Gaurangasundar dasa
A few notes for Narayan Maharaja and his so called Raganuga followers.
Narayan Maharaja likes to give lectures on Radha-Krishna lilas. He has also published many books depicting such pastimes. Anyone can download these books and lectures from the net without restriction. Anyone can purchase these books without qualification, the only thing you need is money. Radha-Krishna lila has become so cheap that it can freely downloaded or be purchased for few rupees by any Tom, Dick and Harry. ALL GLORIES TO HIS DIVINE GRACE SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYAN MAHARAJA. Diamonds are not given to persons who don’t have the qualification to even buy pebbles. You may be a pure devotee Maharaja, but to find a soul who is really qualified to understand such topics is very rare. Following notes from our Acharyas will make this point very clear.
Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:"Thoroughly study Bhagavad-gita, and after studying Bhagavad-gita, if you are fortunate enough to understand what is Krsna, then, Krsna says, surrender. That is the beginning of understanding Krsna. Don't try to understand the pastimes of Krsna with the gopis." (Class on Cc. Adi-lila 1.6, March 30, 1975)"But as far as possible, very cautiously and very rarely we shall present. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's life we see that in public. He never discussed about Krsna's lila with the gopis. That was very confidential discussion amongst His own circle, Raya Ramananda, Svarupa Damodara, like that. And He inquired... Even a learned scholar, He discussed about the philosophy, that Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. But when there was a great devotee like Ramananda Raya, He relished gopis', I mean to say, intimate behavior with Krsna. So we should remember this, that public may misunderstand this. Therefore we have to present these things very cautiously, not very openly. They may misunderstand." (Discussion with BTG staff. Dec.24th 1969)"We cannot understand the affairs of the spiritual world on the basis of our experience in the material world. The Lord's pastimes with the gopis are therefore misunderstood by mundane scholars and word-wranglers. The parakiya-rasa of the spiritual world should not be discussed, except by one who is very advanced in pure devotional service. The parakiya-rasa in the spiritual world and that in the material world are not comparable." (Cc. Madhya-lila 13.24, purport)"Although Krsna is the purest of the pure, mundane people, thinking of Krsna's pastimes that appear immoral, themselves become polluted. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore never publicly discussed Krsna's dealings with the gopis. He used to discuss these dealings only with three confidential friends. He never discussed rasa-lila publicly, as professional reciters do, although they do not understand Krsna or the nature of the audience. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged the public chanting of the Holy Name on a huge scale for as many hours as possible." (Cc, Madhya-lila 4.134, purp.) Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada replied, “Well, you may be fit to hear rasa-lila, but I do not feel that I am qualified to speak it. So kindly ask someone else." (Room Conversation, Mumbai).
“Without serving Kåñëa according to the vidhi-märga regulative principles of the päïcarätrika-vidhi, unscrupulous persons want to jump immediately to the räga-märga principles. Such persons are called sahajiyä.”(S.B:4.24 TEXTS 45-46 Purport)
Mayapur , 76-02-12.
The message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was to give the same message as Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita: "surrender to Krishna''. The pastimes of Radha-Krishna relationship are confidential and are not for the distribution to the ordinary public. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to discuss with Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Ray, Sikhi Mahiti, but not publicly. Ordinarily he was chanting the Hare Krishna mantra with ordinary devotees at the Jagannatha temple. So I think you should not discuss Radha-Krishna pranyayavikritih openly among ordinary conditional souls.
I hope this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
When one is mature in devotional service and is a realized soul, he can know his own eternal relationship with Kåñëa. One should not artificially try to establish some relationship. In the premature stage it is sometimes found that a lusty, conditioned person will artificially try to establish some relationship with Kåñëa in conjugal love. The result of this is that one becomes präkåta-sahajiyä, or one who takes everything very cheaply. Although such persons may be very anxious to establish a relationship with Kåñëa in conjugal love, their conditioned life in the material world is still most abominable. A person who has actually established his relationship with Kåñëa can no longer act on the material plane, and his personal character cannot be criticized. (N.O.D-CH40)
“Now, when we are in the pure stage, the same käma, the same manyu, the same mado lobhaù çoka, çoka, lamentation... Just like the gopés, they were lamenting, "Kåñëa is going to Mathurä," and He has gone there, the lamentation is there. This lamentation and our lamentation not the same. Therefore in the beginning, the neophyte devotees they should not try to understand the dealings of the gopés with Kåñëa. They should not try to understand. Unless one is free from the material concept, sarvopädhi vinirmuktaà tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. That means we have to execute devotional service in the regulative principle. "I cannot follow the regulative principle and I am trying to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa prema," this is rascaldom. This is rascaldom. Only rascals will do that. He does not see his position, that "What is my position? I am still full of lusty desires. My mind is still disturbed by seeing a nice woman or nice man, and I am discussing Rädhä-Kåñëa?" This is nonsense. Narottama däsa Öhäkura said, rüpa-raghunätha pade haibe äkuti kabe häma bujhabo se yugala-périti. Unless you are expert in devotional service, by practical application of the instruction of Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu... Rüpa-raghunätha pade haibe äkuti. Then if we are qualified, then some day we may be able to understand what is yugala-périti, love between Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé. Not so sudden. That is sahajiyä. Not so sudden. We should not try to do that. First of all I must see how much I have become sarvopädhi vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], how much I am free from the designational position. Then we shall be able. Rädhä-kåñëa-praëaya-vikröi ahlädiné çakti asmäd.
