Gaura vani - the message of Gaura and SB Svami Prabhupad

[anadi]

The worship of devotees engaged in the Lord's service in madhurya-rasa

is the supreme spiritual activity.

 

 

ye me bhakta-janah partha

na me bhaktas ca te janah

mad-bhaktanam ca ye bhaktas

te me bhakta-tama matah

 

"Lord Krsna told Arjuna, 'Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.'

 

The most dear servant of Krsna is Srimati Radhika and

the servants of Srimati Radhika are Krsna s most near and dear.

 

In the purport to CC Madhya 11.31

Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaj Prabhupada

Shows his understanding of Gaura vani:

 

Although all the rasas are on the transcendental platform,

madhurya-rasa is the supreme transcendental mellow.

Consequently it is concluded that

the worship of devotees engaged in the Lord's service in madhurya-rasa

is the supreme spiritual activity.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers

mainly worship Lord Krsna in madhurya-rasa.

Other Vaisnava acaryas recommended worship up to vatsalya-rasa.

Therefore Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Vidagdha-madhava (1.2) describes

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult as supreme:

 

anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau

samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this Age of Kali

to exhibit the superexcellence of madhurya-rasa,

a gift never previously bestowed by any acarya or incarnation.

Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is accepted as the most magnanimous incarnation.

It is He only who distributed

(the conjugal) love (unnatojjvala)

of

Krsna

while exhibiting the superexcellence of loving Krsna

in

the

conjugal

rasa.

 

The worship of devotees engaged in the Lord's service in madhurya-rasa

is the supreme spiritual activity.

[anadi]

The Rupa anugas

 

Srila B.Vedanta Narajana Maharaja spoke from Brahma-samhita. He began by saying that Brahmaji, the adi-guru of our sampradaya, realized his offense to the lotus feet of Govinda after stealing His sakhas and their calves. He therefore performed atonement and offered stutis, prayers, unto Govinda's lotus feet.

Since the time of Srila Rupa Gosvami,

no one in our sampradaya offers prayers

of formal worship

to Govinda.

Bhajami means to do bhajana, but in our sampradaya

bhajana means something more than that which is described in Brahma-samhita.

The acaryas in our Gaudiya Sampradaya worship Govinda in this mood:

He is always using sweet words to flatter Srimati Radharani.

Govinda is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Rather, His qualification is that He is always following Srimati Radharani's orders.

Whatever She wants Him to do, He must follow. This is Govinda.

Srila Maharaja then quoted verses from Brahma-samhita, such as:

yad-bhava-bhavita-dhiyo manujas tathaiva

samprapya rupa-mahimasana-yana-bhusah

suktair yam eva nigama-prathitaih stuvanti

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

["I adore the same Govinda, the primeval Lord, in whose praise men who are imbued with devotion sing the mantra-suktas told by the Vedas, by gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances and ornaments." (Brahma-samita 5.36)]

Yad bhava bhavita dhiyo. . .

I offer my humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of Govinda, the hearts of whose devotees are overwhelmed by various kinds of bhavas towards Him. Someone may have sakhya-bhava, someone vatsalya, and someone else may have madhurya-bhava.

All the acaryas in our sampradaya have the mood that,

"I am the maidservant of Srimati Radharani,"

and it is from the vantage-point of this mood that we look at Govinda.

 

[Guest guest]

With out real follow Prabhupada they not will understand higer goal Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

[Guest guest]

 

Bhajami means to do bhajana, but in our sampradaya

bhajana means something more than that which is described in Brahma-samhita.

The acaryas in our Gaudiya Sampradaya worship Govinda in this mood:

He is always using sweet words to flatter Srimati Radharani.

Govinda is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Rather, His qualification is that He is always following Srimati Radharani's orders.

Whatever She wants Him to do, He must follow...

 

All the acaryas in our sampradaya have the mood that,

"I am the maidservant of Srimati Radharani,"

and it is from the vantage-point of this mood that we look at Govinda.

 

 

For Gaudiya vaishnavas, Sri Radha remains everything, their "all in all". Any involvement with, or interest in, Krsna is only because of Her interest in Him and always motivated solely by the desire to better serve Her exclusively. They have no personal desire to enjoy intimacy with Sri Krsna outside of Radhika.

