![\"\"](\"http:\/\/iskconuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/George-Harrison-Chill-Birthday-Feature.jpg\")
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Part 3 <\/p>\n
My sweet lord
\nHm, my lord Hm, my lord <\/p>\n
I really want to see you
\nReally want to be with you Really want to see you lord But it takes so long, my lord <\/p>\n
… Really want to show you lord That it wont take long, my lord <\/p>\n
_ \tGeorge Harrison’s lyrics to My Sweet Lord drew many to the path of Krsna
\nConsciousness and also provide insight regarding states of mind conducive to
\nsteady advancement – patience and confidence. The advancing bhakta [sadhaka]\nmust remain equipoised when confronted with the realization that meaningful
\nspiritual advancement “takes so long” on the one hand, and fully confident that mercy is forthcoming through Krsna’s pure devotees, “it wont take long” on the
\nother. Thus fortified with realistic expectations one can enthusiastically dance with
\nboth hands raised, calling their progress without becoming overwhelmed by the mental stages of unsteady devotional practice, anistha bhajana kriya. <\/p>\n
Bhajana-kriya, the practice of different devotional items, is of
\ntwo kinds: unsteady, anistha, and steady, nistha. Unsteady
\ndevotional practice, anistha-bhajana-kriya, is characterized by six mentalities experienced in stages.
\n(Madhurya Kadambini 2.7) <\/p>\n
Stage 4: A battle with the senses – vi\u1e63aya sangara\u1e25 <\/p>\n
_ \tWith an objective of clearing the consciousness of his disciple, the guru
\noften gives both broad and specific regulations of sense restraint in order to
\ndiminish the in\ufb02uence of the modes of passion and ignorance. This provides a sound footing in goodness (truthfulness, cleanliness, austerity and mercy) from
\nwhich his disciple can easily and steadily practice sadhana bhakti. These specific
\nremedies will vary, as they should, according to the time, circumstance and
\ncapacity of the disciple. Despite the specific directions given by guru for clearing
\nbad habits of self-gratifying enjoyment, they must be practically adopted with a
\nmature understanding and reasonable expectation, otherwise the desired objective
\nfor our employing them in the first place, spiritual advancement, may itself be obscured. <\/p>\n
_ \tHaving a clear understanding of how to successfully incorporate the rules
\nand regulations can escape the western practitioner, steeped as we often are
\nin Judeo-Christian religious mentality. Misconceptions abound as the line between principle and detail becomes blurred by institutional, traditional
\nand even sectarian religious values. Viewing regulations as absolute
\ndeterminers of spiritual advancement and standing, one often becomes
\ndespondent, depressed, and overcome by anxiety, sometimes to the point of
\nneurosis, when not able to totally follow prescribed regulative principles. <\/p>\n
_ \tOn the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna questioned Lord Krsna regarding
\nthe symptoms of one whose consciousness is steady in transcendence, sthita-dhi.1 In responding to this question, Krsna spoke of the detached mentality of one free
\nfrom the dictates of the material senses. Further qualifying the nature of such
\ndetachment Krsna says, <\/p>\n
vi\u1e63aya vinivartante
\nniraharasya dehina\u1e25
\nrasa-varja\u1e41 raso ‘py asya
\npara\u1e41 d\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6dva nivartate
\n(Bhagavad-gita 2.59) <\/p>\n
Although one may refrain from material enjoyment by following scriptural dictates
\nor in pursuit of yogic regulation, desire for sensual pleasure will not abate. But <\/p>\n
upon experiencing the extreme bliss of association with the Supreme, attraction to
\nmundane enjoyment will dissipate and one will become firmly fixed in spiritual
\nconsciousness. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura comments on this verse are quite profound, “The idea of remaining aloof from sense gratification by means of
\nfasting and other austerities, as is found in the scriptures, is a foolish proposal.” He
\ngoes on to denounce the strict regulations of the yogi as intended for the less-
\nintelligent, declaring boldly that only the bhakta who has cultivated attachment to the Lord realizes true pleasures that supplant all mundane sensual desire. <\/p>\n
_ \tThe beginning sadhaka’s battle [sangara\u1e25] with material sense enjoyment
\n[visayah] differs considerably from that undertaken by the religionist, jnani or
\nyogi. The bhakta’s practice has a positive orientation of engagement in the
\nactivities of pure devotion – sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam…, with control of the
\nsenses being supportive of those actions. This does not mean that deeply rooted
\npropensities for sense gratification are not a major obstacle in one’s spiritual advancement, but their control is not the bhakta’s objective. For even when
\ndefeated repeatedly in skirmishes with the senses, the devotee’s loving mentality
\npersists. This was taught personally to Uddhava by Lord Krsna: <\/p>\n
“Having developed faith in topics about me and being disgusted with all karmas, a devotee knows that all enjoyments are filled with misery. But he is unable to give
\nthem up. Still, with affection for me, with faith and determination, he will continue worshipping me, while at the same time partaking of those enjoyments which give
\nrise to suffering and yet condemning them.”