The Rädhä-Kåñëa-praëaya, loving affairs of Rädhä and Kåñëa, this is not ordinary thing. When you worship Rädhä-Kåñëa, we are not fit for that... [break] ...we shall think ourself as servant of Kåñëa, eternal servant of Kåñëa, under the guidance, ädau gurväçrayam. So if we want to do something, we must inquire from guru, sad dharma (indistinct). We must follow. We should not manufacture things, that "This way I shall be able to satisfy Kåñëa." No. Sädhu (indistinct). If I discuss about Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä in my neophyte stage, Kåñëa will be pleased. No. You must first of all purify yourself by the regulative principle. And when you are completely free, then from the material conception, then you understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä”(.Prabhupada lecture- Çrémad-Bhägavatam 5.6.5 Våndävana, November 27, 1976)
Therefore those who are sahajiyäs, they simply go to the pastimes of Lord Kåñëa with the gopés. Other things, "Oh, no, no. That is not Kåñëa's pastimes. That is not Kåñëa's pastimes." That is, they differentiate the absolute activities of the Absolute. That is called sahajiyä. The sahajiyäs will never read Bhagavad-gétä, will never read. (sarcastic:) Because they have been elevated to the mellows of conjugal love. Therefore they have no interest in Bhagavad-gétä. They say... Or when you discuss Çrémad-Bhägavatam on the philosophical point, janmädy asya [SB 1.1.1], they also do not attend. If you discuss on the philosophy of Upaniñad and Vedänta, they'll not attend. I have seen it. In Rädhä-kuëòa, sometime in 1934, my Guru Mahäräja was living, and he was discussing Upaniñad. He was discussing Upaniñad regularly. And the bäbäjés... There are many bäbäjés in Rädhä-kuëòa. First of all, they came, that "Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura has come, such a learned scholar and the establisher of Gauòéya Maöha." So out of curiosity they came. And when they saw that he was discussing Upaniñad, gradually they stopped coming. So my Guru Mahäräja recommended that "These people are not living in Rädhä-kuëòa. They are living in Näraka-kuëòa." I have heard it personally.
(Prabhupada lecture Çrémad-Bhägavatam 6.3.20-23Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971)
“Narottama däsa Öhäkura is singing,
rüpa-raghunätha-pade haibe äkuti
kabe häma bujhaba çré yugala-périti
The sahajiyäs, they immediately try to understand the love affairs of Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé. That is sahajiyism. Here we have to take instruction from Narottama däsa Öhäkura. First of all we have to take the mercy of Rüpa-Raghunätha, Gosvämés. Then if there is, our luck is good, then we can understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa prema. You, it is not a thing to be understood by the common man in the bazaar, Rädhä-Kåñëa. Therefore, in spite of hearing Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä for many, many years, they remain in the same position, not a single step forward, what to..., to understand Kåñëa? Because they do not try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa through the channel chalked out by Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Gosvämés. We must know. Rädhä-Kåñëa is not ordinary. Rädhä kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné çakti. This is the manifestation of the ahlädiné çakti of Kåñëa. Kåñëa does not enjoy any material thing. The gopés and Rädhäräëé, they are not these ordinary girls. Änanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhävitäbhis täbhir ya eva nija-rüpatayä kaläbhiù [Bs. 5.37].
So this is the process. We don't, therefore, advise people that immediately come to understand rasa-lélä. No. We never do so. First of all, understand Kåñëa by the channel, by the proper method. Then gradually, when you are actually purified, they you'll understand Rädhä-Kåñëa.
rüpa-raghunätha-padehaibe äkuti
kabe häma bujhaba çré-yugala-périti
They don't become sahajiyä, to understand Rädhä and Kåñëa just like ordinary... They're understanding Rädhä and Kåñëa, and they're inclined to so many nonsense things. If one understands Rädhä-Kåñëa, his impulse for sex life, véta räga käma, immediately will be finished. He'll never think of... As Yamunä, Yamunäcärya says, yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor. You know the verse?
Indian man: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Cite it. Yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor. Yamunäcärya.
Indian man: Oh, ahh...
Prabhupäda: No. This verse:
yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor
nava-nava-(rasa-)dhämany (udyataà) rantum äsét
tad-avadhi mama bata näré-saìgame smaryamäne
bhavati mukha-vikäraù suñöhu niñöhévanaà ca
So this is the test. If actually one understands Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä, then they'll forget forever this sex life of the material world. This is the test. So our request is that don't try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa. Just worship Rädhä-Kåñëa according to the arcana-vidhi. Then gradually Rädhä-Kåñëa will be pleased, Caitanya Mahäprabhu will be pleased, and svayam eva sphuraty adhaù. Sevonmukhe hi jihvädau [Brs. 1.2.234]. When They are pleased by your sevä, then They will reveal. Don't try to jump over to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa. That will not help us”. (Prabhupada The Nectar of Devotion lecture -Bombay, January 5, 1973)
So Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Rädhä-Kåñëa in our conditional stage, actually we worship Lakñmé-Näräyaëa. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-märga and räga-märga. Rädhä-Kåñëa worship is on the platform of pure love, and Lakñmé-Näräyaëa worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmacäré, one has to become a sannyäsé, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-märga, when you have no love for God or Kåñëa, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically..., there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mådaìga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Rädhä-Kåñëa, that is called viddhi-märga. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called räga-märga. So without viddhi-märga, if anyone wants to learn the räga-märga immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Rädhä and Kåñëa so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you'll understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa. Don't try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa very quickly, then there will be so many präkåta-sahajiyäs. In India there are präkåta-sahajiyä. Just like Rädhä-Kåñëa dancing. Rädhä-Kåñëa has become a plaything. The painting Rädhä-Kåñëa, Kåñëa is kissing Rädhä, Rädhä is kissing. These are all nonsense. Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand rädhä-kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir. Because Kåñëa and Rädhä, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jéva Gosvämé's analysis, that Kåñëa is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Rädhä is not in the material field.( Prabhupada lecture-Montreal, August 30, 1968)
Rämeçvara: This is one of their main, the main ideas in their philosophy is that the living entity can desire to have any relationship he wants with Kåñëa.