 

Without realizing this simple fact, the essence of the teachings of the six goswamis and the unique gift of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu cannot be truly known, in spite of extensive scriptural study and unlimited individual sadhana. Our concern is at all times with Radha's divine romance, not our own.

 

[Guest guest]

these topics can only be properly understood by instructions

from one who is actually engaged in them .

 

therefore the rasa of conjugal love

is not something that can be appreciated by those

who have no actual experience with them.

 

while meditating on the pastimes of Sri Vrndavana

is recommended for the those who have yet to experience

the transcendental pastimes directly, to fully appreciate one must understand some simple facts.

 

Sri Caitanya has demonstrated through his life the

highest ecstacy enjoyed by the Personality of Godhead.

 

He is Krishna on the outside,and Radha on the inside.

this transcendental truth needs to be appreciated

in order to fully comprehend the madhurya rasa of Vraja.

 

to fully appreciate the mellows of conjugal love

first one must understand the position of Radha

in relation to Krishna.

 

Sri Caitanya is demonstrating this by his life

and mellow of devotion, His mission is to distribute

the highest ecstacy, the mellow of conjugal love

by demonstrating to us all the sublime truth

of his inner desire.

 

He is not desirous of amourous pastimes with

Radha, instead we find Him overwhelmed by the ecstacy

of Radha for Krishna.

 

Although they are one and the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, the predominating mood is that of Sri Radha,

in the mellow of Vrndavana, the Vrndavana rasa

is one of casual intimacy, not of the grandeur and

worshipfullness of Vaikuntha.

 

Radha is the Hladini Sakti, the pleasure potency,

the internal energy of Krishna, She is the

transcendental repository of rasa, and her

intimate service in the mood of Vrndavana is

the message of Sri Caitanya.

[Guest guest]

 

With out real follow Prabhupada they not will understand higer goal Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

 

 

Many disciples refer to their gurudeva affectionately as "Prabhupada", including those in the Gaudiya Math. To follow "Prabhupada" means falling in line with his entire sampradaya, up to and including Srila Rupa Goswami. In fact, it ultimately requires a deep personal realization of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in common with all Gaudiya Vaishnavas. ISKCON, under the present authority of it's self-appointed gurus, cannot claim to hold the only corect and complete interpretation of the Absolute Truth. Neither can those who rely solely on their own understanding of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami and his books expect all others to automatically accept them as his "followers", in the fullest sense of the word, knowing Sri Guru remains one.

[anadi]

One meaning of the word prabhupada is

the one at whose lotus feet many realized souls are gathered

 

Srila PRABHUPADA PADMA STAVAH

 

Prayer to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada s Lotus Feet

 

By Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja

 

O Srila Prabhupada, your beautiful lotus feet

are cherished by millions and millions

of the purest and

most qualified devotees,

and you are the most competent personality to preach the recognized process for this era. Your sacred lotus feet are adorable,

as they openly grant fearlessness and

bestow the highest benediction to all living entities.

I eternally offer my respects unto that charming effulgence that shines forth from the radiant lotus toe tips of Srila bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.

 

There are also other 10 slokas.

 

Srila bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada was so pleased with this offering that he ordered it to be sung in all his mathas daily.

 

In Gaudya Vedanta Samiti this prayes are sung every morning after Mangala Arati.

 

[anadi]

samprapya rupa-MAHIMASANA-yana-bhusah

suktair yam eva nigama-prathitaih stuvanti

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

["I adore the same Govinda, the primeval Lord, in whose praise men who are imbued with devotion sing the mantra-suktas told by the Vedas, by gaining their appropriate beauty, greatness, thrones, conveyances and ornaments." Brahma-samita 5.36)]

 

 

Mahimasana generally means asana (sitting place), but here asana means Vraja-bhumi. Vraja-bhumi is the only sitting place of Govinda;

and greater than Vraja is Radha-kunda, which is the highest sitting place of the Divine Couple.

Still greater is Srimati Radharani's bhava, which is the only asana for Krsnacandra, Govinda.

Krsna always desires to be situated in Radharani's bhava.

Those who are overwhelmed by the moods of our sampradaya, thus performing this type of bhajana to Govinda,

can attain the highest perfection very quickly.

