An instruction to my mind

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hari pada-nakha koti prshtha paryanta sima

tatam api kalayantim prana koter abhishtam

pramudita madirakshi vrinda vaidaghdhya diksha

gurumati guru kirtim radhikam arcayami

 

"I worship Sri Radhika, who considers the tip of Sri Hari's tounail millions

of times more dear than Her own life, who teaches all the blissful

fickle-eyed gopis expertise in arts and who is very famous."

(Rupa Goswamis Radhastakam 7)

 

 

This is the perfect mood of worship-an attitude of selflessness. And I can

hardly offer a few minutes for my Lord....

 

A sadhaka should always think: "Is she accepting the service that I offer to

Her or not? I am only doing bhajan because it gives me personal happiness. I

am doing my quota, nothing more. If I don't give myself a certain quota I

won't do anything!"

 

But this is not the natural beauty of bhajan. Bhajan becomes beautiful when

I feel some want, some void.

"I have got my meals, I'm healthy, everything 's OK!"

If one thinks like that, then ones bhajan will be lifeless and mechanical.

 

"How many worldly things, like profit, adoration, distinction, money and

fame a person like me misses, but I never miss Radha Krishna at all!"

 

 

But the great devotees thirst for bhajan can never be quenched, just as the

thirst for water of someone who suffers from cholera can never be quenched.

 

parama iswara krsna tankhe hao ati-trsna

bhaja tanre braja-bhaba lana

rasika-bhakata sange bihara ni jata range

braja-pure basati karina

 

Thirst to attain Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Worship Him.

Love Him as the residents of Vraja did. Reside in Vrajapura, where Lord

Krsna eternally enjoys pastimes. Stay in the company of great souls that

relish the nectar of Krsna.

 

 

 

 

parama naagara krsna taa'he hao ati trsna bhajo taa're vraja-bhava loiya

"Krishna is the greatest amorous lover, be thirsty for Him and worship Him

in the mood of vraja."

(Narottama Das Thakura, Prema-bhakti candrika song 8, vers 12)

 

Expertise and success in bhajan does not depend on anything else. There

won't be even a whiff empirical knowledge, freitive works, profit, adoration

or distinction anymore. All these ulterior motives make the mind very coarse

-how can one then taste the clear, spotless flavours of vraja?

Ulterior motives deceive us in different ways. Although I know these things

in theory, I still don't realize them.

 

 

This is the Manah Siksa from Premananda Thakur (Translated by Madhusudan

Das):

 

 

ore mana! e tora bjhibaara bhula!

kohicho vedera paara koricho nisiddhaacaara

bhaava dekhi aapanaara muula

 

"O mind! You just don`t understand! You say that you are beyond the vedic

regulations, but you perform forbidden activities! When I see this I see

your very essence."

 

 

 

 

muktike aishvarya boli duurete diyaacho pheli

ingite bujhaao ei tattva

anitya asaara artha se bhaalo sadaai praarthya

yaa laagi rajanii divaa matta

 

"You call liberation a luxurious distraction and have thrown it far away.

Give me a hint so that I can understand this truth. Fleeting, useless riches

are always desirable and you are going mad thinking about it day and night."

 

 

 

 

nirhetu yaajana koro, hetu se chaadite naaro

kathaaya virakta e samsara

sarvasva bolicho yaara dite eka bata taara

se caahile koho aapanaara

 

"You outwardly perform rituals without desire for gain, but you are not able

to free yourself from the same. In your speech you are detached from the

material world. Who you call "my everything" is the same everything you give

only a lousy Banyan-leaf to. And you think that it is yours to give!"

 

 

 

 

koho bhaji vrindavaana ghare sukhavaasa mana

bbhaalobaaso vasana bhuushane

santushta maanicho maane mahaakrodhe apamaane

aatma-sukha ghucilo kemone?

 

"You say 'I worship Vrindavana', but you are happily staying at home - you

love all exterior trappings. You are satisfied with praise, but are enraged

when insulted. How did you manage to destroy the happiness of your soul?"

 

 

 

 

kohicho gopiira dharma ki bujhicho taara marma

svabhaava chaadite naaro tile

dekhiyaa paaicho sukha prakrti baaghinii mukha

sarvaatmaa sahite yei gile

 

"You say that you follow the gopis but what do you understand about the

meaning of that? You can^t let go of your nature one iota. You get pleasure

seeing the face of material nature (or women/man), who swallows you whole."

 

 

 

 

kohe shuno premaananda vicaarile sab dhandha

kohile shunile kibaa hoy

hari hari avirata koho ei prema patha

nirmala hoibe sunishcaya

 

"Listen", says Premananda, "if you think about it, it is all a ball of

confusion. What is to be gained by listening or flapping your mouth?

Always chant 'Hari Hari' while you traverse the path of love and you will

surely be cleansed of all impurities!"