|
Letters # 2
|
|
Hare Krsna, this is the re-written article on "higher rasa," done by Harinamdas Prabhu.
Please accept my obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. There are some devotees who say we should pursue a spiritual goal such as to become a gopi, or a gopa, etc., in our next life, etc. I have just heard a statement to that effect recently. Some devotees have been quoted to say that Srila Prabhupada gave the basics and the higher process is to pursue some type of rasa that one is attracted to. Hopefully we can shed light on this issue, which has confused and even divided devotees for a long time. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti and Srila Sanatana Gosvami both explain in their commentaries on the 14th chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, "Prayers of Lord Brahma", of how Lord Brahma is not presumptuous to think that he could enter into the exalted status of the residents of Vrindavan. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti comments on text 31 as follows: (Lord Brahma speaks to Lord Krishna) "However, it is not proper for persons like myself to request the position of Your greatest devotees, who love You in the pure vatsalya-rasa and other exalted rasas. That position is very difficult to attain. My words here are meant only to glorify it." Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti also explains how Lord Brahma deems it not proper to request the position of great devotees of Gokula, in exalted rasas such as vatsalya, etc. "My greatest possible good fortune would be to take any birth whatever in this forest of Gokula and have my head bathed by the dust falling from the lotus feet of any of its residents. Their entire life and soul is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, the dust of whose lotus feet is still being searched for in the Vedic mantras." (SB 10.14.34) Similarly Sanatana Goswami explains how Brahma responds to Krishna’s questions as follows: Lord Krishna may ask: "You prayed to attain any sort of birth where You would be touched by the dust from the feet of Gokula’s residents. Why did you not ask for a birth as a gopa or one of the other devotees there?" Sanatana Goswami describes further: "O Lord, the Personified Vedas are the most senior and venerable persons. They are my teachers. If they find it difficult to attain the dust of Your feet, then it is not proper for me to pray as You suggest. How can I pray to become a gopa or other Gokula resident, who have all conquered Your lotus feet by the greatness of their love?" Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains how even Lord Brahma declines to pray for the position of the great residents of Gokula, such as gopas, etc. He sees how the Personified Vedas even find it difficult to attain the dust of the Lord’s feet. Brahma factually realizes his humble position. I know that many devotees follow the vani of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti’s teachings as he is considered to be a bona fide rasika guru. And so I was surprised to read his commentary on Lord Brahma’s prayers. It is quite illuminating to understand that even Lord Brahma would not assume to reach the status of the residents of Vrindavan. He did not consider it proper to even request such a position. Srila Prabhupada has also stated repeatedly that we should simply follow the process of vaidhi bhakti and realize that we are not this material body. Then our rasa will be revealed to us in due course of time. Here we see this humble mood confirmed by the great acaryas. We cannot force or imitate pure devotional service to appear until it is meant to appear by our mature devotional service and Krishna's supreme will. First we must realize that "we’re not this material body" and perfect our sadhana bhakti, preach Krishna Consciousness and serve our Guru’s mission. Then eventually our particular rasa will be revealed to us by the grace of guru and Krishna, who have been pleased by our humble service. We’ve seen time and time again, that some devotee, or some sanyasi had thought that he was qualified and engaged in "higher rasa" when time had told that he was still not sufficient in knowledge that "he was not his body" and he suffered some falldown, due to gross mis-identification with the material body. Srila Prabhupada has tried to spare us from this presumptuous attitude, being the precursor to sahajiyism.
Eternal Constitutional Identity of the Soul: The constitutional spiritual identity (svarupa) and function of the soul is that it is an eternal servant of Krishna. That is the essential characteristic of the soul not the specific rasa (shanta, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madurya). Therefore one should always cultivate devotional service to Krishna beginning from regulative vidhi-marga then one's raga-marga (5 rasas) will develope properly without any separate endeavor. Because raga-marga is on the perfectional uttama-adhikari devotional platform it should never be done presumptuously or immaturely. "It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Krsna has three varieties of energy." (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.108-109) "Srila Jiva Gosvami, in his thesis Bhakti-sandarbha
(202), has stated that uncontaminated devotional service is the objective
of pure Vaisnavas and that one has to execute such service in the
association of other devotees. By associating with devotees of Lord Krsna,
one develops a sense of Krsna consciousness and thus becomes inclined
toward the loving service of the Lord. This is the process of approaching
the Supreme Lord by gradual appreciation in devotional service. If one
desires unalloyed devotional service, one must associate with devotees of
Sri Krsna, for by such association only can a conditioned soul achieve a
taste for transcendental love and thus revive his eternal relationship
with Godhead in a specific manifestation and in terms of the specific
transcendental mellow (rasa) that one has eternally inherent in him."
(Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 1:35 purport) "When you are free from the conception of
gross and subtle bodies and when your senses are free from all influences
of the modes of material nature, you will realize your pure form in My
association. At that time you will be situated in pure
consciousness." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.33) "Purport: In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is said that a person whose only desire is to render transcendental loving service to the Lord is a free person in any condition of material existence. That service attitude is the svarüpa, or real form, of the living entity. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the Caitanya-caritamrta, also confirms this statement by declaring that the real, spiritual form of the living entity is eternal servitorship to the Supreme Lord."
Higher Rasa and Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan Yuga-dharma: Spontaneous Krishna prema can only be awakened by Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement of congregational chanting of the holy names. Further, chanting the holy names of Krishna is both the means (vidhi-bhakti) and the goal (raganuga-bhakti) simultaneously. Therefore sankirtan can never be given up whether in the neophyte stage or the perfected stage as it is the means and the goal of spiritual life at the same time. "It is the nature of the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Krsna." Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 7.83) Haridasa Thakura protested, "These two benedictions (freedom from the reactions of all sinful life and liberation from material bondage) are not the true result of chanting the holy name. By actually chanting the holy name without offenses, one awakens his ecstatic love for the lotus feet of Krsna." Antya 3.178 By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the stage of love of Godhead. Then the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion. (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.40) "Similarly, the first hint that offenseless chanting of the Lord’s holy name has awakened dissipates the reactions of sinful life immediately. And when one chants the holy name offenselessly, one awakens to service in ecstatic love at the lotus feet of Krsna." (Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 3.185) "The holy name of Lord Rama certainly gives liberation, but the holy name of Krsna transports one to the other side of the ocean of nescience and at last gives one ecstatic love of Krsna." Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 3.257) Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krsna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Krsna in this age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord." Bhakti-sandarbha 270 "Following this religious principle, a pure devotee of Lord Krsna always chants the holy name. As a result of this, he gets the fruit of ecstatic love for Krsna." (Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.108) Lord Caitanya's pastimes of chanting the holy names is on the platform of ecstatic rasa in Vraja. "Sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi. Gauda means West
Bengal. Lord Caitanya appeared in West Bengal, Navadvipa, and He
especially flooded that part of the country with the sankirtana movement.
That part of the country has special significance, for it is nondifferent
from Vrndavana. It is as good as Vrndavana. Living in Vrndavana and living
in Navadvipa are the same. Narottama dssa Thakura says,
sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi, jeba jane cintamani. Cintamani means the
transcendental abode. Tara hoy braja-bhume bas. If one simply understands
that this land of Navadvipa is not different from Vrndavana, then he
actually lives in Vrndavana. One should not think that he is living in
Bengal or any material country; the places where Lord Caitanya had His
pastimes are as good as Vrndavana." "Lord Caitanya’s distribution of this love of God is compared wtih an ocean (rasa-arnava). What kind of ocean? Not the salty ocean that one cannot taste. The water of this ocean is so nice that if one drinks even one drop, he will like it more and more. It is not ordinary ocean water, of which one cannot taste even a drop. Therefore it is called rasärëava. In this ocean there are different waves; an ocean does not stand still, for it is not impersonal or void. And as the ocean is always dancing with waves, similarly the ocean of transcendental love of Krsna as introduced by Lord Caitanya has constant waves, constant sound. One has to dive deep into that ocean. If one knows the secret and says, "Let me dive deep into the ocean of the transcendental loving movement introduced by Lord Caitanya," he immediately becomes one of the confidential devotees of Radha and Krsna." (Narottama das Thakura's Savarana-Sri-Gaura Mahima purport) From "Nectar of Devotion" chapter 16 Eligibility for Spontaneous Devotional Service: Therefore, in the beginning, everyone should strictly follow the regulative principles of devotional service, according to the injunctions of the scriptures and the spiritual master. Only after the stage of liberation from material contamination can one actually aspire to follow in the footsteps of the devotees in Vrndavana. A devotee who is actually advanced in Krsna
consciousness, who is constantly engaged in devotional service, should not
manifest himself, even though he has attained perfection. The idea is that
he should always continue to act as a neophyte devotee as long as his
material body is there. Activities in devotional service under regulative
principles must be followed even by the pure devotee. But when he realizes
his actual position in relationship with the Lord, he can, along with the
discharging of regulative service, think within himself of the Lord, under
the guidance of a particular associate of the Lord, and develop his
transcendental sentiments in following that associate. Sri Rupa Gosvami says that learned acaryas recommend that we follow the regulative principles even after the development of spontaneous love for Krsna. According to the regulative principles, there are nine departmental activities, as described above, and one should specifically engage himself in the type of devotional service for which he has a natural aptitude. For example, one person may have a particular interest in hearing, another may have a particular interest in chanting, and another may have a particular interest in serving in the temple. So these, or any of the other six different types of devotional service (remembering, serving, praying, engaging in some particular service, being in a friendly relationship or offering everything in one's possession), should be executed in full earnestness. In this way, everyone should act according to his particular taste.