 

Srila B.Vedanta Narayana Maharaja then spoke about bhava. He said that there are eleven types of bhava revealed by the guru when the disciple is entering bhava-bhakti.

[1)sambandha (relationship),

2) vayasa (age),

3) nama (name),

4) rupa (personal form and beauty),

5) yutha (group),

6) vesa (dress),

7) ajna (specific instruction),

8) vasa (residence),

9) seva (exclusive service);

10) parakasta-svasa (the highest summit of emotion, which is the aspirant's very life breath, and

11) palya-dasi-bhava (the sentiment of a maidservant under the protection of Sri Radha).]

 

There are also five dasas (stages of advancement approaching the stage of perfection). This is explained in Jaiva Dharma, and those who really desire to do bhajana will attain these eleven types of moods and five dasas.

 

 

[anadi]

Wonderful commentary Madhavananda Prabhu!

Wonderful commentary "Siva" Prabhu!

[Guest guest]

 

 

Sri Mahaprabhu's favorite poem or book was the Gita-govinda.

This was written by jayadeva years previous to Sri Chaitanya's avatar.

 

this gita-govinda is based on the notion of Radharani's

seperation from Krishna.

 

there we find her taking solace and comfort from her closest friends, in Krishna's absence.

 

why is this considered by Mahaprabhu to be the

highest knowledge, surpassing all other

writings ?

 

Because it is in her closest friends that Radha

finds the comfort she needs, In Gita govinda

Krishna is not around, he has vanished.

 

there is only Radha and her friends.

 

this mystery of the gita -govinda was revealed to Jayadeva by his wife, who has been described to be the goddess of fortune Herself, incarnated to instruct Jayadeva

in these matters.

[anadi]

Srila BV Narayana Maharaja said further

 

yam krodha-kama-sahaja-pranayadi-bhuti-

vatsalya-moha-guru-gaurava-sevya-bhavaih

sancintya tasya sadrsim tanum apur ete

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

["I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, the meditators of whom, by meditating upon Him under the sway of wrath, amorous passion, natural friendly love, fear, parental affection, delusion, reverence and willing service, attain to bodily forms befitting the nature of their contemplation." (Brahma-samita 5.55)]

 

Here Brahmaji is giving us encouragement.

Whoever serves Govinda and adheres to any of these types of moods in relation to Krsna,

such as krodha (anger),

kama (desire for sense gratification),

sahaja pranaya (natural friendly love), and so forth,

will one day attain perfection.

Different people have different types of relationships with Krsna,

and through these relationships they attain Him.

Brahma says in this verse that one who comes to Krsna must one day attain perfection;

there is no doubt about it.

The type of sraddha one has in his heart determines what type of perfection he ultimately attains.

 

 

[Guest guest]

 

Sri Mahaprabhu's favorite poem or book was the "Gita-govinda".

 

This was written by Jayadeva years previous to Sri Chaitanya's avatar.

 

This gita-govinda is based on the notion of Radharani's

separation from Krishna.

 

There we find her taking solace and comfort from her closest friends, in Krishna's absence.

 

Why is this considered by Mahaprabhu to be the

highest knowledge, surpassing all other

writings?

 

Because it is in her closest friends that Radha

finds the comfort she needs, In Gita govinda

Krishna is not around, he has vanished.

 

There is only Radha and her friends.

 

This mystery of the gita -govinda was revealed to Jayadeva by his wife, who has been described to be the goddess of fortune Herself, incarnated to instruct Jayadeva in these matters.

 

 

Even while deeply immersed in the midst of enjoyment with Krsna, Radha still experiences sharp pangs of separation anxiety, Her emotions are so volatile. She remains ever dependent on Her dearmost girlfriends and that includes the young Radha-dasi manjaris during the Divine Couple's most intimate moments together, for not even Radhika's closest older sakhi companions are allowed to be present at those times.

 

Imagine a uniquely special and beautiful young 14 year old girl, head over heels in love with an irresistably charming boy who insists on breaking every rule, living in a magically divine world. If not for the steady supportive presence of Her always dependable girlfriends, how could She keep Him firmly under control at all times?