\n(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.27-28) <\/p>\n
Visvanatha’s commentary on this verse speaks to the devotees resolve, “Let my
\nattachment for family be destroyed or increased! Let there be millions of obstacles
\nto my worship, or let the obstacles be destroyed! Let me go to hell if I have
\ncommitted offenses by keeping those desires. But I will not give up bhakti. I will
\nnot accept karma or jnana even if Brahma personally comes and orders me.” <\/p>\n
_ \tIt is important to abandon one’s traditional religious mentalities for the
\nenduring spiritual practice of pure unalloyed devotion. Equally important is that one follow the regulative principles of sense restraint according to their capacity <\/p>\n
with reasonable expectations. Although regulative principles are prescribed at the
\ntime of initiation, one may be helpless in the full and immediate incorporation of
\nsuch principals into their lifestyle. It may sometimes take years to acquire the
\nrequisite eligibility [adhikara] to fully control the senses as prescribed by one’s spiritual master. <\/p>\n
_ \tGreat care must also be taken not to judge our or other’s advancement
\nentirely upon the ability to strictly follow detailed sense regulations. Sincerity of
\npurpose, devotional intent, is not measured by a moral compass, but rather by one’s ability to fully dedicate oneself to the angas of pure devotional practice and please one’s spiritual master through such service. This sel\ufb02ess service is sufficient in and of itself to attract the illuminating mercy of guru and Krsna which easily dissipate the darkness of lifetimes of accumulated sinful desires and their reactions. <\/p>\n
Stage 5: Unfulfilled commitment – niyamaksamah <\/p>\n
_ \tBroken vows [niyamaksamah] as presented in the section of Madhurya
\nKadambini dealing with anistha bhajana kriya refers to the recurring unfulfilled
\ndesire on the part of the sadhaka to enhance their devotional practice. The
\ndistinction between the 4th stage, battling the senses [visaya sangara], and the 5th, unfulfilled commitments [niyama] due to spiritual weakness [ksama], is that in the former the devotee is helpless to give up material sense pleasures and in the latter he is unable to increase and improve his devotional activities. <\/p>\n
_ \tIncreasing awareness of the benefits derived from attainment of pure bhakti
\ndaily inspires one to increase their practices of hearing, chanting and all the other angas of pure devotion. As every new day dawns, the sadhaka resolves – “Today I will chant more and with greater attention; offering obeisances to both Krsna and
\nhis devotees by harboring no ill-will and expressing only heartfelt appreciation;
\nlisten attentively to my guru’s lectures; work sel\ufb02essly to share with others the gift of devotional service. Thus enthused by these and other related desires to increase
\npure devotion, and eliminate any lingering material tendencies in daily activity,
\none’s day unfolds. But alas, as night arrives one again recognizes their inadequacies in fulfillment of the spiritual objectives of their day. <\/p>\n
_ \tAlthough one may not be able to daily realize the spiritual objectives they
\naspire to attain in their practice, concentrated effort while observing specific
\nspiritual occasions [vratas] to increase service and follow vows strengthens ones sincerity and resolve. The days of Ekadasi, Dvadasi, Vyasa Puja, Gaura Purnima, Janmastami, and the entire month of Karttika afford special opportunities to fast,
\nfeast and increase devotional service. The positive effects of these vratas naturally carry forward and enhance daily practice. <\/p>\n
_ \tNot maintaing vows due to spiritual weakness can result in anxiety and
\ndespondency, therefore great care must be taken to maintain one’s devotional
