Title: Spiritual Activities Query

User: Swami Gaurangapada Date: 2006-12-14 07:17:00

 

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Dear Swami Gaurangapada, please accept my humble obeisances. Thank you very much for this opportunity to write, and place a spiritual question at your Lotus Feet. Just yesterday I felt a prompting in my heart to begin a re-study of my copy of Shri Krishna Samhita. As I felt it would guide me in the nature of ‘realizations’ that I am experiencing. « Less: "http://www.nitai.in/#"]More »[URL="http://www.nitai.in/#"

  In particular the middle section of Shri Krishna: "http:///" Samhita, Chapter two, verses 28-33 and verse 44. Dear Gurudeva in my yoga practice I have experienced to some degree realization of not-pure devotional service as mentioned in the above verses. I realize this devotional service is really a type associated with yoga. As the nature of my happiness is not unmotivated. Even though this happiness is great it is not what I am seeking in my heart.

 I feel saddened somewhat that I have minimal desires for pure devotion to our loving Shri Krishna: "http:///". And even this self-knowledge and renunciation spirit I feel escapes me, and I am re-plunged into this totally distressing mayic realm.

 I notice Bhaktivinoda Thakua says such phenomena is caused by lack of ’spiritual activites’. He says that at some point when the jnanis and yogis become fortunate they take up ’spiritual activities’. I also understand from his words, that this re-plunging and great distress I encounter from falling from the inferior devotion of yoga, and it’s concomitant happiness, is surely due to my lack of ’spiritual activity’.

 Dear Gurudeva, could you please clarify for me what Bhaktivinoda means here by the term ’spiritual activites’ ? And how do I attain taste and grace to receive such? Surely lack of attachment to the Lord’s spiritual activities is due to my poor fund of faith. So how can I even hope to enter such pastimes?

 Reading the Shri Krishna: "http:///" Samhita today has been a truly humbling experience. For I realize now I do not possess one drop of pure devotion, but my devotion, tears, happiness etc is totally mixed with desire for salvation/liberation or elevation.

 Could you kindly respond to my questions and assist me to rise above my lowly position and suffering. Thank you very much for this opportunity to write to you.

 desiring to be a humble servant,

Nava dasa: "http:///"]Gauranga [URL="http:///".

 Answer by Swami: "http:///" Gaurangapada:

 Please do not feel distress. The ups and downs including the lack of taste in the vaidhi Bhakti: "http:///"]Bhakti stage are due to the millions of lives which we have led in rebellion to Lord Gauranga Krishna. The unwanted things are slowly being cleared but sometimes they overwhelm us in the form of the dark desires for bhukti (sense-gratification), “yoga” (other processes than pure Bhakti) and mukti (liberation). The only solution to this are increased “spiritual activities”. The most primary of all spiritual activities is reading and hearing about the Lord’s glorious pastimes and then chanting the Name with that mood. You should increase your daily shravanam by reading and hearing more. And when you read, please read loudly. That will clear away the morbid desires. I suggest you give 2-3 hours to reading or hearing daily for quick advancement. Read Gaura Lila (Pastimes), Jaiva Dharma, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, Madhurya Kadambini (Philosophy) etc. I suggest you read only the second part of Shri Krishna Samhita which is written for the devotees. The first historical part is a preaching tactic by Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura and is written just to attract the indologists and scholars. If you want to know superiority of [URL="http:///" over other forms of yoga, please read Prema Pradipa by Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

 

Title: Re: Spiritual Activities Query

User: Nava Gauranga dasa  Date: 2006-12-14 08:49:00

 

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Dear Gurudeva, thank you for your advice. I will begin reading Prema Pradipa today. So once again, thank you for the Vanibase download. I could not find Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu in the vanibase, but I have a paper copy of Nectar of Devotion, and a pdf of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu Bindu. Thank you so much, I will absorb myself in the books you have recommended…..yours Nava.

 

Title: Re: Spiritual Activities Query

User: Chandrika Gauranga dasi      Date: 2006-12-14 08:51:00

 

Dear Nava Gauranga,

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

 I find that when I get disheartened, in fact things like chanting and reading are not as easy as it sounds to engage in. This is just my own personal experience, I hope you do not mind me offering my thoughts, but when I do get that way, in order to revive my interest, I find that simple things like going for a walk somwhere beautiful, and making a point to try and notice all the wonder of the Lords creation around me, often makes me feel more interested again. I guess just because when I actually open my eyes and take a good look around me, it is all so amazing that I become naturally inclined to want to know more about the creator.

 Even sometimes, just looking at my hand for example makes me think, wow, this is incredible how all this works, how on earth did all this come about, and then I seem to want to know and hence go to the scriptures, for some more info and chant to try and keep happy the one who beyond my comprehension brought it all about….just in case you know…

 Best Wishes Nava

Chandrika Gauranga dasi

 

Title: Re: Spiritual Activities Query

User: Nava Gauranga dasa  Date: 2006-12-14 08:54:00

 

Dear Chandrika, thank you very much for your kind words. It is such nice advice you have given.

 Thanks…Nava.