Prabhupäda: That's all right, he can desire. I already explained: first deserve, then desire.
Tamäla Kåñëa and Rämeçvara: Deserve then desire, oh.
Prabhupäda: You are rascal, how you can desire? You have no qualification, you desire to high-court judge. What is this nonsense?
Rämeçvara: But then they have an answer.
Prabhupäda: What is that answer?
Rämeçvara: That "Let me just try it anyway, to keep my mind thinking..."
Prabhupäda: How you can try it? First of all, be qualified, a big lawyer. Then you become high-court judge. Where is that qualification? You are after illicit sex and biòi and you want to be associated with the gopés.
Rämeçvara: They say that "In ISKCON, we do not..."
Prabhupäda: Let them say all nonsense. They are disqualified. Sahajiyä bäbäjés, that's all
Prabhupäda: And they'll do that. (japa) That sahajiyä tendency is very easy to take up.
Hari-çauri: It seems like it's an inherent thing in...
Prabhupäda: Thinking of Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä, that is in liberated stage, not in the conditioned stage.
( Morning Walk June 7, 1976, Los Angeles)
Who is qualified for Raganuga Bhakti and for hearing Radha Krishna's pastimes?Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Prema Pradipa Tenth Ray: ei rupa sabhaa ami taha vyakti karile anadhikarir pakse visesa amangala haite pare / ucchisthita satya-samuha ucchapadasta na haile labhya hay na / yemata samasta vijnanasa stre kramasah ucchajnaner udaya haya, tadrupa bhakti-sastrer u ucchadhikara-krame gudha-tattve prapti haiya thake /
"If I explain this topic (Radha Krishna's Pastimes) in the assembly, it could be harmful for the unqualified devotees. Higher truths cannot be attained unless one is situated on a higher platform. Just as higher knowledge gradually arises in all scientific literature, likewise, confidential truths are attained in devotional literatures by proper qualification."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta -Chapter 3. Part 2:sajatiyasaya-snigdha sad-gosthi vyatita rasa-vilapa kariben na / vaisnava jagat-samrddhi sambandha bhakta-sanga vyatita janya sanga kariben na "One should not discuss topics of rasa (Radha Krishna's Pastimes) with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement." -
(3) Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, asked that we keep Radharani in great reverence, 'On your head, over your head-don't be bold enough to approach directly: Pujala raga-patha gaurava bhange. Try to keep Her and Her group at a respectful distance, above your head. Don't rush towards that position. It is not that cheap. That is high, very high, and from below we are to honor that.' We must establish this conception, the proper regard for that higher lila, throughout the entire world: 'That is too high.’’’
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 1:itara visaye vairagya prapta jata-prema lokerai rasadhikari / yahara ekhana paryanta suddha-rati u jada-vairagya labha kare nai, tahara rasadhikara janya - viphala cesta karite gele rasake sadhana baliya kadacare pravrtta haibe / jataprema puruser ye bhava sahajei haiyacche, tahai rasa / rasa-vicara kevala ei rase ki ki bhava kiprakare samyojita acche, tahara vivrtti matra / rasa sadhananga naya, ataeva yadi keha balen, aisa tomake rasa-sadhana siksa dei, se kevala tahara durttata va murkhyata matra /"Those who have attained the level of prema and are completely detached from worldly pleasure are qualified for rasa. Those who have not attained pure rati and sense control make futile attempts to become qualified for rasa by practicing rasa. That taste which arises naturally in a person on the level of prema is called rasa. The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sadhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sadhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28:ei raser anadhikari ke? anadhikarike hari-nama dana kara yerupa aparadha ei rasa-visaya tahar nikata vyakhya karau tadrupa aparadha /"Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 6, Part 5:ei dainandini aprakrta radha-krsna-nitya-lila patha karibar sakaler adhikara nai / iha paramad-bhuta rahasya - visedha gopane rakha kartavya / yini ihar adhikari nana, tahake ei lila sravana karana ihabe na / jada-bandha-jiva ye paryanta cinta-tattve raga-marge lobha prapta na hana, se paryanta tahara nikata ihate ei lila-varnana gupta rakha kartavya / nama-rupa-guna lilar aprakrta-tattva arthat suddha-cinmaya-svarupa ye paryanta hrdaye udita na haya, se paryanta ei lila sravaner adhikara haya na / anadhikari-gana ei lila patha kariya kevala mayika-bhave jadiya stri-purusa-sangamadi dhyana karatah apagati labha kariben / pathaka mahasaya-gana savadhana ihaya narader nyaya aprakrta srnga-rasamskara-labha kariya ei lilaya pravesa kariben"Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Radha and Krsna. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. As long as the person has no realization of the pure spiritual nature of the transcendental Name, form, qualities and pastimes of Krsna, he has no qualification for hearing these pastimes. Hearing these pastimes, the unqualified person will simply meditate on material relationships of male and female, under the influence of maya, and by this he will become degraded. The reader, with great care should attain initiation into the srngara-rasa like Narada, and then he can enter the pastimes."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 7:ei madhura rasa vicare ami adhika pramana samgraha kari nai/ kenana yahara ihate pravesa karibar adhikara paiben, tahara ei raser sakala katha sri ujjvala-nilamani granthe evam jaiva-dharme dekhiya laiben"These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala- nilamani and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 7:ye sakala vyakti sthuladehagata ye sakala vyakti sthula-dehagata sukhake bahumanana karatah cinmaya dehagata ei sakala ananda-vaicitrya avagata hana nai, tahara e saba kathar prati drstipata, manana u alocana kariben na / kenana, taha karile ei sakala varnanake mamsacarasmagata kriya mane kariya haya aslila baliya ninda kariben, naya adara kariya sahajiya-bhave adhah patana labha kariben /"People who have strong attraction for gross material pleasure and cannot understand these topics should not read, think of, or discuss these topics of rasa, because they will think that these are all material activities and criticize them. If they do appreciate them at all, they will become degraded as sahajiyas.'
