The fully-ripened transcendental fruit, the holy name

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

 "The holy name is the most auspicious of all that is auspicious, and the sweetest of all that is sweet. It is the fully-ripened transcendental fruit of all the creepers of the Srutis...if a person even once chants the name of Krsna without offence - be it with faith or indifferently - that chanting will deliver him from the bondage of material existence."

- as quoted in Sri Bhajana-Rahasya by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura

Srimati Radharani

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance."

A friend mailed me this beautiful excerpt from a book by Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja; here he is speaking on the brahma gayatri mantra, which women do not have (it makes women hard-hearted, but softens mens' hearts, I've read), still it is very beautiful and applicable to any meditation one is doing on Srimati Radharani:

"Radha-dasyam, the service of Srimati Radharani,
is the ultimate meaning to be extracted from the
gayatri mantra. That is the supreme end of our
life. It cannot but be so. Srimad-Bhagavatam is
the ultimate or full-fledged theism to be
extracted from the Vedas, Upanisads, and so
many scriptures. All the revealed truth rises to
its acme, to its highest position, in the
conception given by Srimad-Bhagavatam. And
Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches us that the highest
realization, self-determination, is the service of
Srimati Radharani - that under her guidance we
may serve Sri Krsna. We aspire for a direct
connection with her service.

"...The very gist of svarupa-sakti is
Srimati Radharani, and the whole svarupa-sakti
is her extended self. The town of her beautiful
service is the whole svarupa-sakti.
Just as rays of light extend from the sun, the
whole internal potency is an extension of
Mahabhava, Sri Radhika. She has developed
herself into such a beautiful area of brilliance, of
internal energy, and thereby she serves her Lord.
All these necessary things have sprung from her.

"To help her in serving her Lord, they all come out.
When the entire internal energy is condensed in a
concise form, it is Mahabhava, Radharani. And
when Radharani wants to serve, she extends
herself in limitless different ways. And with
some contribution from Baladeva and Yogamaya,
the whole spiritual world, including Vrndavana,
Mathura, and Vaikuntha, evolves to assist Srimati
Radharani in the service of Sri Krsna."

Self-forgetfulness

Less today, sorry! Will edit later.



Quick quote post:

"What is love?
That sacrifice that service is rewarded by more intense hankering for service.
A self-giving attitude. That is the remuneration. It will be increased in us more and more. Your serving tendency will be increased if you work as a slave. The appreciation of slavery will be more intensely at His disposal.

Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaja

"Self-forgetfulness is of a dynamic characer. Self-forgetfulness in totality demands self-forgetfulness. Then we shall be able to feel the deepest plane; the flow of the deepest plane; that plane of the Autocrat within us.

"Our present ego will not allow us to go to the deeper plane, the most fundamental plane of the irresistible flow. It is so subtle, so sweet, and we can go, we can reach that destination. Nothing can oppose us. We can attain that fundamental flow. Self-forgetfulness is of such dynamic character!"

by Srila Bhakti-Rakshak Sriadhar Maharaja

from Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Volume 5: Poetry of a Saint

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur - belated

Picture:
Gurudeva

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


An entire month gone by without a post! Please forgive me!

The other day we celebrated the auspicious disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. Jai!!

Here is some nectar from him:

KITE-PLAYING ON AN UNWALLED ROOF

A dull headed boy was once happily flying a kite from an unwalled rooftop. He became so engrossed in playing that he lost his awareness. His playmates were also encouraging him very much. The boy got so carried away that he failed to notice that one of his legs was hanging over the edge of the roof. None of the other boys alerted him to this peril; rather they simply continued to encourage him to fly the kite.

At that critical moment, a wise man happened to pass by. He saw that the boy was in imminent danger of falling from the roof. He immediately rushed up to save the boy although the others saw no danger. He pulled the boy away from the edge, tore off the thread of the kite and took away the spool of thread.

But the foolish boy and his friends, rather than feeling thankful, began to curse the wellmeaning gentleman. They called him a thief, rascal, trespasser, gunda, hooligan, ruffian and other such names. They even threatened to take the gentleman to court after complaining to their over-indulgent parents. Some even tried to physically assault him. Bearing all this, the kind-hearted gentleman saved the boy from imminent death.

