eligibility for rasa-katha

[Guest guest]

The following are two statements from Srila Prabhupada's books on

eligibility for hearing rasa-katha. In the first, the gist of Srila

Prabhupada's purport appears to go against the statement of the verse which

it is a comment on. Srila Prabhupada sternly warns that nonliberated persons

should not try to hear about the loving affairs between Radha and Krsna.

 

In the second of the statements quoted below, however, Srila Prabhupada

seems to be much more liberal in recommending that conditioned souls hear

about Krsna's pastimes with the gopis.

 

How is this apparent contradiction to be understood?

 

 

 

 

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "Out of all topics people listen to, which is

best for all living entities?"

Ramananda Raya replied, "Hearing about the loving affairs between Radha and

Krsna is most pleasing to the ear."

 

PURPORT

According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.39):

 

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam ca visnoh

sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varnayed yah

bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam

hrd-rogam asv apahinoty acirena dhirah

 

"He who faithfully hears about the dealings between Lord Krsna and the gopis

in the rasa dance and he who describes these activities attain to the

perfectional stage of devotional service and simultaneously lose material,

lusty desires." A liberated person who hears about the loving affairs of

Radha and Krsna is not inclined to have lusty desires. One mundane rogue

once said that when the Vaisnavas chant the name "Radha, Radha," he simply

remembers a barber's wife named Radha. This is a practical example. Unless

one is liberated, he should not try to hear about the loving affairs between

Radha and Krsna. If one is not liberated and listens to a relation of the

rasa dance, he may remember his own mundane activities and illicit

connections with some woman whose name may also be Radha. In the conditioned

stage one should not even try to remember such things. By practicing the

regulative principles, one should rise to the platform of spontaneous

attraction for Krsna. Then and only then should one hear about

radha-krsna-lila. Although these affairs may be very pleasing both to

conditioned and to liberated souls, the conditioned soul should not try to

hear them. The talks between Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are

conducted on the platform of liberation.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 8.255

 

 

Next, from the Introduction to "Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead"

is another statement of Srila Prabhupada about this topic:

 

This Krsna-katha will also be very much appealing to the most materialistic

persons because Krsna's pastimes with the gopis (cowherd girls) are exactly

like the loving affairs between young girls and boys within this material

world. Actually, the sex feeling found in human society is not unnatural

becouse this same sex feeling is there in the original Personality of

Godhead. The pleasure potency is called Srimati Radharani. The attraction of

loving affairs on the basis of sex feeling is the original feature of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we, the conditioned souls, being part

and parcel of the Supreme, have such feelings also, but they are experienced

within a perverted, minute condition. Therefore, when those who are after

sex life in this material world hear about Krsna's pastimes with the gopis,

they will relish transcendental pleasure, altough it appears to be

materialistic. The advantage will be that they will gradually be elevated to

the spiritual platform. In the Bhagavatam it is stated that if one hears the

pastimes of Lord Krsna from authorities with submission, then he will be

promoted to the platform of transcendental loving service to the Lord, and

the material disease of lust within his heart will be completely vanquished.

In other words, it will counteract the material sex life.

[Guest guest]

 

Bhakti Vikasa Swami [bhakti.Vikasa.Swami]

 

In the second of the statements quoted below, however, Srila Prabhupada

seems to be much more liberal in recommending that conditioned souls

hear

about Krsna's pastimes with the gopis.

 

How is this apparent contradiction to be understood?

---------------------------

 

This would be an excellent topic to discuss! Let's start doing some

brainstorming. There is so much that Srila Prabhupada has to say on this

issue. I recommend also consulting his purport to SB 1.1.1 for more info

on this.

 

 

- K

[Guest guest]

achintya, "Krishna Susarla" <krishna@a...> wrote:

>

>

>

> Bhakti Vikasa Swami [bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@p...]

>

> In the second of the statements quoted below, however, Srila

Prabhupada

> seems to be much more liberal in recommending that conditioned souls

> hear

> about Krsna's pastimes with the gopis.

>

> How is this apparent contradiction to be understood?

> ---------------------------

 

We are also told to hear Krsna katha, but not from non-devotees as

then the effect is poisonous.

 

The subject matter of Krsna's Vrindavana conjugal lila is purifying,

and will purify one from lust, certainly, but it has to be heard in

the proper way by a qualified hearer and from the proper source,

otherwise there will be some discrepancy or perhaps offence, and lust

will be unaffected or even increase.

 

My understanding is that the neophyte should first understand the

greatness of Krsna, the nature of the self, the nature of

entanglement, etc., before understanding intimate lila. Of course,

some information about Vrindavana lila can be there from the

beginning to attract our minds, but it cannot be our main diet as we

cannot digest it exclusively. One may be able to digest one

gulumjamon as part of a complete meal served when the digestive fire

is strong, but not be able to digest gulumjamons as one's sole diet.

 

Therefore one should read through all nine cantos and hear the tenth

from a qualified devotee. One should also be practicing the process

of sadhana bhakti. Even then, one who is not on the liberated

platform should *concentrate* on hearing the basic philosophy.

 

It is a matter of concentration/emphasis, mood, one's personal

spiritual practices, one's attitude ("now I've been chanting for so

long and am qualified.."), the person from whom one hears, and so on.

In other words, one cannot assume that automatically the hearing of

Krsna's pastimes with the gopis will be effective in removing lust.

 

comments?

 

Your servant, Urmila devi dasi