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 30:madhur bhakti-raske mukhya bhakti-rasa balen / jada-rasa-asrita buddhi isvara-parayana haile nivrtti -dharma labha kare, avara ye paryanta cidraser adhikari na haya, se paryanta tahader pravrtti santave na / sei sakala loker ei rase upayogita nai / madhura-rasa svabhavatah duruha / adhikari sahaje paoya yaya na baliya e rasa gudha rahasya-rupe gupta rakha ucita / etanibandhana ei sthale madhur rasa svabhavatah vistrtanga haile u sanksepe varnana karibe/"A person who is not renounced in this way is not qualified to understand the spiritual rasas. Therefore the people in general are not qualified to understand the madhura-rasa. Madhura-rasa is very difficult to understand. It is not easy to find a person qualified to understand it. This rasa is very confidential. Therefore it is appropriate to keep it hidden from general view."
In his lecture, Suddha o Viddha Bhakti, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has commented:atyanta guhyadapi guhya rai-kanura rasa-ganera padavali yadi amadera mata lampata-vyakti hate-bajare ghate-vate-mathe ya'ra-ta'ra kace gana va varnana kare, tabe ki uha-dvara jagaj-janjala upasthita haya na? bahya-jagatera pratiti prabala thakite amara ye yajana karitece baliya abhimana kari, taha nirathaka / amara ki lesa-matra-o bhagavanera janya anuraga haiyacche? ekbara niskapate antaratmake jijnasa karile bujha yaya / iha dvara bala haitecche na ye, bhajanera kriya chadiya dite haibe/ bala haitecche ye, adhikaranu-yayi krama-pathanusare agrasara haite haibe /"The songs of Rai-Kanu's (Radha Krishna) dealings with Each Other (rasa) is the greatest secret of all secrets. If those who are lascivious as ourselves go to sing or describe them in markets and bazaars, ghatas, roads and fields to each and everybody, won't it bring nothing to the world but unwanted rubbish? Whatever worship we boast of while our perception of external world is still strong as anything, is useless. 'Have I acquired a drop of at least anuraga for Bhagavan, genuine desire to give pleasure to His senses?' - this question we should ask our inner self at least once and without deceit, then everything will become clear. By that it is not intended to say that we are to give up bhajana-kriya for good. It is intended to say that one should follow the gradual path of progress according to one's adhikara (qualification)" (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Suddha o Viddha Bhakti, April 20, 1926)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, from an article in The Gaudiya, 1934:"Those who have chanted hari-nama (64 rounds daily) for fifteen or twenty years should know such things (Radha Krishna's elevated pastimes). The beginners need not hear these topics or they will misunderstand. These topics are for certain audiences, not for all. Also, it is said, apana bhajana-katha, na kahibe jatha-jatha, 'One should not reveal one's bhajana to others.' If we disregard this instruction of our previous acaryas then there may be a permanent fall from the realm of devotional service."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also writes in the Dasha-mula Tattva:"On the path of raga, however, it is necessary to avoid imitation or deception. If that occurs, it produces disturbance and obstacles, though the person may think that his corrupted raga is real raga. Finally, material association turns that raga into material attraction and causes falldown of the jiva."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura further explains the symptoms of real greed as follows in the Dasha-mula Tattva:"On attaining greed for the mood of the Vraja-vasis, no other attraction remains. When that greed arises, the practitioner immediately becomes completely disinterested in sinful action, piety, social duty, neglect of duty, forbidden actions, speculation, and dry renunciation."
In the biography of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja the following is written:"Whoever's heart is free from the modes of material nature, such that no type of material lust can come, is the only person who is always engaged in determined devotional service unto the Vaisnavas. This type of person, free from all impediments in devotional service - in their hearts the sprout of love of Godhead can actually take place, by hearing about the pastimes of the Lord. But those who have some materialistic desires within their hearts, if they hear pastimes of Radha and Krsna, then as a result of that, within their hearts, the seed of material lust will manifest. Acting as if they are hearing the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, their material lust simply only grows and grows." (Sri Sri Gaura-kisora Lilamrta-lahari)"When there is rain, weeds grow very quickly. Carefully planted seeds can also grow, but some are destroyed prematurely by a heavy downpour. By hearing a discourse about Krsna and His pastimes, the seeds of love for Krsna bud forth in the heart of those persons who are pure, devoid of material desires and sincerely dedicated to the service of the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas. Those in whom the seed of lust is found, however, will immediately become lustful upon hearing of the sportive pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. By pretentiously hearing the pastimes of Radha-Krsna, their lust becomes inflamed. The consciousness of the conditioned living being is covered by lust, and thus they take the transcendental pastimes of Radha-Govinda to be the libidinous exploits of a mundane hero and heroine. Those who assume that, because they have faith in the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, they are able to experience the transcendental nature of those pastimes, are unaware of their own carnal desires, being overwhelmed by the illusory energy. You cannot understand from their utterances whether the pastimes are transcendental or whether they have proper regard for the pastimes." (Sri Sri Gaura-kisora Lilamrta-lahari) ---
A few notes for Narayan Maharaja and his so called Raganuga followers.
Narayan Maharaja likes to give lectures on Radha-Krishna lilas. He has also published many books depicting such pastimes. Anyone can download these books and lectures from the net without restriction. Anyone can purchase these books without qualification, the only thing you need is money. Radha-Krishna lila has become so cheap that it can freely downloaded or be purchased for few rupees by any Tom, Dick and Harry. ALL GLORIES TO HIS DIVINE GRACE SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYAN MAHARAJA. Diamonds are not given to persons who don’t have the qualification to even buy pebbles. You may be a pure devotee Maharaja, but to find a soul who is really qualified to understand such topics is very rare. Following notes from our Acharyas will make this point very clear.
Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:"Thoroughly study Bhagavad-gita, and after studying Bhagavad-gita, if you are fortunate enough to understand what is Krsna, then, Krsna says, surrender. That is the beginning of understanding Krsna. Don't try to understand the pastimes of Krsna with the gopis." (Class on Cc. Adi-lila 1.6, March 30, 1975)"But as far as possible, very cautiously and very rarely we shall present. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's life we see that in public. He never discussed about Krsna's lila with the gopis. That was very confidential discussion amongst His own circle, Raya Ramananda, Svarupa Damodara, like that. And He inquired... Even a learned scholar, He discussed about the philosophy, that Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. But when there was a great devotee like Ramananda Raya, He relished gopis', I mean to say, intimate behavior with Krsna. So we should remember this, that public may misunderstand this. Therefore we have to present these things very cautiously, not very openly. They may misunderstand." (Discussion with BTG staff. Dec.24th 1969)"We cannot understand the affairs of the spiritual world on the basis of our experience in the material world. The Lord's pastimes with the gopis are therefore misunderstood by mundane scholars and word-wranglers. The parakiya-rasa of the spiritual world should not be discussed, except by one who is very advanced in pure devotional service. The parakiya-rasa in the spiritual world and that in the material world are not comparable." (Cc. Madhya-lila 13.24, purport)"Although Krsna is the purest of the pure, mundane people, thinking of Krsna's pastimes that appear immoral, themselves become polluted. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore never publicly discussed Krsna's dealings with the gopis. He used to discuss these dealings only with three confidential friends. He never discussed rasa-lila publicly, as professional reciters do, although they do not understand Krsna or the nature of the audience. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged the public chanting of the Holy Name on a huge scale for as many hours as possible." (Cc, Madhya-lila 4.134, purp.) Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada replied, “Well, you may be fit to hear rasa-lila, but I do not feel that I am qualified to speak it. So kindly ask someone else." (Room Conversation, Mumbai).
“Without serving Kåñëa according to the vidhi-märga regulative principles of the päïcarätrika-vidhi, unscrupulous persons want to jump immediately to the räga-märga principles. Such persons are called sahajiyä.”(S.B:4.24 TEXTS 45-46 Purport)
Mayapur , 76-02-12.
The message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was to give the same message as Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita: "surrender to Krishna''. The pastimes of Radha-Krishna relationship are confidential and are not for the distribution to the ordinary public. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to discuss with Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Ray, Sikhi Mahiti, but not publicly. Ordinarily he was chanting the Hare Krishna mantra with ordinary devotees at the Jagannatha temple. So I think you should not discuss Radha-Krishna pranyayavikritih openly among ordinary conditional souls.
I hope this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
When one is mature in devotional service and is a realized soul, he can know his own eternal relationship with Kåñëa. One should not artificially try to establish some relationship. In the premature stage it is sometimes found that a lusty, conditioned person will artificially try to establish some relationship with Kåñëa in conjugal love. The result of this is that one becomes präkåta-sahajiyä, or one who takes everything very cheaply. Although such persons may be very anxious to establish a relationship with Kåñëa in conjugal love, their conditioned life in the material world is still most abominable. A person who has actually established his relationship with Kåñëa can no longer act on the material plane, and his personal character cannot be criticized. (N.O.D-CH40)
“Now, when we are in the pure stage, the same käma, the same manyu, the same mado lobhaù çoka, çoka, lamentation... Just like the gopés, they were lamenting, "Kåñëa is going to Mathurä," and He has gone there, the lamentation is there. This lamentation and our lamentation not the same. Therefore in the beginning, the neophyte devotees they should not try to understand the dealings of the gopés with Kåñëa. They should not try to understand. Unless one is free from the material concept, sarvopädhi vinirmuktaà tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. That means we have to execute devotional service in the regulative principle. "I cannot follow the regulative principle and I am trying to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa prema," this is rascaldom. This is rascaldom. Only rascals will do that. He does not see his position, that "What is my position? I am still full of lusty desires. My mind is still disturbed by seeing a nice woman or nice man, and I am discussing Rädhä-Kåñëa?" This is nonsense. Narottama däsa Öhäkura said, rüpa-raghunätha pade haibe äkuti kabe häma bujhabo se yugala-périti. Unless you are expert in devotional service, by practical application of the instruction of Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu... Rüpa-raghunätha pade haibe äkuti. Then if we are qualified, then some day we may be able to understand what is yugala-périti, love between Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé. Not so sudden. That is sahajiyä. Not so sudden. We should not try to do that. First of all I must see how much I have become sarvopädhi vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], how much I am free from the designational position. Then we shall be able. Rädhä-kåñëa-praëaya-vikröi ahlädiné çakti asmäd.