PURPORT

Materialistic persons embrace their certain death by accepting whatever is apparently palatable to them. By no means are they prepared to accept anything which is apparently bitter but ultimately pleasant. Many of our so-called friends in this material world also encourage us in sense gratificatory activities that lead us to certain death and destruction.

By chance if one comes across a benevolent saintly person, he preaches to us out of his sheer mercy some real truths although in an unpleasantly stern exposition (like a dose of strong medicine) in spite of our unwillingness to accept it. Therefore we should accept all good sermons from saintly persons delivered in the cause of our eternal welfare, even if those words appear utterly bitter and heart rending.

-from Upakhyane Upadesa, Instructive Stories from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaja

"We must take shelter of His holy name; it is inseparable from His existence. The sound aspect of divinity can help us a great deal on the way back to Godhead. His holy name is our slogan, our war cry - "Hare Krsna!" With that slogan, we shall march on with His genuine agents. We must follow them and withdraw ourselves from all other possibilities and promises, all so-called prospects of life."

- Swami B.R. Sridhar

It has been far too long since my last post. I have been engaged in reading, chanting, and parikrama, but still, this blog is something I shall not abandon and want to continue to engage myself in.

Today is the holy appearance day of Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhara Maharaja - JAI!!

Here is one excerpt from this very beautiful gem of a book, Sri Guru and His Grace:

"Everyone must ask himself, 'Where am I? What is my real need? And how much am I hankering for the real thing?'

"All these things will be expressed, and made public. So, this is the real field of sadhana, or practice. Our practice, our advancement, needs all these difficulties. Otherwise we may not know what is progress...So, to purify ourselves it is necessary that many disturbances come.

"...The environment is in the hands of the Lord. He has not done any wrong to me. If I am sincere, then I have to adjust myself with this environment and put my faith before Him. By our stand in any circumstances in the battle, our patriotism will be put to the test. We will be tested to see whether we are real soldiers or not.

"Anything will come, but we will have to face that. I must not forget my Lord, my guru, my Gauranga, my Radha-Govinda, under any circumstances. Under all unfavorable circumstances, I must stand with my head erect and say, 'Yes! I am a servant of that clan, that sampradaya. Everyone may leave me, but I shall stand alone!'

"With this attitude, we must march on, whatever the circumstances may be. Then....our superiors will be pleased with us.

"We must analyze ourselves. How much as we selfish? To what percent are our unwanted bad habits, anarthas, still present in our hearts? How much are the impurities of karma, jnana, mental desires, and other filthy things mixed with the real faith - that must come out, and that must be eliminated in different ways. If we want real good, no one can hinder us. With this spirit we must move and then we will be able to understand what is what."

Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhara Maharaja ki JAI!

"This path of bhakti is all optimism."

Here's a really amazing excerpt from Srila Gour Govinda Swami's book, Amrutera Tarangini - The Flow of Nectar.

"Somehow or other we have come to this path, so we should be serious. Our Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada says, 'This is for serious students.' It is for those who are very serious like Dhruva Maharaja. Dhruva was so serious and determined. 'I must get Narayana.' So be serious and determined like him, then in this very life we will get Krsna. But if there is no seriousness and determination, rather, so many material desires, still whatever little we have earned is never lost.
"There is no despondency or pessimism on this path. This path of bhakti is all optimism. Never become disappointed. If it will not be achieved in this life, definitely in the next life or the life after that it must come to us. This path of bhakti is all gain, there is no loss. We may commit some aparadha, fall down or whatever, so in this very life our advancement is checked. But whatever we have earned is with us, it is never lost.

"There is no loss, it is all gain. So there is no pessimism. This bhakti is so powerful, and this is the teaching."

Sincerely serve and take shelter of Sri Guru

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.

Just recently I picked up the book "The Principle of Sri Guru and Service to Sri Guru," by Sripad BV Madhava Maharaja. This book is very wonderful, as is its author, and elucidates so many truths on sri guru.

While reading it, I became very humbled. One part lists the qualities of a disciple who has sraddha, or firm faith, and I realized most definitely that I do not fit in that category. Another part, which I am going to share, I found very encouraging for its simplicity and loving mood. Reading this part answered a question that had been floating in my mind, many questions actually, such as, how to progress? And how to become a strong devotee and disciple?

