As for your desire to follow the path of the gopis

09-18-2003, 04:44 AM

Following the Path of the Gopis

Dallas, 30 July, 1975

Dear J...:

Please accept my blessings.
I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 21, 1975 and have noted the contents. It is a very good sign that although you are not happy now you know it is only because you are not in the company of Krishna and the devotees. It is true that in the past there was some mismanagement in our Honolulu temple, but I was there recently, and it is nicely organized. But, since you have moved to San Francisco, I advise you to go there to our very nice temple in Berkeley. All the things you say you are yearning for are there. Radha Krishna are being worshipped, and there are many devotees there. So I am sure that if you go there and join with the devotees, all your problems will be solved, Krishna Consciousness is so nice.

As for your desire to follow the path of the gopis, that can only be done by following the rules and regulations of devotional service in the association of devotees. Once you have joined the temple, then we can see about Deity worship.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

09-18-2003, 09:18 AM

The letter is personal and circumstancial.

Following the path of the gopis is the sweetest part
of ragAnuga bhakti.

atha raganuga-lakZaNaM
nijAbhimata-vraja-rAja-nandanasya
sevA prApti-lobhena yadi tAni kriyante
tadA rAgAnuga bhaktiH; yad uktam

sevA sAdhaka-rUpeNa
siddha-rupeNa cAtra hi
tad bhAva-lipsunA kAryA
vraja-lokAnusArataH

kRSNaM smaran janaM cAsya
preZThaM nija-samihitam
tat-tat-kathA rataS cAsau
kuryAd vAsaM vraje sadA

Raganuga-bhakti is performed in two ways:
(1) with the sadhaka-rupa with the external body through execution of the limbs of bhakti; and
(2) with the siddha-rupa, with the internally conceived body that is suitable for carrying out the perfected service ( prema-seva) for which one aspires.
Residing in Vraja with an intense desire to obtain one’s cherished object
Sri Krsna and the divine sentiments of His beloved associates (that is, rati
towards Sri Krsna), one should follow in the footsteps of the
eternal residents of Vraja, the dear associates of Sri Krsna, such as
Sri Radhika, Lalita, ViSakha and Sri Rupa Manjari.

One should also adhere to personalities such as Sri Rupa Gosvami and
Sanatana Gosvami who performed bhajana in Vraja in pursuance
of the sentiments of those eternal associates.

With one’s internally conceived body ( siddha-rupa) one should execute service within the mind ( manasi-seva) in accordance with the eternal associates
of Vraja such as Sri Radha, Lalita, ViSakha and Sri Rupa Manjari.
With the external body ( sadhaka-rupa) one should carry out bodily
services following in the wake of perfectly realised devotees such as
Sri Rupa and Sanatana who are also residents of Vraja.

sevA sAdhaka-rUpeNa
siddha-rupeNa cAtra hi

(from Gurudeva's translation and commentaries to
Bhakti RasAmRta Sindhu Bindu)

in the service of guru and vaiSnavas
anadi

anadi · 09-18-2003, 09:44 AM

If someone raises the objection that the word vraja-loka refers
only to Sri Radha, Lalita and others, it would then follow that with
the sadhaka-deha (the external body) one should perform bodily
services following in their wake.

If this indeed were the case, then
the followers of those eternal associates would not be required to
carry out the limbs of bhakti such as taking shelter of a spiritual
master, observance of Ekadaci, worship of Salagrama, worship of
tulasi and so on, since it is not mentioned anywhere that Sri Radha
and Lalita ever performed such activities. However, this erroneous
conclusion ( apasiddhanta) held by sceptics who have taken shelter
of modern adverse opinions is actually refuted by the word vrajaloka.

In his commentary to this verse of Bhakti-rasamRta-sindhu
(1.2.295), Srila Jiva Gosvamipada has explained the same thing;
namely, that the word vraja-loka refers to the dearmost associates
of Sri kRSNa and their followers such as sri Rupa Gosvami and
others.
Therefore one should perform
internal service ( manasi- seva ) through the medium of the siddha-deha
by following inaccordance with Sri Rupa Manjari and other Vrajavasis.
With the sadhaka-deha one should perform bodily service by following Sri
Rupa Gosvami and others.