In Conclusion: We cannot preach raganuga bhakti (siddha pranali) to attain raganuga bhakti. One must always preach vidhi-bhakti to attain raganuga-bhakti. In other words one should never put the cart before the horse or proclaim the goal (raganuga-bhakti) as more important than the path (vidhi-bhakti) to the goal. That will create unnecessary disturbance and division in the vaisnava community. This problem is also found in the appointed and
voted-in diksa-gurus which can only be attained by perfect qualification
and mature devotional service (uttama-adhikari/raganuga-bhakti) only and
never by rubber-stamped title alone.
The story behind “higher rasa.” Harinama Prabhu asked me for references and now it is time to explain the “higher rasa” article, and talk in general about outside and inside sources. I lived in New Dvarka Dhama (LA temple) years ago and the BBT devotees were there, the devotees who worked with the books and the painters. I used to go to the green building and talk with the editors often, Jagjivan and Dravida and Kusakrata. And often I would go to the painter’s studios and watch them paint and talk with them, like Jadurani and Rama dasa Abhirama dasa, Murlidhara and Pariksit dasa. I have many fond memories of New Dvarka Dhama where we had daily ecstatic morning programs and huge Harinama Sankirtan in Hollywood and West LA, and huge sundar arotiks with Agni-deva dasa and Rama dasa and others. The whole temple would be full at 7pm and the kirtan got so exuberating that often we would dance out the front doors and up and down the block. Those were the glory days. At one time I expressed my slight desire to learn some Sanskrit and I was strongly discouraged by a prabhu because there were so many devotees who had adverse experiences from the pursuit of Sanskrit studies. Some devotees became bewildered by reading different Puranas (Srila Prabhupada says in Bhagavad-gita that those who are dry scholars will become easily deluded and confused by apparent contradictions, and only the Bhaktas can understand) and some become puffed up and over-intelligent. One major case was that of Jai-saci-nandana dasa, who became very learned in Sanskrit and Bengali but it went to his head and he became offensive and fell away. Jai-saci was very accomplished in kirtan and bhajans and his talent was dear to devotees, so this was all a great shock to many. Also there was a gopi bhava club at one time, which Srila Prabhupada smashed. So we were all very aware of the dangers of reading other books and becoming big pundits in Sanskrit, trends which led to pride and sahajiya tendencies, (reading rasika sastra prematurely and imagining that one can acquire a rasa in an easy and artificial way). Devotional service is a razor’s edge, with the abyss of being sahajiya on one side and impersonalism on the other. So due to several casualties and fatalities in the learning of Sanskrit and reading beyond Srila Prabhupada’s books, we all became very wary of these issues. And we have quotes from Srila Prabhupada warning disciples not to read too much, that his 4 basic books were sufficient. But oddly, on the other hand, Srila Prabhupada did express his desire for the translation and printing of the works of the previous acharyas. And there are quotes from his books in which he does recommend some acarya’s books, of which I’ll give later and try to discern the fine line between some apparent contradictory instructions. After 1977 some devotees formed the Vaisnava Institute, which was later changed to the Krishna Library corporation. The purpose was to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire that the works of the six Gosvamis be printed. The Krishna Library was mainly Kusakratha dasa as the translator, with several members of the board to oversee his productions. These board members were devotees like Rabindranatha and Srikanta and Prabhuada dasa, all strict devotees. You cannot find a more straight laced devotee than Rabindranatha. So in this way, the edict of Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja was fulfilled, that being that no one should attempt to write or translate transcendental literature without being sanctioned and blessed by other Vaisnavas. Of course, HH Hridayananda Gosvami worked on finishing the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and much of his translations of the verses were done by Gopiparanadana dasa. And Kusakratha made one contribution, or addition to the Bhagavatam, which was the 14th chapter with 3 commentaries from Srila Sridhara Swami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, and Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur, with all the verses being the direct copy from Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna Book. Kusakratha was, and still is, a genius and gifted devotional writer and translator, and I went to his room quite often to talk with him about these subject matters. He was certainly knowledgeable about the dangers of sahajiya and impersonalism and he knew which books Srila Prabhupada would have approved of and which were not printable, specifically 4 books. And so It was sort of a coincidence that I heard this devotee mention the goal of their group, "to become gopis or gopas, etc." and at the same time I was reading these