Here is the excerpt:

"...if the neophyte sevaka is sincere and takes full shelter of Srila Gurudeva and the senior Vaisnavas, he will quickly be able to progress to the intermediate level, at which his determination to serve Gurudeva will be focused and strong. One who reaches the intermediate level is said to be mahabhagyavan, 'greatly fortunate.'" [CC Madhya Lila 22.67]

When I read this, I thought of myself and also of jiva souls in general. I thought how, if only I could realize how Gurudeva is my only shelter, and appreciate what he has given, then I could serve him every moment - heart, mind, body, words. Gurudeva said once that we can never repay him for what he has given, not in a million lifetimes. And yet still we should try, we should serve him, to show our gratefulness. Instead, I am in maya, and my mind is so weak, and I do not make extra effort.

I thought of examples we have where people take shelter of Krsna, and how we should follow these examples and take shelter of Guru. For example, Draupadi, she gave up the idea of independence and control, knowing Krsna as her only shelter (when the Kauravas were trying to disrobe her), so she literally threw up her arms and cried out, "Govinda! Krsna!" Because of her immense affection, because of her begging, Krsna gave her mercy and helped her; and also because he is so merciful.

We want to attract Krsna to us. Guru has already attracted Krsna; he can give us Krsna. If I can just take shelter sincerely at Gurudeva's lotus feet, than my life will be successful.

Today here in New Braj, Kishori Mohan prabhu gave a very nice class that is relevant to this post. He said many good things, but one was, we should be like a dog, and guru is our master. The dog has affection for master, he follows him always, he does not compromise and wander away, he barks when someone ambivalent to his master comes along, and he is controlled by the instructions of the master. So by following guru's instructions and serving, sincerely, then as Sripad BV Madhava Maharaja says, we can become strong! I want to become strong, and focused, and progress.

Jai Srila Gurudeva! Jai Srila Prabhupada! Jai Sripad BV Madhava! All glories to the vaishnavas!

The 10 characteristics of religious life

In the 8th chapter of Jaiva Dharma, entitled "Nitya-Dharma and Vaishnava Behavior", Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura writes:

There are ten characteristics of religious life - dhrtih (determination with patience); ksama (forgiveness), which means not retaliating when wronged by others; damo (control of the mind), which means equanimity even in the face of unsettling circumstances; asteyam (abstinence from theft); saucam (cleanliness); indriya -nigrahah (restraining the senses from their sense objects); dhir (inteligence), which means knowledge of the sastra; vidya (wisdom, or realization of the soul); satyam (truthfulness); and akrodha (absence of anger), as demonstrated by even-temperedness amidst irritating circumstances.

- (Sri Manu Samhita 6.92)

[Babaji speaking] "Six of these characteristics - determination, control of the mind, cleanliness, restraint of the senses, knowledge of the sastra, and wisdom - are duties to one's own self. the remaining four - forgiveness, abstinence from stealing, truthfulness, and absence of anger - are duties to others. These ten religious duties have been prescribed for people in general, but none of them clearly indicate hari-bhajan."

[Later, Babaji goes on to say that the neophyte devotee vaishnava, or kanistha-adhikari, cannot relate to devotees or behave properly, therefore he can only relate to others according to these ten characteristics, and it is implied he or she should try to follow].

Srila Rupa Goswami as Rupa Manjari

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


Today I want to share some nectar about Srila Rupa Goswami in his form as a manjari or maidservant of Srimati Radhika, Rupa Manjari. I read the following sweet excerpt from "Sri Guru and His Grace" written by Srila Bhakti-Rakshak Sridhara Maharaja (pictured above with Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada).

First he establishes the supreme position of Srimati Radhika and Her service as our highest goal, as told by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

"The servitorship of Srimati Radharani is said to be of the living being by the school established by Mahaprabhu. It is the gist of the Srimad Bhagavatam. It is Krishna's own version."

He quotes Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.15 and 10.47.61, where Krsna praises Uddhava, and where Uddhava praises the gopis, of whom Srimati Radhika is the topmost. He then quotes Jayadeva Goswami, who writes in his Gita Govinda how, when Srimati Radhika left the rasa dance, even with all the gopis there Krsna was not satisfied, and chased after Radhika.