 

These relationships between Srimati Radharani and Her girlfriends form the very root of bhakti, in fact Gaudiya Vaishnavas identify Her as the sole source of devotional service. Bhakti is able to control Krsna only because of them. Just imagine then the most glorious and supremely intimate position of all great acharyas and pure devotees within our sampradaya!

 

Thus knowing their glories, we spontaneously worship this highest and most intimate prema wholeheartedly, from our own relatively insignificant positions; in full realization that our entrance into the Divine pastimes remains wholly dependent on that potency, not on any qualification or actions of ours'.

 

As a tiny twig sacrifices itself in a huge bonfire, we understand that the heat and light we may feel are not ours to enjoy for ourselves, but only to further feed the flames of Her devotion, always aware that Krsna cannot be satisfied by anyone other than our Swamini-kisori.

 

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

[anadi]

Your wonderful words touched my heart.

You brought me there again.

[Guest guest]

these are mysteries to the uninitiated.

to understand them in fullness, you must realize that the gopi's are expansions of Radha,they are displaying different

personalities, although they are all non different

then Sri Radha.

 

It is to those gopi's where our aspiration should lay.

we are advised to serve them,not in imitation of them,

but to serve their desires, this pleases Radha most.

 

to understand these things,Sri Rupa was empowered to write his plays, displaying the interactions between the gopas

and gopis, led by Krishna and Radha respectively.

 

Our line is that of Rupa, from his plays we can learn

the rasa that is desirous, and proper.

 

to take the wrong approach,as some would believe,

to imitate the gopis, in their rasa with Radha,

is wrongheaded, and headed for certain failure.

 

this is knowledge that is given by those with experience of it, to attempt to enter the party without

an invitation will lead to disaster, and is warned against

by the acharyas.

 

the 6 goswamis of Vrndavana were empowered to bring

the devotee gradually to the highest stage.

 

you cannot circumvent their writings and be successfull,

it can only lead to sahjiaism, imitation,

and ultimate dissatisfaction.

 

It is important to understand what is desired by

Radha and the gopis,not what we desire from them,

as being the key that unlocks the door to ecstacy.

 

[Guest guest]

 

...This gita-govinda is based on the notion of Radharani's separation from Krishna.

 

There we find her taking solace and comfort from her closest friends, in Krishna's absence...

 

In Gita govinda Krishna is not around, he has vanished.

 

There is only Radha and her friends...

 

 

When Radha is dying from separation, Her girlfriends unite together, gathering around to chant Krsna's glories and sing of His pastimes for Her. This acts like a lifeforce injection to revive their beloved mistress and friend. Indeed, after Krsna has not been present in Vrndavan for some time, the entire village joins as one to support Radhika, drawn by the desperation and intensity of Her plight. Even rivals like Candravali join in, just to keep Her alive!

 

This, of course, is the real spirit in which we should chant -- as one, deeply rooted together by our common loving concern for Her. Though many may find themselves isolated from the community of devotees, or simply alone in their hearts, truth is we all share in that same separation of Radha. That remains the common transcendental bond which unites us in devotional service. It's what Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement is all about!

 

Jai Gauranga! Jai Gaurangi!

[Guest guest]

these pastimes have an external and an internal

meaning to them.

the pretenders become fixated on the external meanings,

and attempt to imitate the external emotions,

this is the path of the person who is trying to

leapfrog over the authorized process and enter

into Vraja lila without proper qualifications,or understandings.

 

in order to gain a following sometimes these pretenders

will fixate on the intimate pastimes of Vraja,not understanding their inner meaning.

 

they will constantly speak about madhurya rasa

and their undying devotion to help Radha serve

Krishna.

 

that is the path for the imitator,the sahajiya,

the sincere follower will take the instructions of the bona fide acharyas to heart.

 

Those who fixate on the conjugal pastimes of Vraja

without the proper introduction and understanding

who imitate the emotions of the gopis for Krishna,

should be avoided, they are pretenders, desirous

of followers,or respect and fame.

 

this has become an all to common occurence, the warnings are from the acharyas, those who imitate the emotional

feelings of the gopis, are pretenders.