(same source as above)

anadi

gHari · 09-18-2003, 10:39 AM

Anadi,

But there are so many Gurudevas. Let us glorify his name.

gHari

anadi · 09-18-2003, 12:40 PM

I was talking about my gurudeva om viSnupada paramAhaMsa Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.
Thank you for apreciating him.

atha raganuga-lakZaNaM
nijAbhimata-vraja-rAja-nandanasya
sevA prApti-lobhena yadi tAni kriyante
tadA rAgAnuga bhaktiH; yad uktam

Practicing the angas of bhakti
with the intense intense longing
to obtain the service of one's innermost desired object of love
Krishna in His feature as resident of Vraja, namely the vraja-rAja
is called raganunga bhakti.

yours respectfully
anadi

anadi · 09-19-2003, 03:32 AM

According to the conclusion of the Six Gosvamis, Srila Kaviraja
Gosvami and other rasika VaiSNava acaryas, the lila-rasa of
Vrajendra-nandana Sri kRSNa is the object to be tasted by
raganuga-sadhakas. But it is not possible to taste the lila-rasa of Sri
KRSNa without entering into Sri gaura-lila. In other words only
through the medium of gaura-lila is it possible to taste the lila-rasa
of Sri KRSNa. In Cri Caitanya-caritamRta( Madhya-lila25.271, 274)
Srila Kaviraja Gosvami has stated this as follows:

kRSNa-lila amRta-sara, tara cata cata dhara
daca-dike vahe yaha haite
se caitanya-lila haya, sarovara akSaya
mano-haMsa caraha’ tahate

The pastimes of Sri KRSNa are the essence of all transcendental
nectar. These nectarean pastimes flow in hundreds and hundreds of
streams, inundating the ten directions. The pastimes of Sri
Caitanya are an imperishable reservoir of nectar, saturated with the
pastimes of KRSNa. O swanlike mind, please wander on this transcendental
lake.

nana-bhavera bhakta-jana, haMsa-cakravaka-gaNa
yate sabe’ karena vihara
kRSNa-keli sumRNala, yaha pai sarva-kala
bhakta-haMsa karaye ahara

The devotees situated in various transcendental moods are like
swans and cakravaka birds who play upon the transcendental lake of
KRSNa’s pastimes. The sweet bulbs of the stalks of lotus flowers are
the sportive amorous pastimes of Sri KRSNa. Cri KRSNa eternally
enacts such pastimes and, consequently, they are the foodstuff for
the swanlike devotees who have taken shelter of Sri Gaurasundara,
who is the eternal embodiment of vipralambha-rasa and identical in
form to Sri KRSNa, the eternal embodiment of sambhoga-rasa.

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja)

anadi · 09-19-2003, 03:09 PM

In his book Prarthana (13) Srila Narottama Thakura has similarly
written:
gaura-prema rasarNave se taraNge yeba Dube
se radha-madhava-antaraNga

Gaura-prema is an ocean of rasa. Those who submerge themselves
in the waves of that ocean emerge in the waves of the confidential
and intimate service of Radha-Madhava.

Srila Kaviraja Gosvami and Srila Narottama Thakura have
composed the above verses for the benefit of raganuga-sadhakas.
Therefore raganuga-sadhakas should taste kRSNa-lila through the
medium of gaura-lila. Consequently, it is essential for sadhakas to
remember gaura-lila and to follow the eternal associates of Sri
Caitanya. Since it is necessary to follow the gaura-parikaras, it is
certainly imperative that one observe the limbs of bhakti ( gurupadaSraya,
ekadaSi-vrata, tulasi-seva, Sri Salagrama-seva and so on)
that were practised by the foremost associates such as Srila Rupa
Gosvami and others. There is no doubt about this.

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja)

anadi · 09-20-2003, 07:22 AM

Sri Rupa Gosvami, who is an eternal associate of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, serves Sri Radha-KRSNa as Sri Rupa Manjari in kRSNa lila.

Sri Rupa Manjari, appearing as Srila Rupa Gosvami with the
attitude of a sadhaka, weeps again and again and prays anxiously to
obtain the service of Sri Yugala. Sometimes, while praying in this
way, he would become so deeply immersed in the emotional trance
of Rupa Manjari that he would taste the happiness of direct
service.