From there:

"The rupanuga sampradaya, the followers of Sri Rupa, are those who have the unique taste of service in the camp of Radharani...The highest kind of divine sentiment is distributed from the camp of Srimati Radharani, and that can never be compared with any attainment hitherto known even in the eternal factor of time and space.

"...Why should we try to enter into the camp of Radharani?...Radharani's service to Krishna is of the highest order in every way. If we devote our energy to help Radharani, our energy will be utilized in Her service. In this way She will serve Krishna with Her service more enhanced. Then the reciprocation will pass to us through Her as our reward. That will be devotion of the highest type, mahabhava...



"Yet still, there is another, higher thing. We are known as rupanugas, followers of Sri Rupa. Why? The service of Srimati Radharani eliminates everything, even Narayana, to go to Krishna...

"Still, there is another point. Who is Rupa? Rupa Manjari. Generally the hierarchy in the spiritual world is eternal. New recruits can occupy a particular rank of manjari, assistant, in madhurya rasa. And the leader of manjaris is Sri Rupa Manjari...



"When Radharani and Krishna are in secrecy, in private, the sakhis [Lalita, Visakha, and their followers] do not like to approach there and disturb...but the younger girls [manjaris] can enter there....


"New recruits may come to the manjari class. The manjaris have that sort of special advantage under the leadership of Sri Rupa Manjari....the most sacred type of pure service, which is not even open to the sakhis [Radharani's girl friends], is open to the manjaris. That is found in Radharani's camp. So, the position of the rupanuga, the followers of Sri Rupa, is the most profitable position.

"...So, the camp, the sampradaya of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as the rupanuga sampradaya. There our fate and fortune is located. Now we have to conduct ourselves in such a way that naturally we can connect with that highest, pure spiritual conception from here."

Srila Rupa Goswami, Rupa Manjari ki JAI!!

I got to hear more nectar on Srila Rupa Goswami, his literature, and how special he was, to know the mood of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I will try and share more tomorrow. Now I am in New Braj, and I heard from Gopanandini that Srila Gurudeva used to do a festival for Srila Rupa Goswami, from his disappearance day until Balarama's Appearance Day. So I will try and stay in that mood and post more on Srila Rupa Goswami tomorrow.

How merciful is Srila Rupa Goswami in his form as Sri Rupa Manjari! All she wants is to help us serve Srimati Radhika, the highest goal. I also heard Srila Gurudeva describe how, whereas the sakhi friends of Radharani try to pacify her sulkiness and separation, Rupa Manjari is so close to Radharani that she actually *feels* the same things that Radha is feeling, when She is feeling them. How wonderful is Sri Rupa Manjari...

The Prospect of Divine Love; Srila Rupa Goswami

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.

Today is the disappearance day of Srila Rupa Goswami. Srila Rupa Goswami is a very important person. It is he who knows the heart and mood of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Krsnaloka, Rupa Goswami is Rupa Manjari. She is the head of all the manjaris, or personal maidservants, of Srimati Radhika.

Srila Gurudeva makes the distinction in his Essence of All Advice that Rupa Manjari is not like Lalita and Visakha, and other dear friends of Srimati Radhika. Those friends of Srimati Radhika try to dissuade Her from Her sulking mood or Her separation. But Rupa Manjari feels the very same things that Srimati Radhika feels. So when Radhika is in separation, so is Rupa Manjari, and when Radhika is happy with Krsna, then Rupa feels that she is with Krsna, too.

Right now I am reading 'Sri Guru and his Grace' by Srila Bhakti-rakshak Sridhara Maharaja. In this book, he has one part where he speaks about the prospect of divine love, and quotes Srila Rupa Goswami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu:

"At present, we are disconnected from the prospect of divine love which we cherish in the innermost quarter of our hearts. If we want to have that privilege very easily and very quickly, we must approach the Lord with plain speaking and with a naked body and mind, with everything exposed.

Srila Rupa Goswami in Bhakti rasamrta sindhu (1.2.152) has written:



mat-tulyo nasti papatma
naparadhi ca kascana
parihare pi lajja me
kim bruve purusottama
"My Lord, I feel ashamed. How shall I offer You so many pure things like flowers? Generally, pure things are offered to You, but what about me? I have come with the most filthy thing to offer You. I feel ashamed. I have come to You, with only my shame, to beg for Your mercy. There is no parallel to my sinful life, criminal life. Everything that can be conceived of as bad is found in me. It is very difficult even to speak about the characteristics of my heinous sins and crimes.