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the cautionary note, prabhu. I almost always appreciate and agree with your inspiring posts, including this last. I'm simply speaking of "emotional dovetailing" always in subservience to Sri Radha as Her parts and parcels, from my own personal realizations and experience. This necessarily entails seeing myself as the least of all, in fact not even a devotee, let alone a vaishnava.

 

Srimati Radharani is the female half of the Supreme Personality and we all are connected to Her as such. Since Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Her mood, much has been revealed in this regard. Still, there will surely be much more to come. Our present involvement with Her should not be confused though with what will ultimately become a face-to-face relationship after much purification in service to His Divine Grace, probably over many future lifetimes.

 

During performance of external sadhana, there must be some inner impetus, and I find discussion of these topics sadly lacking among devotees. We are not meant to be yogis after all, practicing emotional detachment and denial of feelings. IMHO this has been the cause of so many 'fall-downs' and unnecessary distress, resulting in marital break-ups, etc. Have you read the letter of resignation written by Jagadisa Swami?

 

There is certainly an enormous difference between mere sentiments and the genuine devotional ecstasy of great devotees, but so long as we realize our fallen position, those feelings can and should be shared to some extent; or at least more deeply understoood, in order to better worship them and relate with the acharyas.

 

This is one reason why Radha-dasi manjaris are in the same highest rasa as their Divine Mistress, Radhika, though not themselves romantically involved with Krsna. They take shelter of each other heart-to-heart, as well. Should we not aspire for similar relationships based on shared devotional feelings? BTW, I am not Madhavanda das. He's still in India, I believe, and not on the internet at all.

[Guest guest]

all very nice,

the last question though ,the answer is no.

 

what is going on between gopis is of an altogether

different thing then what is goin on here.

 

The gopis are all expansions of radha,and are non different

then her.

We are not that,or them.

 

The shastric descriptions of Vraja lila,especially

madhurya rasa are written in such a way that the

truth is hidden fron those who are not

introduced to it by those involved in it.

 

you can tell who are the pretenders, because we are told the highest position in service to Radha is the gopis service.

the pretenders will take this as an invitation to imitate

the gopis so to appear on their level,as great servants.

 

The inner facts are quite different, the actual truth

is that the devotee actually in that rasa is not in that mood,

the mood of the gopis.

 

The actual mood is described as being the servant of the gopis, not as one of them,but serving their inner desire,

their inner truth,their inner identity.

 

our relationships as bhaktas here,should be based

on sharing love,not imitating gopis.

[Guest guest]

 

...in order to gain a following sometimes these pretenders

will fixate on the intimate pastimes of Vraja,not understanding their inner meaning.

 

they will constantly speak about madhurya rasa

and their undying devotion to help Radha serve

Krishna.

 

that is the path for the imitator,the sahajiya,

the sincere follower will take the instructions of the bona fide acharyas to heart.

 

Those who fixate on the conjugal pastimes of Vraja

without the proper introduction and understanding

who imitate the emotions of the gopis for Krishna,

should be avoided, they are pretenders, desirous

of followers,or respect and fame.

 

this has become an all to common occurence, the warnings are from the acharyas, those who imitate the emotional

feelings of the gopis, are pretenders.

 

 

Wow! Sounds like what you were accused of when first posting here! Remember the 'grand inquisition'? Didn't you get the same response on the raganuga.org site? An all too common occurence, IMHO... Anyway, the only followers I have might be the occassional stray dog, when I go for a walk, and I try not to be too encouraging...no food to feed!!!

[Guest guest]

Isn't it encouraging when we can somehow or other inspire each other? Contrary to what many seem to be thinking these days, I'm not after 'adulation' and certainly not looking for 'followers'. I do remember when we all joined together as one though, with Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada our only guru, what now seems so very long ago and impossibly idealistic. How we used to enthusiastically share our heartfelt 'realizations' one-on-one late into the night, sometimes tearfully. Followers? No, prabhu, but friends and godsiblings very much so...

[Guest guest]

 

hey relax, don't get defensive,

i wasn't talking about you.

 

what happened in the past was that certain

people were immersed in imitating the gopis,

or at least trying.

 

i don't think warning against that,

is something that those whose full attention

and devotional practice was focused in that

direction, found very enlightening.

 

nevertheless like Srila Prabhupada quoted

'spiritual life is like a razors edge,one slip

and ..ouch.'

