The perfection of life

Preamble

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the ocean of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service.

He empowered Sri Ramananda Raya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service.

This cloud was filled with the water of all the conclusive purports of devotional service and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the ocean of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service.

When Ramananda Raya saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder. He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down flat like a rod.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramananda Raya, and he replied, "Yes, I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramananda Raya very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love. Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell down on the ground.

Srila Ramananda Raya was an incarnation of the gopi Visakha.

Since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Lord Krsna Himself, there was naturally an awakening of love between Visakha and Krsna. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the combination of Srimati Radharani and Krsna. The gopi Visakha is a principal gopi assisting Srimati Radharani.

Ramananda Raya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced, since their natural love also was awakened

The nearby brahmanas began to think, "We can see that this sannyasi has a luster like the effulgence of Brahman, but how is it He is crying upon embracing a sudra, a member of the fourth caste in the social order?

They thought, "This Ramananda Raya is the Governor of Madras, a highly learned and grave person, a maha-pandita, but upon touching this sannyasi he has become restless like a madman.

Mahaprabhu smiled and began to speak as follows."Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya spoke of your good qualities, and he made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you. Ramananda Raya replied, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thinks of me as his servant.

Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.

Ramananda Raya replied You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities. Indeed, I am the lowest amongst men of the fourth caste. You do not fear the Vedic injunctions stating that You should not associate with a sudra. You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with sudras. You have come here specifically to deliver me.

You are so merciful that You alone can deliver all fallen souls.

My dear Lord, sometimes great saintly persons go to the homes of householders, although these householders are generally low-minded.

When a saintly person visits their homes, one can understand that it is for no other purpose than to benefit the householders.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said "I wish to hear from you about Lord Krsna. Indeed, My mind is inclined to desire this; therefore I wish to see you again."

Ramananda Raya replied, "My Lord, although You have come to correct me, a fallen soul, my mind is not yet purified simply by seeing You. Please stay for five or seven days and kindly cleanse my polluted mind. After that much time, my mind will certainly be pure."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Ramananda Raya to recite a verse from the revealed scriptures concerning the ultimate goal of life.

Ramananda replied that if one executes the prescribed duties of his social position, he awakens his original Krsna consciousness.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varna and asrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varnas and asramas."

The Lord replied, "This is external. You had better tell Me of some other means."

Ramananda replied,

"To offer the results of one's activities to Krsna is the essence of all perfection."

yat karosi yad asnasi

yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kurusva mad-arpanam

" 'My dear son of Kunti, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give in charity, and whatever austerities you perform, all the results of such activities should be offered to Me, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.' "

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said.

"This is also external,"

"Please proceed and speak further on this matter."

When I first started chanting I was far from ecstatic love and knew nothing about the jewels in the ocean of devotion. Krishna has been very receptive and my life is now filled with spiritual treasures Lord Krishna has provided with his opulence. Remembering to love and be devoted will lead me back to Godhead and put the troubled road I was on without enlightenment behing me.

Ramananda Raya replied, "To give up one's occupational duties in the varnasrama is the essence of perfection."

Ramananda Raya continued,

" 'Occupational duties are described in the religious scriptures. If one analyzes them, he can fully understand their qualities and faults and then give them up completely to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is considered a first-class man.'

"As stated in scripture [bg. 18.66], 'After giving up all kinds of religious and occupational duties, if you come to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and take shelter, I will give you protection from all of life's sinful reactions. Do not worry.' "

After hearing Ramananda Raya speak in this way,

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again rejected his statement and said,

"Go ahead and say something more."

Ramananda Raya then replied, "Devotional service mixed with empiric knowledge is the essence of perfection."

Ramananda Raya continued,

brahma-bhutah prasannatma

na socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu

mad-bhaktim labhate param

"According to the Bhagavad-gita, 'One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.' "

After hearing this, the Lord, as usual, rejected it, considering it to be external devotional service.

The Lord again asked Ramananda Raya to speak further, and Ramananda Raya replied,

"Pure devotional service without any touch of speculative knowledge is the essence of perfection."

Ramananda Raya continued,

"Lord Brahma said,

'My dear Lord, those devotees who have thrown away the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth and

have therefore abandoned discussing empiric philosophical truths

should hear

from self-realized devotees (sat mukharita)

about Your holy name, form, pastimes and qualities.

They should completely follow the principles of devotional service

and remain free from illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and animal slaughter.

Surrendering themselves fully with body, words and mind,

they can live in any asrama or social status.

Indeed, You are conquered by such persons, although

You are always unconquerable.' "

At this point, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied,

"This is all right,

but still you can speak more on the subject."

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says:

The way to bhakti is the way of shabdha brahma (transcendental sound).

Spoken by Srila Bhaktivedanta Aranya Maharaja in Vraja Mandala Parikrama 2001:

"adau guru mukhat shravant"

Srila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explained in the purport of this verse:

"Srimad Bhagavata 3.9.11. (Asse zrutekSita-patho nanu nAtha puMsAm)

that the path to Krsna can be seen through the ears and

that hearing must be done from the mouth of sat guru.