Therefore raganuga-sadhakas must certainly follow Sri
Rupa-Sanatana and other gosvamis. Opposed to this are those who
vainly consider themselves as rasika-sadhakas but who do not
adopt the limbs of bhakti, such as guru-padaSraya and ekadaSi vrata.
They can never obtain the service of Sri Yugala.

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja)

anadi · 09-21-2003, 03:17 AM

This subject is extremely deep. Without the mercy of Sri
Gurudeva or pure rasika devotees, the sAdhaka cannot conceive of
his siddha-deha (perfected spiritual body). Therefore the contemplation
of one’s nitya-siddha-deha arises of its own accord only by
the merciful indication of Sri Gurudeva . By continual remembrance
of aSTa-kAlIya-lIlA(the pastimes of KRSNa performed in eight
divisions of the day), performed internally ( mAnasI-sevA) with the
nitya-siddha-deha, one obtains svarUpa-siddhi (perception of one’s
eternal perfected form, which occurs at the stage of bhAva-bhakti)
and ultimately vastu-siddhi. Vastu-siddhi is attained after giving
up this body and taking birth in KRSNa’s bhauma-lIlA from the
womb of a gopI.
(After attaining that last body, and)
After attaining the association of KRSNa’s eternal
associates and being purified of all final traces of material identification,
when prema is intensified, one attains vastu-siddhi.

(and that body becomes totally spiritualized, this is the meaning in Srimad Bhagavatam when it is said that the sadhana siddha gopis gave up their (material) bodies, they don't die. One does not die, which is most inauspicious, at the most auspicious festival of Vraja raja Sri kRSNa. When they were called by the venunAda to the most auspicious festival of all the worlds, they gave up the last attachements to external dharma, and by that their bodies became totally spiritualized, and in that body they can perform the most auspicious rasa dance.)

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, with added commentary from Srila Bhaktivedanta Aranya Maharaja)

anadi · 09-22-2003, 08:34 AM

But one should always bear in mind that not everyone has the
eligibility to perform yugala-seva by meditating in this way on
Their supramundane ( aprakRta) daily pastimes. This practice must
be concealed very diligently. One should not disclose these
pastimes to ineligible persons. Until genuine greed to enter into
the raga-marga arises in the heart of the jiva bound by matter, this
subject should be kept hidden from him. One remains ineligible to
hear the confidential pastimes of Sri Yugala, which are saturated
with rasa, as long as the conception of the transcendental nature
of the Lord’s name, form, qualities and pastimes has not implanted
itself in the heart. In other words one should understand that the
name, form, qualities and pastimes of Sri KRSNa are fully constituted
of pure spiritual transcendence ( Suddha-cinmaya-svarupa).
When ineligible persons hear or study these pastimes they recall
only the illusory and mundane association of men and women and
are thus compelled to fall down. Thus they sink down into the
muck of debauchery. Therefore judicious students, proceeding
cautiously, may enter into this lila after having obtained the appropriate
impressions ( saMskaras ) for aprakRta-SRNgara-rasa.

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja)

anadi · 09-23-2003, 09:00 AM

The fundamental conclusion is that only upon obtaining the
aforementioned eligibility can the sadhaka undertake the discipline
of raganuga-bhakti. By following this method of sadhana
while still plagued with anarthas and without the appearance of
genuine greed, the opposite effect will be produced. When genuine
greed for vraja-bhajana arises, one should first of all take shelter of
a dear devotee of Sri Gaurasundara, that Lord who is identical in
every respect to Sri Vrajendra-nandana. The beloved devotees of
Sri Caitanya will instruct us on the path of raganuga-sadhana in
accordance with our eligibility. Otherwise, if one falls into bad
association and by ill advice imitates the bhajana practices of those
on the highest level of eligibility, then under the guise of adopting
one’s siddha-deha one will incur only a harmful effect.

(commentary from the same book by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja)

Jagat · 09-23-2003, 12:06 PM

Just don't. That's all. Don't do it. Rupa Goswami warns not to. See Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.2.239.