service. 

Gross unwanted habits stop before initiation. Meat eating, intoxication, gambling, illicit sex loose whatever appeal they may have had. Their call falls on death ears after tasting the pleasure found in performance of devotional service. Of course there is always some subtle attachment that remain. Some of these attachments may  be necessary for the pursuance of devotional service or even survival. Some sense gratification is there until the end. Some attachments may even remain until the development of prema.

√Nistha, firm unflinching faith.

Both hands in the air kind of faith, I surrender completely kind of faith, whatever may come my way. The kind of faith Srila Prabhupada displayed coming to North America penniless, carrying his love message and nistha as only wealth and weapon. 

āniyācho jadi prabhu āmāre nācāte

nācāo nācāo prabhu nācāo se-mate

kāṣṭhera puttali jathā nācāo se-mate

 O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like. 

- Markine Bhagavata-Dharma AC Bhaktivedanta Swami   

It is also the faith exhibited by countless pure devotees in the past. It is the faith of Kunti devi, Draupadi devi. It is the faith of Arjuna who followed Krishna's instructions although unsavory.

It is the faith of Bhaktivinode Thakur who took on the mystic who posed as Visnu, in spite of his powers and threats against his family. It is the faith of our own devotees who preached and even endured torture and death in jail in the former Soviet Union, not so long ago. It is the faith of Aindra prabhu who took shelter of the Lord when death called on him unexpectedly. It is a faith that is available to us, it is within reach. It is a faith that is not only available but a necessity in our spiritual growth.

This faith is the wealth of the vaisnavas.

√Ruci, taste. 

If there is no taste then there must be lacking in the previous processes, faith, association, devotional service and initiation, giving up material attachments, firm faith...

"Somehow or other we are creating the taste, this is our KC  movement. Our process is so nice that we create the taste. We have created the taste by this process. The main principle is to hear... in everyone's heart bhakti is there, it has been covered by dirty things. This ceto darpanam ...

(SB 1.2.16 Lecture)

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ

śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam

ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ

sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

Glory to the sri-krsna-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 movement 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.

One thing to remember is that the more one chants, the more one hears, all the dirty things from the heart will become cleansed as explained by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, param vijayate sri Krishna sankirtanam. It will be successful, glorious, vijayate.

How sweet Krishna's name actually is. Without developing that taste, our time in devotional service may be counted. How long can a hungry person go on with the reflection of prasadam in front of him/her? Knowing that there is a taste to be known is not sufficient. One has to develop that taste, one has to taste it. 

If the other steps have not been properly followed, no sradha, sadhusanga, bhajana kriya, nistha... the real taste will remain unrevealed, imperceptible. This is why faith is required, one must have faith in the instructions of the spiritual master, faith that the sugar will eventually taste sweeter than on can imagine even if in our diseased condition we may think it is bitter. "Inquire submissively" (sadhusanga), "One who has seen the truth, can impart knowledge unto you." (bhajana kriya). 

√Asakti, a spontaneous attraction.

Gradually emotions and attachment intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee. 

Love of Krishna may not be so far out of reach after all.

"In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sādhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness." 

- CC Madhya 23.14-15

Immaculate Rasa and the Absolute Name

by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada

His Divine Grace
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur

We should always place ourselves in a serving mood. We should always welcome the Name of Krsna and bend our speech, thoughts and actions toward serving Him. In contrast, if we are bent on personally enjoying rasa, using Krsna as the medium, we will find ourselves degraded to the lowest ditch of selfishness in which we will assume the role of the enjoyers of something worldly. There, we will surely be deprived of the immaculate rasa.The rasa we usually indulge in is never expected to persist, for its components are trivial by nature. But Krsna is rasa-amrta-murti, the embodiment of nectarean rasa. If we depend on Him, the ocean of eternal rasa, we can look forward to giving Him all facilities to enjoy our eternal, spiritual activities. Trying to enjoy rasa because of an appetite born of the senses will only lead us to deal with inanimate and transitory things. When we extract some rasa from dependent objects, that rasa can never become our perpetual companion. That rasa will unfailingly desert us, and because we will simply be tantalizing our poor senses, we will have no real satisfaction.

Sri Krsna, on the other hand, is not likely to delude us by allowing us to keep our affinity for something else. He is a Spiritual Being, not insentient (acit). Not only does He enjoy rasa, He is Himself full of rasa. And if we want to be in touch with eternal rasa, we must become rasika – experts in the science of transcendental rasa. If we were to seek temporary rasa, we would receive vi-rasa – perverted rasa. Krsna has the monopoly on all real rasas. He is the fountainhead of all real rasas.

The Name is the very storehouse of all . We should seek the Name without making any distinction between the Name and the Object pointed to by the Name, quite unlike the differentiation we find in this temporal world. Krsna, the person, is identical with the word Hari, with His colour, with His form and with all of His attributes and activities. Krsna Himself is Eternal. The Name of Krsna is eternal. It does not refer to any object within nature. Nature’s phenomena have nothing to do with Krsna, who is not a transitory, momentarily manifest aspect of this world. Nature’s phenomena are all temporary things and we must not confuse Krsna’s lila with them. If we do, our conception will be erroneous; we should refrain from mistaking mundane thought for transcendent thought.

In this regard, we should be clear about our position. He is full in Himself. Unlimited varieties of activities are manifest in Him. He is the treasure-house of everything. When we, the minute living entities, want to exercise our senses, we resort to help from others. But it is quite different for Krsna. He does not require assistance from anyone. He is nitya (eternal), suddha (pure), purna (complete) and mukta (liberated) in Himself; He is absolutely unconditioned. Nothing can wrap Him.

This discourse about Krsna, His Name, the Transcendental Name, is identical with Krsna. But that is not the case with things other than Krsna. When we name an object in nature, the opportunity of examining the validity of the name via different senses necessarily arises. Our sense of taste, smell and sight, and all faculties of sensual perception, offer to examine the very being of these things. But Krsna is not an object within the jurisdiction of our senses. He does not require such examination. He is the Autocrat. He has no need for our help.

So, ordinary names, names apart from the names of Krsna, do not have the same significance as the transcendent Name of Krsna. We must not place all names – names of various demigods, men, lower creations and insentient objects, which all exist under the deluding influence of maya – in the same category as that of the Absolute – Krsna. We would be very foolish to consider the Name “Krsna” to be a mere word in our vocabulary, or that this Name has been given to a hero whose deeds were simply recorded in history. This is not the case with the Transcendental Name, which history and other mundane subjects cannot possibly comprehend. The Name is completely identical with Krsna, the Divine Personality. Krsna’s Name is not different from Krsna the person. That difference relates to temporal and limited objects alone.

Adapted from The Gaudiya, Volume 29, Number 6