 

the reality as i see it, is that for a while now

there has been emphasis on developing

Vraja rasa ,in the here and now,

by various so called authorities.

 

these people have no actual experience with

vraja rasa and try to pass themselves off as experts

leading their following,if they have one,

down the primrose path of delusional

mentalities devoid of any actual

connection to spiritual reality.

 

the sahajiya problem has long existed in

the gaudiya sampradaya,it is nothing new.

 

The thing to look for is whether or not

the 'authority' is focused on teaching about

the love and devotion of madhurya rasa,

insisting that they are following in the footsteps

of the gopis or manjaris, in their devotional

attitude towards Radha Krishna.

 

they make this the focus of their devotional

practice and speaking, not knowing that they are

revealing their ignorance by doing so.

 

We have been instructed that these topics are not for

public consumption as they are full of hidden meaning

and can only be understood when they are revealed,

the pretenders ignore this.

 

they constantly speak about madhurya rasa ,they

do not understand the inner truths, and their constant

speaking on these matters shows them to be

desirous of fame,as great devotees.

 

the actual acharya does not focus his public

speaking on these things, they are revealed to the devotee

on a need to know basis, the bogus acharya will

constantly speak of these things, to prove his gopi

like devotion.

 

Why do you think Srila Prabhupada did not dwell

on madhurya rasa , he of course wrote about,

and spoke about it, but he did not dwell on it,

as some do.

 

[anadi]

Answer for "Dear Anadi"

Thank you for your wonderful words. I understand you are a senior devotee in all senses, and I bow my head at your feet.

"I do remember when we all joined together as one though, with Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada our only guru, what now seems so very long ago and impossibly idealistic.

How we used to enthusiastically share our heartfelt 'realizations' one-on-one late into the night, sometimes tearfully. Followers? No, prabhu, but friends and godsiblings very much so..."

 

Dadati pratigrihnati / guhyam akhyati priccati / bunkte bhojayate caiva / sad vidham priti lakshanam.

I am only a neophyte but I love priti lakshanam.

 

 

"When Radha is dying from separation, Her girlfriends unite together, gathering around to chant Krsna's glories and sing of His pastimes for Her."

 

When one reads this, some extremely little melting of the heart can come (or more) and some externals manifest, remembering the wonderful hari khatas gurudeva use to speak in Vraja Mandala Parikrama (and I am there again) and maybe some reflection of that separation arise in the heart.

We should not speak too deep on the subject, but some hints can be given to nourish our greed to attain that...

 

The goal of sadhana bhati is bhava

Kriti sadhya bhavet sadya / bhava sa sadhana abhidha

 

And that bhava will be reflected form the heart of the sat guru in the heart of the disciple by the mercy of that guru, according the progress of the disciple in cleaning the mirror of the heart.

 

"Even though I chant Gauranga s name, qualities and pastimes, somehow my heart has not melted. How do I continue to maintain the burden of this body? How is it that the Lord has created the body of Narahari, giving a stone in place of a heart?"

 

Oh, the stone can melt. Only my heart is made of the thunderbolt of too much aparadhas.

 

Suddha sattva vishesh-atma prema suryamsu samyabhak

Rucibbis citta masrinya krid asau Bhava ucyate

 

A mellow of tastes rucibbis will completely melt (masrinya) the heart (citta) when bhava will manifest.

 

Srila Rupa Gosvami clearly stated the goal of sadhana bhati:

Kriti sadhya bhavet sadya / bhava sa sadhana abhidha

 

I am only a neophyte but I love priti lakshanam.

 

[Guest guest]

 

...And that bhava will be reflected form the heart of the sat guru in the heart of the disciple by the mercy of that guru, according the progress of the disciple in cleaning the mirror of the heart.

 

"Even though I chant Gauranga's name, qualities and pastimes, somehow my heart has not melted. How do I continue to maintain the burden of this body? How is it that the Lord has created the body of Narahari, giving a stone in place of a heart?"

 

Oh, the stone can melt. Only my heart is made of the thunderbolt of too much aparadhas.

 

Suddha sattva vishesh-atma prema suryamsu samyabhak

Rucibbis citta masrinya krid asau Bhava ucyate

 

A mellow of tastes rucibbis will completely melt (masrinya) the heart (citta) when bhava will manifest...

