NITAAI Yoga The Pure Love of the Soul

To all devotees, Haribol!

All I can say is that the Lord has been unlimitedly kind on us by giving us a chance to immediately get to the purest platform of devotion. At least in this life, we over here are far away, both physically and otherwise from all the "white noise" that is going on around the place in the form of all these controversies, issues, debates and what not whose only job is to clutter up the spiritual path. Sometimes after I hear from other devotees a lot of news, I just heave a big sigh of relief that the Lord keeps me far away from all that.

Although I sometimes take a look at these things out of curiosity, I sometimes later think twice about it and I know within myself that all of it is so unnecessary for me. What lies ahead is really simple -- just guru, sadhu, chanting and the Lord and whatever related in that direction. Even preaching is not a responsibility we have to deal with and so we can just keep going with our spiritual progress with only ourselves to worry about. To me this is perhaps the ideal situation for devotional advancement.

I have written this topic about preaching and other issues, but upon later reflecting I ask myself "how or whether it even pertains to me or my devotion..." and then the answer is very clear -- it doesn't. Not for this soul or for many others. This single question alone when answered by the inner conscience is enough to wipe everything not needed for someone's devotion and what remains is a simple and wonderful opportunity given by the Lord.

So what for do I look at this? Is it curiosity? Or am I in any consciousness of planning to become a big preacher who thinks he can change the world? Or is it like reading newspaper gossip? Well the truth is that any of these or other similar answers means I simply do something for the sake of satisfying my false ego and in the process I am not acting in harmony with what the Lord has planned for me. From the way things have gone for me it is very clear that He desires to mercifully keep me far removed from so many headaches not really related to my devotion. He finds it funny that I don't keep my life simple and bother about so much irrelevant stuff far away. He assures me that He is right with me guiding me all along and right now that is all I need. In that case rather than simply acting like a donkey and inviting unwanted burden on my head I can just happily follow His lead and the end result is good for everyone.

Anyway this is my individual experience under on my unique path and one man's food can be another man's poison. So this is simply my own personal realization and its full details are not applicable to anyone else.

But devotees, one point though which IS valid for everyone is the question, "How does this/that/everything/etc... matter to my devotion, my bhakti?" When you chant the Lord's names, get in touch with Him or His devotee and meditate deeply on this, you will get an answer according to what the Lord has in store for you. Sometimes you may (like me) be astonished at how much effort we put into cluttering up our spiritual path, sometimes it may be bitter, and sometimes it may reveal to you that you've found your life's purpose. Whatever it is, that alone is really that which is related to our devotion, and the rest -- no matter how appealing it may seem, is simply unwanted clutter that distracts us from the spiritual path.

To me it reveals more and more of how much the Lord makes so many plans and adjustments for this one useless soul and I feel overwhelmed by the amount of love He wishes to show on me and also on every soul in creation. When I realize more and more of His sweet mercy, my appreciation for Him deepens further and at the end of the day I feel closer and more personal with Him than ever before.

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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3 Responses to “Just what is really necessary for our bhakti?” Reply Top

Indu says:

2009-12-18 23:04:32. Replies | Top | End | Reply

Dear Srinath, Jay Krishna.

i see you as a very realized devotee, and your words have helped me quite much to be more devoted or realize new things in devotion, i do not see how these discussions are not pertainning to devotion as you said, for me anyhow they have helped much, and without these discussions i would be less guided, and would have to trust only the Lord inside me, instead of getting this external form, which is like an external Guru of discussions on the Lord. devotion is not only chanting as was discussed in other topics, but it is also listening to the sources of knowledge availible to us, through books devotees and Gurus, and many people on their stage are dependent on the devotees mercy to guide them, so discussions, even through this modern tool of internet is needed for both intellctual and emotional support, which again are needed in the path of bhakti.

your fallen servant
Indupati das.

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Srinath says:

2009-12-21 15:48:03. Replies | Top | End | Reply

Dear Indu pati,

This is something on my unique path and what may be essential for one person may not be so for another. So when I felt I wrote something out of ego and desire for name and fame this is simply my own personal realization and its full details are not applicable to anyone else, so I beg that it should not carry any unintended meaning. I too have found my spiritual way only through the devotees here and the internet just like you did.

Anyhow the credit should go to our acharyas, guruji and the Lord for giving us the knowledge and the facility to write otherwise I myself have no knowledge of my own.

I never referred to anything within this sangha as unrelated to devotion, just commenting on my own thoughts.

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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Shyam Sundar says:

2009-12-21 16:37:55. Replies | Top | End | Reply

Nityananda, Gauranga, Hare Krishna! Dandvat Pranam to Swami Gaurangapada. Dandvat Pranam Srinath Prabhu! Dandvat Pranam to all the devotees on this forum.

In his article "Reforming the Reformer" Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad declares : "The world stands in no need of any reformer. The world has a very competent person for guiding its minutest happenings. The person who determines that there is scope for reform of the world, himself stands in need of reform." Further , the article continues : "What is necessary is to change our outlook on this world."

For anybody who desires to take the exclusive shelter of the Holy Names, the happenings of the world outside become irrelevant. Such a person doesn't ever see any defect in others, so there is no chance of him trying to reform anybody other than himself. If we claim to be followers in the line of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, we must accept this basic principle of bhakti. We must not pry into the frailties in others and only try to reform ourselves!
This is in the same spirit as the Third verse of the Shiksastakam : "Trnadapi suneechena, taroriv sahisnuna, amanina mandena, kirtaniyah sada Harih." Realizing oneself to be lower than a blade of grass despite being rich in all qualities, being more tolerant and generous than a tree, giving respect to others while desiring no respect for oneself despite being full of transcendental qualities, one should chant the Names of Hari incessantly.
A person who desires to attain Prema or Love of Krishna can never afford to seek faults in others. If we seek faults, we will achieve those faults for ourselves.

It is quite difficult to reach that stage where one is actually lower than a blade of grass. It is only possible by the unlimited mercy of Srila Gurudev. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur sings :"gurudeva! kripa-bindu diya, kara ei dase,. trinapeksha ati hina.."

Sometimes we feel we have reached that point. Then suddenly a change might occur , some major turbulence that was entirely unexpected and unplanned! So our patience, humility, tolerance will all be tested. Sometimes we might slip only to realize later that it was a test by the Lord Gauranga : to see whether we are actually determined on the path of devotion.
The most difficult situation one might face is when their faith stands challenged : by their worldly relatives or due to intense material distress. An even more difficult situation is to fall in between the conflict of well respected devotees.
I wish none of the devotees would ever face such trying circumstances, but nevertheless, we can never know the Lord's plan. From whatever little bit I have realized so far, I am able to say with a firm conviction that without the unlimited mercy of Guru - Vaishnav(s) and Gauranga (Krishna), one can never chant even for a moment, never do Deity worship even a single day and never have a darshan of the Holy Dham even once!

Therefore, we should always thank Guru-Krishna for whatever little opportunity we are allowed in this life in Kaliyuga, which is full of disturbances and shortcomings, to perform Harinam chanting and other devotional pursuits.

Please forgive any offenses. "vanchha kalpa-taru-bhyas-ca kripa sindhu-bhya-eva-ca, patitanam pavanebhyo-vaishnavebhyo namo namah!"

Daso'smi
Shyam Sundar