The Rädhä-Kåñëa-praëaya, loving affairs of Rädhä and Kåñëa, this is not ordinary thing. When you worship Rädhä-Kåñëa, we are not fit for that... [break] ...we shall think ourself as servant of Kåñëa, eternal servant of Kåñëa, under the guidance, ädau gurväçrayam. So if we want to do something, we must inquire from guru, sad dharma (indistinct). We must follow. We should not manufacture things, that "This way I shall be able to satisfy Kåñëa." No. Sädhu (indistinct). If I discuss about Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä in my neophyte stage, Kåñëa will be pleased. No. You must first of all purify yourself by the regulative principle. And when you are completely free, then from the material conception, then you understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä”(.Prabhupada lecture- Çrémad-Bhägavatam 5.6.5 Våndävana, November 27, 1976)
Therefore those who are sahajiyäs, they simply go to the pastimes of Lord Kåñëa with the gopés. Other things, "Oh, no, no. That is not Kåñëa's pastimes. That is not Kåñëa's pastimes." That is, they differentiate the absolute activities of the Absolute. That is called sahajiyä. The sahajiyäs will never read Bhagavad-gétä, will never read. (sarcastic:) Because they have been elevated to the mellows of conjugal love. Therefore they have no interest in Bhagavad-gétä. They say... Or when you discuss Çrémad-Bhägavatam on the philosophical point, janmädy asya [SB 1.1.1], they also do not attend. If you discuss on the philosophy of Upaniñad and Vedänta, they'll not attend. I have seen it. In Rädhä-kuëòa, sometime in 1934, my Guru Mahäräja was living, and he was discussing Upaniñad. He was discussing Upaniñad regularly. And the bäbäjés... There are many bäbäjés in Rädhä-kuëòa. First of all, they came, that "Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura has come, such a learned scholar and the establisher of Gauòéya Maöha." So out of curiosity they came. And when they saw that he was discussing Upaniñad, gradually they stopped coming. So my Guru Mahäräja recommended that "These people are not living in Rädhä-kuëòa. They are living in Näraka-kuëòa." I have heard it personally.
(Prabhupada lecture Çrémad-Bhägavatam 6.3.20-23Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971)
“Narottama däsa Öhäkura is singing,
rüpa-raghunätha-pade haibe äkuti
kabe häma bujhaba çré yugala-périti
The sahajiyäs, they immediately try to understand the love affairs of Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé. That is sahajiyism. Here we have to take instruction from Narottama däsa Öhäkura. First of all we have to take the mercy of Rüpa-Raghunätha, Gosvämés. Then if there is, our luck is good, then we can understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa prema. You, it is not a thing to be understood by the common man in the bazaar, Rädhä-Kåñëa. Therefore, in spite of hearing Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä for many, many years, they remain in the same position, not a single step forward, what to..., to understand Kåñëa? Because they do not try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa through the channel chalked out by Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Gosvämés. We must know. Rädhä-Kåñëa is not ordinary. Rädhä kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné çakti. This is the manifestation of the ahlädiné çakti of Kåñëa. Kåñëa does not enjoy any material thing. The gopés and Rädhäräëé, they are not these ordinary girls. Änanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhävitäbhis täbhir ya eva nija-rüpatayä kaläbhiù [Bs. 5.37].
So this is the process. We don't, therefore, advise people that immediately come to understand rasa-lélä. No. We never do so. First of all, understand Kåñëa by the channel, by the proper method. Then gradually, when you are actually purified, they you'll understand Rädhä-Kåñëa.
rüpa-raghunätha-padehaibe äkuti
kabe häma bujhaba çré-yugala-périti
They don't become sahajiyä, to understand Rädhä and Kåñëa just like ordinary... They're understanding Rädhä and Kåñëa, and they're inclined to so many nonsense things. If one understands Rädhä-Kåñëa, his impulse for sex life, véta räga käma, immediately will be finished. He'll never think of... As Yamunä, Yamunäcärya says, yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor. You know the verse?
Indian man: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Cite it. Yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor. Yamunäcärya.
Indian man: Oh, ahh...
Prabhupäda: No. This verse:
yad-avadhi mama cetaù kåñëa-padäravindayor
nava-nava-(rasa-)dhämany (udyataà) rantum äsét
tad-avadhi mama bata näré-saìgame smaryamäne
bhavati mukha-vikäraù suñöhu niñöhévanaà ca
So this is the test. If actually one understands Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä, then they'll forget forever this sex life of the material world. This is the test. So our request is that don't try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa. Just worship Rädhä-Kåñëa according to the arcana-vidhi. Then gradually Rädhä-Kåñëa will be pleased, Caitanya Mahäprabhu will be pleased, and svayam eva sphuraty adhaù. Sevonmukhe hi jihvädau [Brs. 1.2.234]. When They are pleased by your sevä, then They will reveal. Don't try to jump over to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa. That will not help us”. (Prabhupada The Nectar of Devotion lecture -Bombay, January 5, 1973)
So Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Rädhä-Kåñëa in our conditional stage, actually we worship Lakñmé-Näräyaëa. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-märga and räga-märga. Rädhä-Kåñëa worship is on the platform of pure love, and Lakñmé-Näräyaëa worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmacäré, one has to become a sannyäsé, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-märga, when you have no love for God or Kåñëa, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically..., there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mådaìga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Rädhä-Kåñëa, that is called viddhi-märga. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called räga-märga. So without viddhi-märga, if anyone wants to learn the räga-märga immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Rädhä and Kåñëa so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you'll understand what is Rädhä-Kåñëa. Don't try to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Rädhä-Kåñëa very quickly, then there will be so many präkåta-sahajiyäs. In India there are präkåta-sahajiyä. Just like Rädhä-Kåñëa dancing. Rädhä-Kåñëa has become a plaything. The painting Rädhä-Kåñëa, Kåñëa is kissing Rädhä, Rädhä is kissing. These are all nonsense. Rädhä-Kåñëa philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand rädhä-kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir. Because Kåñëa and Rädhä, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jéva Gosvämé's analysis, that Kåñëa is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Rädhä is not in the material field.( Prabhupada lecture-Montreal, August 30, 1968)
Rämeçvara: This is one of their main, the main ideas in their philosophy is that the living entity can desire to have any relationship he wants with Kåñëa.
Prabhupäda: That's all right, he can desire. I already explained: first deserve, then desire.
Tamäla Kåñëa and Rämeçvara: Deserve then desire, oh.