If the path is transcendental

why do you limit it by physical association?

Answer:

Because it is transcendental therefore

any transcendetal thing oh,

comes from transcendental source;

like harinama, diksa mantras are transcendental

hari katha is transcendental

srimad bhagavatam is transcendental,

so transcendental things come from transcendental source.

So, everything in THIS world is material!

So, where it will come from?

Only when any realized person descende in this world

and is carying bhakti-shakti with them,

than you can receive what is transcendental.

When a pure devotee speaks, mixed within his voice

are the safron particle of the lotus feet of Krsna,

says Srimad Bhagavatam;

so,

sound has 4 dimensions:

vaikarik, madya, para, pashianti.

First dimension is the outer portion of the sound, what you speak, what you hear, and

what is going in your tape recorder.

Next two levels

are on the subtle platform of the mind and intelligence.

The fourth level is called shabda-brahma

and goes from soul to soul."

The transcendental sound can be uttered by the realized soul

and imbibe the audiance with seva vasana

(the seed of the desire to serve the DIVINE COUPLE- if the one that utters the sound is a RUPA-ANUGA.)

Only a sat guru (the one that have seen Krsna face to face) can give the transcendetal sound.

He is the only one who can give real initiation through the transcendental sound in Hari-nama and diksa (Gopala-mantra, Kama-gayatri-mantra, Gayatri-mantra...)

but

bhaktis tu bhagavad bhakta

sangena parijayate

SAT-SANGA prapyate pumbhih

SUKRITI purva sancite

The inclination for bhakti is awakened

by the association with the devottes of the Lord

And the association with the pure devotees

(SAT SANGA) can be attained by the accumulated effect of SUKRITI (eternal pious activities) performed over many life times.

(Brihan Naradia Purana 4.33)

More details in the article Sat Guru and the transcendental sound.

Krsna bhakti janma mula haya sadhu sanga

Krsna prema janme tenho punah mukhya anga

CC Madhya

Sadhu sanga (the association with saintly realized persons)

- ist the root cause of krsna-bhakti

- waters the creeper of bhakti

- bring the fruit of krsna-prema

- remains the most essential anga of bhakti after the krsna-prema was awakened.

." Ramananda Raya then replied, "Prema bhakti (ecstatic transcendental love) for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the essence of all perfection."

anyabhilasita-sunyam

jnana-karmady-anavrtam

anukulyena krsnanu-

silanam bhaktir uttama

“The cultivation of activities

which are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Sri Krsna, or in other words

the uninterrupted flow of service to Sri Krsna,

performed through all endeavors of the body, mind, and speech, and

through the expression of various spiritual sentiments ( bhavas),

which is not covered by

jñåna (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and

karma(reward seeking activity), and

which is devoid of all desires other than

the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna, is called uttamå bhakti,

pure devotional service.” ( Brs1.1.11)

***The transcendental sound can be uttered by the realized soul

Yes, first needs search his. But some another person may help some in spiritual science.

Srila B Vedanta Aranaya Maharaja said

Only the sad guru preaches.

All the others are just assisting his preaching, they should not think, they are preachers.

And how should they assist preaching? Like this:

Go to sadhu and take diksha (get the transcendental sound of initiation and further bhajan shiksa ).

They should preach the glories of their sad guru, of their param guru, param param guru and the whole sadhus in the parampara.

If they don t make the person they are preaching to,

to go and take diksa from the sat guru, they don t really help that person,

and they don t really serve guru and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

But some service is there, some good samskaras will come for that person and, at least we are preaching to our mind, something,

according our conditioned understanding.

All glories to sri sri guru and gauranga

is posted by anadi

Prema bhakti is governed by a variety of tastes

Ramananda Raya continued, "

'As long as there is hunger and thirst within the stomach,

varieties of food and drink make one feel very happy.

Similarly, when the Lord is worshiped with

pure transcendental love (prema),

the various activities performed in the course of that worship

awaken transcendental bliss in the heart of the devotee.'

***Only the sad guru preaches.

Yes, first needs search his.

and following the mood of the residents of Vraja

Ramananda Raya said

krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matihi

kriyatam yadi kuto 'pi labhyate

tatra laulyam api mulyam ekalam

janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate

krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matihi

indicate one whose intelligence or perception has been awakened toward krsna-bhakti-rasa.

The words laulyam api mulyam ekalam

indeed the only price to attain krsna-bhakti-rasa is greed,

indicate that this supremely rare greed cannot be aroused even by pious activities accumulated over uncountable milions of births (janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate).

Here the inplication is that by faithfully

hearing the narations of Sri Krsna s pastimes

saturated with rasa

from the lips of rasika Vaishnava,

in whose heart krsna-bhakti-rasa is manifested,

that fragrant transcendental sound will water their seed of devotional plant (bhakti lata bija) and the greed to obtain this krsna-bhakti-rasa will be arisen.

One who is not bestowed with this association of rasika Vaishnavas

can faithfully and attentively study the transcendental literature written by such rasika vaisnavas,

and some good samskaras (impressions in the heart) will come and the wish to attain their association, by which this greed will come, will grow.

