The Lover's Life

[Guest guest]

Namaste friends. <br><br>I like to share some

excerpts from the book-let "The Lover's Life"- written by

Sri Shyama Dasa. <br>It is an English translation and

reflections of the original Sanskrit texts of " viveka

dhairyAzrayaH" (Wisdom, Perseverance and Refuge) -which was

composed by Srimad Vallabhaacaarya, the founder acarya of

Pushti Marga Sampradaya, adoring Beloved Lord Sri

Krishna.<br><br>viveka dhairya satataM rakSaNIye tathAzraH,<br>vivekastu

hariH sarvaM nijecchAtaH kariSyati (1)<br><br>Chapter

One<br><br>Always protect<br>your discrimination

and<br>perseverance.<br>Carefully nourish divine refuge.<br>True wisdom is

seeing

that<br>Beloved Hari will accomplish<br>everything according to

His own<br>will.<br><br>The key to wisdom and

fortitude is refuge in the Beloved. When she remains in His

haven, knowledge and strength flourish under His loving

protection.<br>The bhakta's Beloved Hari, the Perfect One, is also

the Purifier Who eradicates the sins and sorrows of

His lovers. To grasp this is knowledge.<br><br>To

rely merely on the merit of one's strength can bring

forth pride and a false sense of accomplishment which

is not pleasing to the Beloved.<br>Wisdom is knowing

without a doubt that, "My Beloved will take care of

me."<br><br>Anxiety plagues the (bhakta) lover when she temporarily

forgets His loving embrace. Then, when her wisdom

returns, she knows she is protected; all is seen as

perfect and part of the Beloved's process, a portion of

His perfect lila. When the lover rests in His glow,

His sweet will is seen. Then, without asking

everything is accomplished.<br><br>The lover first

identifies His lila, His perfect play and then finds His

company and finally embraces the Beloved's delectable

resolve. She feels it in every circumstance and while

surrendering to His notions, she is purified. Her desires

touch Him and when Hari recognizes her intention, the

Beloved falls for her.<br><br>In that loving

congregation, what could there be to pray for anything besides

His association?<br>Why trouble the Beloved when He

is going to give more than what can be asked

for?<br>This is the (bhakta) lover's view, her subtle law of

insight. Wisdom is knowing His perfect power, and seeing

that His decisions are lila-precise.<br>Hari's will is

what makes things happen, not happen as well as what

is beyond the two.<br><br>With insight, the lover

rests firmly in His haven, never wandering from His

embrace. Whatever is essential for the lover, for her

development, is always given without asking.<br>In the Hari

romance, the Beloved practice, even the attainment of

liberation appears pale when compared to what is freely

given.<br><br>Jaya Sri Radhey!