Prabhupäda: You are rascal, how you can desire? You have no qualification, you desire to high-court judge. What is this nonsense?
Rämeçvara: But then they have an answer.
Prabhupäda: What is that answer?
Rämeçvara: That "Let me just try it anyway, to keep my mind thinking..."
Prabhupäda: How you can try it? First of all, be qualified, a big lawyer. Then you become high-court judge. Where is that qualification? You are after illicit sex and biòi and you want to be associated with the gopés.
Rämeçvara: They say that "In ISKCON, we do not..."
Prabhupäda: Let them say all nonsense. They are disqualified. Sahajiyä bäbäjés, that's all
Prabhupäda: And they'll do that. (japa) That sahajiyä tendency is very easy to take up.
Hari-çauri: It seems like it's an inherent thing in...
Prabhupäda: Thinking of Rädhä-Kåñëa lélä, that is in liberated stage, not in the conditioned stage.
( Morning Walk June 7, 1976, Los Angeles)
Who is qualified for Raganuga Bhakti and for hearing Radha Krishna's pastimes?Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Prema Pradipa Tenth Ray: ei rupa sabhaa ami taha vyakti karile anadhikarir pakse visesa amangala haite pare / ucchisthita satya-samuha ucchapadasta na haile labhya hay na / yemata samasta vijnanasa stre kramasah ucchajnaner udaya haya, tadrupa bhakti-sastrer u ucchadhikara-krame gudha-tattve prapti haiya thake /
"If I explain this topic (Radha Krishna's Pastimes) in the assembly, it could be harmful for the unqualified devotees. Higher truths cannot be attained unless one is situated on a higher platform. Just as higher knowledge gradually arises in all scientific literature, likewise, confidential truths are attained in devotional literatures by proper qualification."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta -Chapter 3. Part 2:sajatiyasaya-snigdha sad-gosthi vyatita rasa-vilapa kariben na / vaisnava jagat-samrddhi sambandha bhakta-sanga vyatita janya sanga kariben na "One should not discuss topics of rasa (Radha Krishna's Pastimes) with anyone except highly qualified persons on the same level of spiritual advancement." -
(3) Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, asked that we keep Radharani in great reverence, 'On your head, over your head-don't be bold enough to approach directly: Pujala raga-patha gaurava bhange. Try to keep Her and Her group at a respectful distance, above your head. Don't rush towards that position. It is not that cheap. That is high, very high, and from below we are to honor that.' We must establish this conception, the proper regard for that higher lila, throughout the entire world: 'That is too high.’’’
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 1:itara visaye vairagya prapta jata-prema lokerai rasadhikari / yahara ekhana paryanta suddha-rati u jada-vairagya labha kare nai, tahara rasadhikara janya - viphala cesta karite gele rasake sadhana baliya kadacare pravrtta haibe / jataprema puruser ye bhava sahajei haiyacche, tahai rasa / rasa-vicara kevala ei rase ki ki bhava kiprakare samyojita acche, tahara vivrtti matra / rasa sadhananga naya, ataeva yadi keha balen, aisa tomake rasa-sadhana siksa dei, se kevala tahara durttata va murkhyata matra /"Those who have attained the level of prema and are completely detached from worldly pleasure are qualified for rasa. Those who have not attained pure rati and sense control make futile attempts to become qualified for rasa by practicing rasa. That taste which arises naturally in a person on the level of prema is called rasa. The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sadhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sadhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 28:ei raser anadhikari ke? anadhikarike hari-nama dana kara yerupa aparadha ei rasa-visaya tahar nikata vyakhya karau tadrupa aparadha /"Who is not qualified to thus taste the nectar of the transcendental rasa? As it is an offense to give the Holy Name to an unqualified person, so it must also be an offense to explain the rasas to an unqualified person."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 6, Part 5:ei dainandini aprakrta radha-krsna-nitya-lila patha karibar sakaler adhikara nai / iha paramad-bhuta rahasya - visedha gopane rakha kartavya / yini ihar adhikari nana, tahake ei lila sravana karana ihabe na / jada-bandha-jiva ye paryanta cinta-tattve raga-marge lobha prapta na hana, se paryanta tahara nikata ihate ei lila-varnana gupta rakha kartavya / nama-rupa-guna lilar aprakrta-tattva arthat suddha-cinmaya-svarupa ye paryanta hrdaye udita na haya, se paryanta ei lila sravaner adhikara haya na / anadhikari-gana ei lila patha kariya kevala mayika-bhave jadiya stri-purusa-sangamadi dhyana karatah apagati labha kariben / pathaka mahasaya-gana savadhana ihaya narader nyaya aprakrta srnga-rasamskara-labha kariya ei lilaya pravesa kariben"Not everyone is qualified to read the daily pastimes of Radha and Krsna. It is esoteric knowledge of great wonder which must be kept secret. One should not let those who are not qualified hear these topics. As long as the soul has not attained greed for the spiritual world on the path of raga, the description of these pastimes must be kept hidden from him. As long as the person has no realization of the pure spiritual nature of the transcendental Name, form, qualities and pastimes of Krsna, he has no qualification for hearing these pastimes. Hearing these pastimes, the unqualified person will simply meditate on material relationships of male and female, under the influence of maya, and by this he will become degraded. The reader, with great care should attain initiation into the srngara-rasa like Narada, and then he can enter the pastimes."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 7:ei madhura rasa vicare ami adhika pramana samgraha kari nai/ kenana yahara ihate pravesa karibar adhikara paiben, tahara ei raser sakala katha sri ujjvala-nilamani granthe evam jaiva-dharme dekhiya laiben"These topics are more elaborately described in Ujjvala- nilamani and Jaiva Dharma. By consulting those books the qualified person can realize their nature. For fear of offense by unqualified persons nothing more will be said here."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 7:ye sakala vyakti sthuladehagata ye sakala vyakti sthula-dehagata sukhake bahumanana karatah cinmaya dehagata ei sakala ananda-vaicitrya avagata hana nai, tahara e saba kathar prati drstipata, manana u alocana kariben na / kenana, taha karile ei sakala varnanake mamsacarasmagata kriya mane kariya haya aslila baliya ninda kariben, naya adara kariya sahajiya-bhave adhah patana labha kariben /"People who have strong attraction for gross material pleasure and cannot understand these topics should not read, think of, or discuss these topics of rasa, because they will think that these are all material activities and criticize them. If they do appreciate them at all, they will become degraded as sahajiyas.'