"Still, Your nature, existence, fame, and benevolence cannot but attract me. You can save me. You can purify me. Hoping against hope, I have come to You. And I have only one solace, that I am the real object of Your mercy. Your tendency is to purify the meanest. Those who are the most needy have some claim to Your mercy. I am the worst of the needy and the meanest of the mean. This is my only qualification, my only hope to attract Your attention and appeal to Your magnanimity."

I think this quote is extra amazing, because here it seems to me that Srila Rupa Goswami is teaching us how to pray to the Lord, and how to pray to our most magnanimous gurus. And our gurus tell us to pray to Srila Rupa Goswami.

Here is a nice class on the swing festival, jhulan yatra, which this year lasts from yesterday and ends Sunday (the day after Lord Balarama's appearance day!). This class also includes some katha on Srila Rupa Goswami, by Srila Gurudeva:

link to class

jhulan yatra ki jai!

I will post more on Srila Rupa Goswami today. For now, this is it. All glories to Srila Rupa Goswami!

Krsna runs weeping after the jiva souls

From Jaiva Dharma, chapter 16, Babaji speaking:

"The independent jiva is a beloved servant of Krsna, and thus Krsna is kind and compassionate towards him. Seeing the jiva's misfortune as he misuses his independence and becomes attached to maya, Krsna chases after him, weeping, and He appears in the material world to deliver him. Sri Krsna, the ocean of compassion, His heart melting with mercy for the jivas, manifests His inconceivable pastimes in the material world, considering that His appearance will enable the jiva to see those nectarean pastimes.

"However, the jiva does not understand the truth about Krsna's pastimes, even after being showered by so much mercy. Lord Krsna then descends in Sri Navadvipa in the form of guru. He personally describes the supreme process of chanting His name and glorifying His form, qualities and pastimes. He personally instructs and inspires the jivas to take to this path by practicing it Himself. How can you accuse Krsna of being at fault in any way, when He is so merciful? His mercy is unlimited, but our misfortune is lamentable."

Isn't this just amazing? So much mercy!!

Prayer while chanting

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


This book by Srila Gurudeva, Harmony, it is SO beautiful!! Every page is a gem of instructions. Instructions on what is proper behavior, on how to honor vaishnavas, on how to be humble, on householder or sanyasi life, etc. etc....there is so much nectar here.

I am sharing from this book again today:

"Consider thinking in this way: 'I am worthless. I have offended many vaishnavas, and the reaction is that I am stupid and nonsense. Although I chant the holy name, tears do not come and my heart does not melt. O Krsna, what shall I do?'

art by Annapurna dasi

"You can also remember Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and pray: 'O Caitanya Mahaprabhu, You are causelessly merciful. Plese bestow Your mercy upon me. In this kali yuga life is short, there are many problems, and the mind is always upset. What should I do? I am always besieged with obstacles in my attempt to execute bhakti. I am without vaishnava association. I am weak, and I have not obtained Krsna's mercy. O Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I know only You. You have given mercy to Jagai and Madhai. Why not to me? I am more wretched than them, and therefore I am qualified to receive Your mercy.'


"If you weep in this way, Krsna will bestow His mercy. By chanting in this way, you heart will melt and tears will come. If tears are not coming, you can think, 'I have committed so many offenses.' Always repent like this and chant, 'Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.'"

- Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja, Toulouse, France, July 1999

Looking at your own condition

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.

Today I am sharing another excerpt from Srila Gurudeva's book, "Harmony". This book is very wonderful! Every day I am reading a little bit, and it really makes me think and assess myself. It is very humbling, and it makes me feel so strongly, that I am so fortunate to have these instructions, to have Gurudeva; all of our guru varga are so very merciful.

Srila Gurudeva: Be very careful. First look at your own condition and try to purify yourself. Is there any lust in you? Is there any deceit and hypocrisy in you? Be worried about that; do not worry about others. Guru and Krsna are responsible for others. You cannot do anything to help them, so you have no right to criticize. This instruction is for all.