 

 

 

Jai prabhus, all glories to our Swamini Kisori, Gopinath's dearmost beloved Radhika! Humility often clouds our vision, blocking the ability to see devotion in our own hearts, but we can indeed watch Her dance in others'. As Srila Prabhupada used so often reminded us, "Why focus on the moon's dark spots, when it's radiance is so much more brilliant?" We can indeed encourage the best in each other, simply by looking deeply and teaching our eyes to actually see, always appreciating that we do so only through His Divine Grace. The interaction of Radha and Krsna, Their divine qualities, can be quite easily witnessed in the devotees [i enjoy them best during japa!] with only the slightest efforts on our parts. We have only to take the proper perspective within our hearts, as Lord Caitanya so sweetly advises in His prayers. When our concern becomes more for the devotion in those around us than our own, miracles can happen before our very eyes!

 

Personally, I find the gentle way Radha humbles me extremely effective compared to what was needed previously...God is here with us always, we need only try to take shelter in Her, not Him, with the aim of increasing devotional service through intensifying our personal connection. Access to His inner potency [srimati Radharani] is readily available to everyone, by the unconditional mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu, but especially to we who are fully aware of our most fallen position and acutely feel the pain of our inability to assist Her parts-and-parcels [devotees] due to our many shortcomings. Sri Radha Herself will see to our own devotion while we attend to those She cares so very deeply about. Purification happens almost automatically when motivation is properly fixed. We are given to in accordance with how we use or misuse Her divine energy.

 

External and internal are always present, but our attention has been mainly on attempting to manipulate the former for whatever reasons. Now I feel we must recognize ourselves within the latter, somehow or other learning to engage our activities in relation to Radha and Her girlfriends, not Krsna who has his own roles to play. Like bank tellers managing money, there has to be a certain detachment from the desire to personally enjoy Her hladini potency. Personal progress can be assessed by that.

 

Not having close contact with any gurus I can confidentially share this with, it may be only my overly imaginative speculation, however I know beyond a doubt that my own heart of coal has begun to shine like a diamond, though just a little. Maybe the pressure I've been going through all these years has not been in vain after all. As westerners, we often come to expect immediate gratification, or else we move on. What we're involved in here cannot be moved on from, for Radha and Krsna are ultimately everything, and to have come in contact with Their pure devotees means we have at last reached the beginning of the end. For true devotees, that can be defined as eternal devotional service, personified as Srimati Radharani and expressed in their relationships with Her, birth after birth. She, assisted by Her close associates, remains both the means and the end for all of us. How personally and intimately we are involved is the only question...

 

Mahaprabhu's appearance in Her mahabhava has opened all the doors and every option is open to each of us. Simultaneous faith in God and Guru alone is the sole instrument we require, not to operate so much on our own hearts as each others'; not to assist Krsna in killing demons or enforcing the following of religious principles, but to reinforce that divine light of devotion as best we can, thereby assisting Radhika and Her devotees.

[Guest guest]

wow, cool.

 

At the same time we should be aware that the

way to increase our qualification for the transcendental

entrance into the eternal realm is through the

service and association of the doorkeeper,

the qualified representative who has already

established that connection, that is the process,

the only way to ascend to the transcendental

realm is that way, by our own effort

we cannot, it is closed to us.

[Jagat]

Discussing doesn't necessarily mean understanding. We always say that the Holy Name Form and pastimes are touchstones. They do not require understanding to exercise a powerful transcendental effect.

 

Somehow, those rules change when it comes to Radha katha, at least in some circles.

 

My opinion is that, qualified or unqualified, we should discuss, enjoy and try to understand Radha katha. Dwell on it, in other words. It is the central core of Mahaprabhu's religion. If you shut Radha out, you may as well take another path. If it is a question of qualification, I have a secret: You'll never be qualified.

 

What does it all mean? Try to understand: if you say "incomprehensible, avoid," you show lack of sraddha. Without sraddha, how are nistha, asakti, ruchi, bhava, etc., possible?

 

Some people say that raganuga bhakti only comes after bhava has been attained through vidhi marga. This is a complete travesty of Rupa Goswami's teachings.