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 30:madhur bhakti-raske mukhya bhakti-rasa balen / jada-rasa-asrita buddhi isvara-parayana haile nivrtti -dharma labha kare, avara ye paryanta cidraser adhikari na haya, se paryanta tahader pravrtti santave na / sei sakala loker ei rase upayogita nai / madhura-rasa svabhavatah duruha / adhikari sahaje paoya yaya na baliya e rasa gudha rahasya-rupe gupta rakha ucita / etanibandhana ei sthale madhur rasa svabhavatah vistrtanga haile u sanksepe varnana karibe/"A person who is not renounced in this way is not qualified to understand the spiritual rasas. Therefore the people in general are not qualified to understand the madhura-rasa. Madhura-rasa is very difficult to understand. It is not easy to find a person qualified to understand it. This rasa is very confidential. Therefore it is appropriate to keep it hidden from general view."
In his lecture, Suddha o Viddha Bhakti, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has commented:atyanta guhyadapi guhya rai-kanura rasa-ganera padavali yadi amadera mata lampata-vyakti hate-bajare ghate-vate-mathe ya'ra-ta'ra kace gana va varnana kare, tabe ki uha-dvara jagaj-janjala upasthita haya na? bahya-jagatera pratiti prabala thakite amara ye yajana karitece baliya abhimana kari, taha nirathaka / amara ki lesa-matra-o bhagavanera janya anuraga haiyacche? ekbara niskapate antaratmake jijnasa karile bujha yaya / iha dvara bala haitecche na ye, bhajanera kriya chadiya dite haibe/ bala haitecche ye, adhikaranu-yayi krama-pathanusare agrasara haite haibe /"The songs of Rai-Kanu's (Radha Krishna) dealings with Each Other (rasa) is the greatest secret of all secrets. If those who are lascivious as ourselves go to sing or describe them in markets and bazaars, ghatas, roads and fields to each and everybody, won't it bring nothing to the world but unwanted rubbish? Whatever worship we boast of while our perception of external world is still strong as anything, is useless. 'Have I acquired a drop of at least anuraga for Bhagavan, genuine desire to give pleasure to His senses?' - this question we should ask our inner self at least once and without deceit, then everything will become clear. By that it is not intended to say that we are to give up bhajana-kriya for good. It is intended to say that one should follow the gradual path of progress according to one's adhikara (qualification)" (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Suddha o Viddha Bhakti, April 20, 1926)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, from an article in The Gaudiya, 1934:"Those who have chanted hari-nama (64 rounds daily) for fifteen or twenty years should know such things (Radha Krishna's elevated pastimes). The beginners need not hear these topics or they will misunderstand. These topics are for certain audiences, not for all. Also, it is said, apana bhajana-katha, na kahibe jatha-jatha, 'One should not reveal one's bhajana to others.' If we disregard this instruction of our previous acaryas then there may be a permanent fall from the realm of devotional service."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also writes in the Dasha-mula Tattva:"On the path of raga, however, it is necessary to avoid imitation or deception. If that occurs, it produces disturbance and obstacles, though the person may think that his corrupted raga is real raga. Finally, material association turns that raga into material attraction and causes falldown of the jiva."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura further explains the symptoms of real greed as follows in the Dasha-mula Tattva:"On attaining greed for the mood of the Vraja-vasis, no other attraction remains. When that greed arises, the practitioner immediately becomes completely disinterested in sinful action, piety, social duty, neglect of duty, forbidden actions, speculation, and dry renunciation."
In the biography of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja the following is written:"Whoever's heart is free from the modes of material nature, such that no type of material lust can come, is the only person who is always engaged in determined devotional service unto the Vaisnavas. This type of person, free from all impediments in devotional service - in their hearts the sprout of love of Godhead can actually take place, by hearing about the pastimes of the Lord. But those who have some materialistic desires within their hearts, if they hear pastimes of Radha and Krsna, then as a result of that, within their hearts, the seed of material lust will manifest. Acting as if they are hearing the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, their material lust simply only grows and grows." (Sri Sri Gaura-kisora Lilamrta-lahari)"When there is rain, weeds grow very quickly. Carefully planted seeds can also grow, but some are destroyed prematurely by a heavy downpour. By hearing a discourse about Krsna and His pastimes, the seeds of love for Krsna bud forth in the heart of those persons who are pure, devoid of material desires and sincerely dedicated to the service of the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas. Those in whom the seed of lust is found, however, will immediately become lustful upon hearing of the sportive pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. By pretentiously hearing the pastimes of Radha-Krsna, their lust becomes inflamed. The consciousness of the conditioned living being is covered by lust, and thus they take the transcendental pastimes of Radha-Govinda to be the libidinous exploits of a mundane hero and heroine. Those who assume that, because they have faith in the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, they are able to experience the transcendental nature of those pastimes, are unaware of their own carnal desires, being overwhelmed by the illusory energy. You cannot understand from their utterances whether the pastimes are transcendental or whether they have proper regard for the pastimes." (Sri Sri Gaura-kisora Lilamrta-lahari) ---
nice post..timely and informative.
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