Hilo, Hawaii: February 7, 2005

"The Medicine to Cure Criticizing"

The following is an excerpt from Srila Gurudeva's book, "Harmony":

Anandini dasi: How can I stop myself from criticizing?

Srila Gurudeva: You can criticize yourself, but not others. This is an offense, and bhakti [love] will go away. Be careful.

Vrndavana, India: August 9, 2009


Prakasatma dasa: How can I curb my tendency to always speak prajalpa [nonsense] and criticize others?

Srila Gurudeva: You can do so by always being in sadhu-sanga and hearing harikatha. Pariksit Maharaja had no time to speak with anyone, or to sleep or eat or drink. He was drinking only the nectar of Krsna-lila. Sadhu-sanga is the best medicine. Chant the holy name in sadhu-sanga, and don't associate with persons who are chattering and pattering.

Read books and engage your mind at all times. If the mind is not engaged by you, then it will automatically engage itself in bad things. The mind wants something to eat, so we should give it harikatha - as much as you can hear and chant and meditate on.

Paris, France: June 30, 2009

Bhavocchvasa

Quote:

Bhavocchvasa...means an outburst of feeling which expresses the bhava hidden in the hearts of the gopis. How does this occur?

The gopis were silent and Krsna was silent. They were feeling the mood of separation. The gopis were weeping and feeling very distressed at heart. But suddenly Krsna approached Srimati Radhika from behind and clasped His hands in front of Her eyes. She knew it was Him by the touch of Hish hands, but She did not let on that She knew. She exclaimed, "Visakha," and Krsna laughed, trying to restrain Himself.

Srimati Radhika was feeling overjoyed. Then just to increase Krsna's mood, She said, "Yes, I know. You are Lalita."

Then Krsna could not check Himself anymore and He at once began to laugh very loudly. Then Srimati Radhika said, "Oh You, You, You, You!" After this They embraced.



This is an example of bhavocchvasa.Srimati Radhika is always experiencing bhava within Her heart. But if an uddipana comes and makes these moods come out from the heart so that everyone can see, it is called bhavocchvasa.

This bhavocchvasa is so powerful that it cannot be checked by anything, just as the flow of a swift-moving river cannot be checked."

- from Gurudeva's commentary on Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam, at the end of the book Sri Siksastaka

The supreme object of human attainment

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


My two-week-long absence from home has prevented me from posting here. But today, I am going to post a couple posts sharing more from Srila Gurudeva's Sri Siksastaka (which, let me remind, includes commentary by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, and Gurudeva on Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam).

I am currently reading the book's glossary, having finished this beautiful book today, upon arriving home from Los Angeles. I had a wonderful stay at the Radha Govinda Mandir on Rose avenue! It is such a beautiful temple. I was there for two weeks, and my stay included classes by Damodara Maharaja and the Appearance of Lord Nrsinghadev. =D More on that later...I have pictures I hope to figure out how to upload from my phone...

Today our entry is on the Goals of Human Attainment. This is an entry in the glossary under P called "purusartha":

"In the Vedic scriptures [the goals of human attainment] are classified into four categories: 1) dharma - religious duty, 2) artha - acquisition of wealth, 3) kama - satisfaction of material desires, and 4) moksa - liberation from material existence.

Beyond all of these is the development of unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord who is the embodiment of spiritual bliss and transcendental rasa. This is known as parama-purusartha, or the supreme object of attainment. Since this is truly the ultimate goal, why have the scriptures declared the other four as goals to be attained? By careful analysis, the underlying purpose of the sastra may be understood in this regard.



There are many different classes of men in material existence. Their tendencies and tastes are not all the same. Their aspirations may be roughly divided into the four categories mentioned above. When these four are analyzed comparatively in terms of their respective merits, it is seen that kama is lowest, then artha, dharma, and finally moksa.

In other words when these are viewed in terms of the development of consciousness, then it is seen that those in the gross bodily consciousness seek only kama. When one progresses beyond this and desires satisfaction of the mind and intellect, he seeks artha to fulfill his goals. When one looks beyond this life to the next life and aspires for superior enjoyment in the hereafter, he pursues dharma by which his goal may be accomplished. When one completely abandons the quest for material enjoyment and aspires freedom from material existence, he seeks moksa.