And this is the only mean (api mulyam EKALAM), to the door of ragaanuga bhakti.

Hearing up to the point of spontaneous love, the Lord said, "This is all right, but if you know more, please tell Me:

was posted by anadi krsna dasa

Is not us that search for guru, but guru search for us.

For the sincere devotee Krsna appears in front of Him

in the form of sat guru.

bhaktis tu bhagavad bhakta

sangena parijayate

SAT-SANGA prapyate pumbhih

SUKRITI purva sancite

The inclination for bhakti is awakened

by the association with the devottes of the Lord

And the association with the pure devotees

(SAT SANGA) can be attained by the accumulated effect of SUKRITI (eternal pious activities) performed over many life times.

(Brihan Naradia Purana 4.33)

Hearing up to the point of spontaneous love, the Lord said,

"This is all right, but if you know more, please tell Me."

In reply, Ramananda Raya said,

"Spontaneous loving service in servitude--as exchanged by master and servant--is the highest perfection.

Spontaneous loving service to the Lord is called devotional service with an intimate transcendental attachment between the servitor and the served.

This INTIMACY is called mamata. Mamata means possessiveness or my-ness.

This mamata is very weak in Vaikuntha because of the conception that the Lord can take any form He wants, according His opulent potencies, and shanta is prevalent.

The residents of the Vaikuntha world have not

a specific attachement for a particular form of the Lord,

that is why they continue to practice vaidhi bhakti, worshiping the Sri Sri Vigraha of Lakshmi Narayana as in the material world,

knowing that the forms of the Lord are all equal, and that is why shanta is prevalent.

There it is a lack of INTIMACY.

We can not talk about raganuga bhakti, the path of spontaneity, in Vaikuntha.

Beginning with Ayodya, the transcendental World of Sri Rama,

this mamata (the feeling that this Lord is my Ishta Deva) intensifies.

" 'A man becomes purified simply by hearing the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose lotus feet create the holy places of pilgrimage.

Therefore what remains to be attained by those who have become His servants?'

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.5.16) and is an admission by the great sage Durvasa Muni. Durvasa Muni, a caste brahmana and great yogi, used to hate Maharaja Ambarisa. When he decided to chastise Maharaja Ambarisa through his yogic powers, he was chased by the Sudarsana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When things were settled, he said, "When the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is heard by any person, that person is immediately sanctified. The Supreme Lord is master of the devotees, and the devotees, under His shelter, naturally come to own His opulences."

Hearing this from Ramananda Raya, the Lord again requested him to go a step further. In reply, Ramananda Raya said, "Loving service to Krsna rendered in fraternity is the highest perfection.

As long as loving service is rendered to the Lord in the master-servant relationship, there is some fear, for the servant is always afraid of the master, despite the intimacy of self-interest. In this stage the servant is always afraid of the master and respectful of Him. When the devotee is further advanced, he has nothing to fear. He considers the Lord and himself on an equal level. At such a time, the devotee is fully convinced that Lord Krsna is a friend and cannot at all be dissatisfied if the devotee lives with Him on an equal level. This understanding is called visrambha, that is, devoid of a respectful attitude. When this attitude is chosen, it becomes sakhya-prema, or love of Godhead in friendship. On this stage there is developed consciousness of equality between the Lord and the devotee.

But still there is a wall of intimacy there, if some jnana about the opulence of the Lord is present. For example Arjuna, when he saw the Universal Form of the Lord His mood of awe and reverence came in Him, and with folded hands started to pray to Krsna.

Only in Braja the pure sakhya prema is present.

When Krsna was playing with his sakhas in Braja in a fighting mood, he took a gigantic Vishnu Form. But His friends were not at all impressed. They just addressed Him saying that He should not use such tricks. They said that He maybe learned such tricks from Garga Muni or so.

The sakhas in Braja see in Krsna only their fried, and nothing else.

Their sakhya-prema is uttama.

Ramananda Raya said

" 'Neither those who are engaged in self-realization,

appreciating the Brahman effulgence of the Lord,

nor those engaged in devotional service

while accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as master,

nor those who are under the clutches of Maya, thinking the Lord an ordinary person,

can understand that certain exalted personalities-

-after accumulating volumes of pious activities--

are now playing with the Lord in friendship as cowherd

boys.' "

spoken previously by Sukadeva Gosvami (Bhagavtam 10.12.11),

The above statement is made by Sukadeva Gosvami (Bhag. 10.12.11), who appreciated the good fortune of the cowherd boys who played with Krsna and ate with Him on the banks of the Yamuna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

"This statement is very good, but please proceed even further."

Ramananda Raya then replied,

"Loving service to the Lord in the parental relationship is the highest perfectional stage."

The love of the devotee is so intense that the Lord gives Himself totally under the care and protection of that personality. Controlled by that love, the Lord take an inferior position, as that of a child, and the devotee take a superior position, as that of a parent under the arrangements of the internal potency of the Lord the svarupa sakti, or yoga maya.