Upadesamrta

[Guest guest]

13. What is the meaning of the phrase "favorable cultivation of Krsna

consciousness"?

 

Our only duty is to cultivate Krsna consciousness. The daughter of Vrsabhanu

is most favorable to Krsna. Another name of the daughter of Vrsabhsnu is

Anukula, most favorable or most intimate. The dear devotees of Sri Radha are

all spiritual masters. The Gaudiya Vaisnavas are worshipers of Anukula's

Krsna or Sri Radha's Krsna. They are more partial to the daughter of

Vrsabhanu than to Krsna. Favorable cultivation of Krsna is possible under

the favorable guidance of the most favorable devotee of Krsna. The act of

cultivation must be executed in relation to Krsna alone. But alas! Instead

of making Krsna the center of our household chord, we have become the center

point, and thus we have become attached materialist.

 

14. What do the devotees do when they meet with danger?

 

In order to test us, sometimes the Lord puts us into difficulty. One who is

a real servant of the Lord does not become disturbed in any situation in

life. He engages in the service of the Lord, always with his body, mind and

speech. Material enjoyment cannot influence such a person. He is always

situated in devotional service to the Lord. He knows that the service to the

Lord is his life and soul, his very existence, and his only duty. Apart from

this, everything else leads him to death or material existence.

 

34. Can one have attachment for sense gratification even after taking

initiation?

 

The process of attaining transcendental knowledge is called initiation. The

Supreme Lord is the transcendental absolute truth, I am His eternal servant,

and I have no duty other than to serve Him; this is called transcendental

knowledge or actual initiation. Wherever there is an absence of this

knowledge, it is to be understood that there is certainly ignorance or lack

of transcendental knowledge. At present, there is lot of controversy

regarding the word initiation. The cause of our anarthas is to proudly claim

that I have taken initiation from a bona fide spiritual master. How can one

maintain material attachment even after taking initiation from a spiritual

master? How can one desire to make material advancement? Without developing

the knowledge of their relationship with the Lord, the independent and proud

people uselessly brag that they have taken initiation from the spiritual

master.

 

(from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Upadesamrta, an upcoming book)