Thus when considered in this order, these four goals represent the successive development of human consciousness...If those who desire nothing other than bodily happiness can be encouraged to adopt religious principles to fulfill their goals, then they will develop morality and a sense of duty. If they develop faith in the Vedic principles, then by coming into the association of devotees they can be purified and aspire for the ultimate goal of bhakti...

Therefore, understanding all these points, one should strive for the parama-purusartha of krsna-prema."

[Art courtesy of BBT]

Whom can we trust?

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


Today's blog post is courtesy of Devarsi prabhu, whom I met via YouTube and who has added me to his newsletter wherein he sends updates to his spiritual blog.

It is a very beautiful blog, with many transcendental topics being explored. I recommend everyone check it out.

Devarsi Prabhu's topic for today is: Whom can we trust? He shares a beautiful excerpt from the Introduction to Srila Gurudeva's Journey of the Soul.

Here is the link to that blog post: "Whom can we trust?"

Ekadasi; guru lights the lamp

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


Today is Varuthini Ekadasi. Ekadasi is very important. Both Gurudeva and Prabhupada emphasize that one should try and follow Ekadasi to the best of one's capacity. Oftentimes I find myself following Ekadasi in a routine, monotonous sort of way. Today, I was able to be more spiritual as I should on Ekadasi; I decorated the altar and did some other services. It was very sweet!

One reason I found myself in a more serving mood for Ekadasi today is because I sat down and read about this Ekadasi from the Ekadasi book. This book has all the stories behind each Ekadasi in it, as well as the many benefits we get from each specific Ekadasi. Here is a little on what this book, by Krsna Balarama Swami, has to say on Varuthini Ekadasi:

"Whatever merit one obtains by performing austerities and penances for ten thousand years is achieved by a person who observes Varuthini Ekadasi. The merit one achieves by donating a great amount of gold during a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra is gained by one who observes this Ekadasi fast.

Indeed, he who observes this one Ekadasi with love and devotion certainly attains his goals in this life and the next. In short, this Ekadasi is pure and very enlivening and a destroyer of all sins."

Ever heard of Ekadasi bars? I just found out about them. Maybe there is a recipe online? Ekadasi bars


Also, I read yesterday a part of the chapter of Sri Prabandhavali in which Srila Gurudeva comments on Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's Sri Bhajan-rahasya. I have never read this book, only heard of it in classes, but Gurudeva's harikatha about it makes me want to read it.

He talks of how we are in darkness, and guru lights the lamp. The pictures along with this quote aren't from the book; I put them in myself:

"...the beginning stages of sadhana have been compared to the darkness of night. If you try to walk anywhere in the darkness, you may stumble or step into a ditch or even upon a snae, so there is some fear. Or if you enter a jungle you may be attacked by a tiger or lion. There are also thieves and dacoits to be wary of.

Thieves don't come in the first part of the night because at that time most people have just settled in and can be easily awakened, but they come nearer to morning when most people are in deep sleep. There are also such thieves and fearful adversaries in the beginning stages of bhajana. At this point the stars in the evening sky have not yet disappeared, meaning lust, anger, greed, envy and madness have not disappeared from our hearts.

Our many anarthas, which have been compared to tigers and snakes, are hidden in all directions. But will the practice of sadhana alone make the sun of spiritual perfection rise? When does the sun rise? When the appropriate time comes, and not before. So here one thing is possible: if a lamp is lit in the night, then snakes and other fearful adversaries will flee. It is the guru who lights the lamp for us by giving us Harinama and making us hear harikatha.



Then the anarthas which remain within us will begin to fade, but is that alone enough to make the sun rise? The sun of full realization of the Nama will rise according to its own sweet will; it is fully independent.


atah sri krsna namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhi hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah

Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, 1.2.234

'The material sense cannot perceive the name, qualities, form and pastimes of Sri Krsna. Only when one is fully absorbed in serving Him does the real nama appear on one's tongue, bestowing full realization of Him.



