Category:The Nectar of Instruction - Text 08
Pages in category "The Nectar of Instruction - Text 08"
The following 35 pages are in this category, out of 35 total.
A
- A devotee should always reside in the transcendental realm of Vraja and always engage in krsnam smaran janam casya prestham, the remembrance of Sri Krsna and His beloved associates
- After developing a taste for such things (chanting and remembering Krsna), one should try to live in Vrndavana and pass his time constantly remembering Krsna's name, fame, pastimes and qualities under the direction and protection of an expert devotee
- After smarana-dasa or samadhi has fully developed, the soul comes to understand his original constitutional position. At that time he can perfectly & clearly understand his eternal relationship with Krsna. That is called sampatti-dasa, perfection of life
- At that stage (devotional service in spontaneous love) the devotee can follow in the footsteps of one of the eternal associates of Krsna in Vrndavana
- At the time of death, the mind and intelligence of a living entity create the subtle form of a certain type of body for the next life
B
- By constantly hearing the transcendental holy name of Krsna and hearing of His transcendental form, qualities and pastimes, one can attain to the stage of acceptance called varana-dasa
- By following in the footsteps of such associates and by entering under their eternal guidance, one can acquire an intense desire to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead
I
- If the mind suddenly thinks of something not very congenial, one has to take a corresponding birth in the next life
- In the dasya-rasa one follows in the footsteps of servants like Citraka, Patraka or Raktaka. In the friendly sakhya-rasa one can become a friend like Baladeva, Sridama or Sudama
- In the madhurya-rasa, characterized by conjugal love, one can become like Srimati Radharani or Her lady friends such as Lalita and Her serving maids (manjaris) like Rupa and Rati
- In the neophyte stage one should always engage in hearing krsna-katha. This is called sravana-dasa, the stage of hearing
- In the transcendental realm of Vraja (Vraja-dhama) one should serve the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna, with a feeling similar to that of His associates
- In the vatsalya-rasa, characterized by parental affection, one can become like Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda
- In this way a neophyte can gradually develop attachment for Krsna's name, fame, form, qualities and so forth
- In this way one should reside in Vraja (Goloka Vrndavana dhama) and serve Krsna under the guidance of devotees
- In this way the mind's function can become dangerous for a conditioned soul. Students of psychology are aware of the mind's various psychological changes
O
- On the other hand, if one can think of Krsna at the time of death, he can be transferred to the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana
- One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service
- One should place himself under the direct guidance of a particular associate of Krsna and should follow in his footsteps
- One who has not yet developed interest in Krsna consciousness should give up all material motives and train his mind by following the progressive regulative principles
R
- Raganuga-bhakti, or spontaneous devotional service, can be executed in the santa-rasa when one aspires to be like Krsna's cows or the stick or flute in the hand of Krsna, or the flowers around Krsna's neck
- Recollection, absorption, meditation, constant remembrance and trance are the five items of progressive krsna-smarana. At first, remembrance of Krsna may be interrupted at intervals, but later remembrance proceeds uninterrupted
S
- Similarly, the tongue should be trained to speak only of Krsna and to taste only krsna-prasada
- Since the mind may be one's enemy or one's friend, one has to train the mind to become his friend. The Krsna consciousness movement is especially meant for training the mind to be always engaged in Krsna's business
- Srila Rupa Gosvami further advises, tisthan vraje: one should live in Vrndavana or any part of Vrajabhumi. Vrajabhumi, or the land of Vrndavana, is supposed to be eighty-four krosas in area
T
- The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time - twenty-four hours a day - in nicely chanting & remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities & eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue & mind
- The mind contains hundreds and thousands of impressions, not only of this life but also of many, many lives of the past. These impressions sometimes come in contact with one another and produce contradictory pictures
- This is the sum and substance of all instruction regarding the cultivation of devotional service
- This method is applicable both in the stage of sadhana (spiritual practices executed while in the stage of bondage) and in the stage of sadhya (God realization), when one is a siddha-purusa, or a spiritually perfect soul
- This process of transmigration is very subtle; therefore Srila Rupa Gosvami advises devotees to train their minds in order that they will be unable to remember anything other than Krsna
W
- When one attains this stage (varana-dasa), he becomes attached to the hearing of krsna-katha. When one is able to chant in ecstasy, he attains the stage of smaranavastha, the stage of remembering
- When one has developed such attachment, he can spontaneously serve the lotus feet of Krsna even without following the regulative principles
- When one makes Vrndavana his residence, he should take shelter of an advanced devotee there. In this way one should always think of Krsna and His pastimes
- When remembrance is uninterrupted, it becomes concentrated and is called meditation. When meditation expands and becomes constant, it is called anusmrti. By uninterrupted and unceasing anusmrti one enters the stage of samadhi, or spiritual trance