7 qualities of a pure soul

[Guest guest]

> I was told that Srila Bhaktivinod had written about this. Does anyone know

> about this?

 

I don't know whether this is the reference you want, but I am still posting it.

It is from his book Sri Krsna Samhita:

 

The whole life of a sadhaka on the path of raga is dedicated to cultivating

Krsna consciousness. This cultivation is divided into seven categories<$FThese

seven categories of cultivation are naturally reciprocal practices. If one is

unable to synthesis these practices, then one must take shelter of a qualified

acarya. One who has synthesized these practices in his behavior leads the life

of a Vaisnava, his family life is God-centered, and his existence is godly.

When one is liberated from material life, he begins to practice unalloyed

devotional service. Until one is liberated he should cultivate all seven items

mentioned on the following pages as follows:

 

It is the duty of everyone to follow these seven categories of cultivation. But

all the descriptions are not to be performed by everyone, because there is a

need to consider one's qualification.

 

1. Spiritual cultivation

 

(1) Priti and (2) realization of sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana.

 

2. Mental cultivation

 

(1) Rememberance, (2) thinking, (3) meditation, (4) concentrated meditation,

(5) samadhi, (6) consideration on the science of sambandha, (7) repentance, (8)

yama: Truthfulness, refraining from theft, giving up bad association,

intelligence, not accumulating more than necessary, religiosity, celibacy,

refraining from unnecessary talk, steadiness, forgiveness, and fearlessness.>,

and (9) purification of the heart.

 

3. Bodily cultivation

 

(1) Niyamas: Cleanliness, japa, austerity, sacrifice, faith, hospitality,

worship, pilgrimage, welfare work, satisfaction, proper behavior, and serving

the spiritual master, (2) serving others, (3) seeing and touching the devotees

and the Srimad Bhagavatam, (4) praying, (5) hearing, (6) engaging the senses in

devotional service, (7) transformations of ecstatic love, and (8) developing

the mood of servitude to the Lord.

 

4. Cultivation of speech

 

(1) Chanting hymns, (2) studying, (3) kirtana, (4) teaching, (5) praying, and

(6) preaching.

 

5. Cultivation of one's relationship

 

(1) santa, (2) dasya, (3) sakhya, (4) vatsalya, and (5) kanta. There are two

types of relationships-with the Lord and with the Lord's associates.

 

6. Social cultivation

 

(1) Varna-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra-their occupations and positions

are divided according to people's nature, (2) asrama-grhastha, brahmacarya,

vanaprastha, and sannyasa-divided according to peoples' social situation, (3)

assemblies, (4) general festivals, and (5) activities like sacrifice.

 

7. Cultivation of sense objects

 

The following sense objects help one in the development of Krsna consciousness.

(1) The objects for the eyes are the Deity, the temple, the scriptures, the

holy places, spiritual dramas, and spiritual festivals; (2) the objects for the

ears are the scriptures, songs, lectures, and conversations; (3) the objects

for the nose are tulasi, flowers, sandalwood, and other fragrant items offered

to the Lord; (4) the objects for the tongue are kirtana and taking a vow to

accept only the palatable foodstuffs and drinks that were offered to the Lord;

(5) the objects for the touch are the air of holy places, pure water, the body

of a Vaisnava, the soft bed offered to Krsna, and association with a chaste

woman in order to propagate a God-centered family; (6) the times like

Hari-vasara (Ekadasi) and festive days; and (7) the places like Vrndavana,

Navadvipa, Jagannatha Puri, and Naimisaranya.

 

Translated by Bhumipati Prabhu and Punadarika Prabhu