Just as the sun rises at precisely the appropriate time, when the time is right the Nama will appear on a devotee's tongue and illuminate everything within his heart. And just as when the sun rises there is no need of any electric light or candle because everything is automatically illuminated, when the nama bestows full realization upon a devotee, he will have a clear understanding of himself in his constitutional position, and all of his fear will vanish.


eka krsna name kare sarva papa nasa
premera karuna bhakti karena prakasa

'Simply chanting Krsna's name without offenses vanquishes all sinful activities, and thus bhakti, which is the cause of prema, becomes manifest.'

CC Adi-lila, 8.26

By its mercy the nama will fully reveal itself, but as long as it hasn't arisen in the heart, we can only endeavor to mae the darkness go away, meaning we must continue executing sadhana in an effort to rid ourselves of our anarthas."

When I read this, that guru lights the lamp for us in darkness...I just felt so joyful. How merciful is guru! How wonderful! I just had to read it again, and then I thought, I should share this. I really enjoy the analogy that we are in darkness, and guru lights the lamp, and by chanting and hearing, we can come out of the darkness.

It is not simple, but what supremely expert, compassionate guides we have in Gurudeva and Prabhupada. They hold our hands, they pick us up when we stumble (unless it helps for us to get up our own selves, which sometimes it does, that can be a lesson), and so many other things. It is hard, but when I read stuff like the above that just says mercy mercy mercy all over it, I feel very happy and encouraged. =)

This post relates to my post, "What is sadhana?" which you can find here:"What is sadhana?"

Next, I will be doing a post on anarthas. We see the word a lot and have a basic idea of what it means, but what does it really mean?

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura

om ajnana timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

O Gurudeva, you are so merciful. I offer my humble pranama unto you and am praying from the core of my heart that, with the torchlight of divine knowledge, you open my eyes which have been blinded by the darkness of ignorance.


the personal deities of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura


Today is the disappearance day of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura. Jai!!

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura was born to Narayani, who had the mercy of Lord Caitanya as a young girl. Lord Caitanya was very fond of her and would give her remnants of His prasadam. Narayani experienced ecstatic symptoms when chanting the name of Krishna, by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura was a very dear disciple of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.



Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj writes of Srila Vrndavana das Thakura in his Caitanya Caritamrta. He writes about the glories Vrndavana das Thakura, and of that gem of literature, Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, wherein Srila Vrndavana das Thakura describes pastimes of Mahaprabhu. It was previously called Sri Caitanya Mangala.

I would like to share the praise that Srila Krsna Kaviraj gives to Srila Vrndavana das Thakura:

As Vyāsadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has composed Śrī Caitanya-mańgala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.

By reading Śrī Caitanya-mańgala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

In Śrī Caitanya-mańgala [later known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata] Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

If even a great atheist hears Śrī Caitanya-mańgala, he immediately becomes a great devotee.

The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls.
Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi-Lila, 8.34-8.40

For more nectar like this and purports by Srila Prabhupada, please go here:
link

I have found a nice page on Srila Vrndavana das Thakura that has a brief biography of his life as well as some wonderful pictures of significant pastime places:
Srila Vrndavana das Thakura

Srila Vrndavana das Thakura ki JAI!!

What is sadhana?

Quote:

In explaining the line param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam of Mahaprabhu's Siksastaka, Prabhupada [here Srila Gurudeva means Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura] wrote that this is the Gaudiya Matha's mode of worship. There are three stages: the beginning stage of sadhana, the intermediate stage of bhava, and the final attainment of produced by that bhava which is called prema.

Sadhana is that practice by which suddha sattva bhava arises, and if that doesn't arise, what one is practicing cannot be called sadhana. We can all examine ourselves and see if we are practicing the sadhana which makes bhava arise or not. Are the symptoms there, or not? We may not even have proper aim in our sadhana.

If someone is striking a match, what is his aim? To obtain a flame; and if after striking one match a flame is not obtained, then he will take another match and try again. Our endeavor to reach the final attainment through the practice of sadhana is like that. Spiritual 'hunger', satisfaction, and strength (Khudanuvrtti, tusti, and pusti) - these three things should appear, and if they don't, then we are not really practicing sadhana and cannot be called real sadhakas.

Whatever we do should be done with this vision: "By performing this activity, bhava for Krsna will arise."

- from Srila Gurudeva's Sri Prabandhavali, Chapter 4


To view any picture posted on this blog in a larger size, just click it. =)