commentaries of the 14th chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam from Krishna Library, and they seemed to directly address this issue of desiring a certain rasa, etc., and so I had to say something. This was almost a year ago, and I thought to put this old post in the zine. So this is a very important topic, not to be discarded. I am not in the habit of quoting outside of Prabhupada's works, but in this case, it was very useful. On another occasion, there was a prabhu named Radhapati dasa who was going to India quite frequently and he brought back several copies of HH Mahanidhi Swami’s book, “Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama.” I did an astrology chart for Radhapati, and in return he gave me a copy of Mahanidhi’s book. Mahanidhi Swami is an old friend of mine, as we went on traveling sankirtan from the Berkeley temple, and we shared a room in Vrndavana once. And so Mahanidhi Swami wrote this nice book with many quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books and quotes from Krishna Library books also. So Mahanidhi felt that his methods needed to be justified. And so I will give the passages he quoted from Srila Prabhupada’s books. The next 3 paragraphs are from his introduction of his book- Srila Prabhupada encourages devotees to read and study the works of the previous acaryas. In the first purport of the SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM and several others, Srila Prabhupada states that one must study the different commentaries and writings of the great acaryas of Vaisnava philosophy: “It is necessary, therefore, for serious students of SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM to follow the notes and comments of the great acaryas like Srila Jiva Gosvami and Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti.” (SB 3.4.28p) “Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti has given us a transcendental literature entitled KRSNA-BHAVANAMRTA, which is full of Krishna’s pastimes. Devotees can remain absorbed in Krishna thought by reading such books. Any book of Krishna-lila, even this book KRSNA, or our TEACHINGS OF LORD CAITANYA, is actually solace for devotees feeling the separation from Krishna.” (KB Chap 45). “Srila Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu, the teacher of the science of devotional service, wrote several books, of which BRHAD-BHAGAVATAMRTA is very famous; anyone who wants to know about the subject matter of devotees, devotional service and Krishna must read this book. Sanatana Gosvami also wrote a special commentary on the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam known as Dasama-tippani, which is so exalted that by reading it one can understand very deeply the pastimes of Krishna in His exchanges of loving activities.” Srila Prabhupada very nicely explains how to enter Vrndavana: “Actually going to Vrndavana involves taking shelter of the Gosvamis by reading BHAKTI-RASAMRTA-SINDU, VIDAGDHA-MADHAVA, LALITA-MADHAVA and the other books that they have give. In this way one can understand the transcendental loving affairs between Radha and Krishna. (CC Adi 8.31). So superficially we may find contradictory quotes from Srila Prabhupada on the matter of reading books beyond his books, but I feel that the key words are “for serious students of SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM.” In other words, those devotees who have thoroughly studied Srila Prabhupada’s books (reading them 2-3 times with notes) are advised by Srila Prabhupada to read the works of the previous acaryas, as is amply explained in the quotes above. The fine line is the distinction between “serious students” and “mundane scholars” with the barometer being the devotion of the reader to Srila Prabhupada and his books. I have read some of the Krishna Library books, but only as a very small percentage of the time devoted to Srila Prabhupada’s books. So this is getting too long, I mention again that although I will not have the habit of quoting other books, it was these statements of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti and Srila Sanatana Gosvami that I read and realized to be directly related to the subject of the practice of some devotees thinking that they can obtain an exalted rasa, and I felt compelled to write this article, which I hope has been helpful to the Vaisnava community. Your servant, Visoka dasa original "higher rasa" article found in articles Dear
Visoka Prabhu, Pranama. Jaya Prabhupada! I would like to congratulate you for the wonderful site you have created and apologize for not having taken the time to do it before. It is true that for lack of time I haven't been there too many times but I see how much care you have taken to present something with tremendous value for the Prabhupadanugas. I am grateful for those efforts of yours. Your servant, Pragosh das thank you Pragosh, this website work is all for the spiritual satisfaction for Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krsna, and Prabhupadanugas.
Haribol,
Visoka Prabhu,
Send letters to Vishoka@juno.com
|
|
Articles
/ Articles #2 /
Hearing and Chanting
/ Selections / Vani
/
Offerings
/
Current
Events / Letters
/ Images /
Sastra
/ News
/ Book Reviews
/ Vaisnava
Art / Message
Board / email- vishoka@jayananda.net |