\nenthusiasm. Realistic expectations based upon a common sense approach to
\naccepting devotional service according to one’s capacity is absolutely necessary
\nduring this stage, otherwise one may become so battle weary that they forsake the
\nfight altogether and retreat to a conditioned mentality that seeks pleasure in
\nmundane engagements. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s Nectar of
\nDevotion gives us firm direction regarding this in the section entitled Evidence
\nRegarding Devotional Principles, Accepting Only What Is Necessary; <\/p>\n
“In the Naradiya Pur\u0101\u1e47a it is directed, “One should not accept more
\nthan necessary if he is serious about discharging devotional
\nservice.” … It is better if one fixes up a regulative principle according
\nto his own ability and then follows that vow without fail.” <\/p>\n
Similarly, in the thirteenth chapter of the 3rd Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam
\nSyambhuva Manu requests Lord Brahma, “O worshipful one, please give us your
\ndirection for the execution of duty within our working capacity so that we can follow it for fame in this life and progress in the next.” The exact Sanskrit term
\nused is atma-saktisu meaning “within our working capacity.” <\/p>\n
_ \tAt these stages of unsteady devotional practice one realizes beyond any
\ndoubt that further progress in fully dependent upon the complete shelter and mercy
\nof guru and Krsna. The foolish notions, bore from the materialistic idea of being
\nthe doer, are abandoned and such realization leads to sincere adoption of the angas
\nof surrender [saranagati]: <\/p>\n
anukulyasya sankalpah
\npratikulyasya varjanam…
\n _ \t _ \t _ \t _ \t _ \t _ \t _ \tHari-bhakti-vilasa (11.676) <\/p>\n
The resulting sweet taste of full surrender to Krsna and everything related to him,
\nhis devotees and their service will daily enliven increasingly spiritualized senses as materially motivated enjoyments recede. <\/p>\n
————————————————– <\/p>\n
The six stages of unsteady devotional practice, anistha-bhajana-kriya, as explained by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in Madhurya Kadambini are being presented in
\nfour articles; <\/p>\n
Part 1 <\/p>\n
_ _
\n _ _
\nIntroduction
\nStage 1: Enthusiasm in prideful practice – utsaha-mayi <\/p>\n
Part 2
\nStage 2: Productive and inattentive service – ghana-tarala
\nStage 3: Parading possibilities – vyudha vikalpa <\/p>\n
Part 3
\nStage 4: A battle with the senses – vi\u1e63aya sangara\u1e25 Stage 5: Unfulfilled commitment – niyamak\u1e63ama\u1e25 <\/p>\n
Part 4
\nStage 6: Exploiting bhakti’s benedictions – taranga rangi\u1e47i
\nConclusion <\/p>\n
Any comments or questions regarding this series, Maintaining Steady
\nDevotion during Unsteady Practice, should be directed to the author
\nvia email to: dulal@krishnabhajan.com <\/p>\n
1Bg 2.54 Arjuna asked: What, O Kesava, are the characteristics of one who is accomplished in meditation and
\nsteady in intelligence? How does such a steady person speak? How does he sit? How does he move? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
George Harrison’s lyrics to My Sweet Lord drew many to the path of Krsna Consciousness and also provide insight regarding states of mind conducive to steady advancement – patience and confidence. The advancing bhakta [sadhaka] must remain equipoised when confronted with the realization that meaningful spiritual advancement “takes so long” on the one hand, and fully confident that mercy is forthcoming through Krsna’s pure devotees, “it wont take long” on the other. <\/p>\n : <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12536\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"http:\/\/dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads4\/2014-04-20_12-49-50.jpg\"\/)
By Dulal Chandra dasa <\/strong><\/p>\n