WHAT IS RIGHT COMPANY FOR BHAKTI?

Meera Panigrahi  Very true. It is necessary for us to be in the right company all the time till we have become stable in Love. 

Meena Devi Dasi replies to Meera Panigrahi
We take association from those more advanced in devotional service, share friendship with those more or less on the same level of advancement as ourselves and give association to those less advanced. What I meant by "looking for good association" was trying to recognize those who are more advanced than ourselves so we can be helped along.

Meera Panigrahi Replies to Meera Panigrahi
Right.

Prakash Bagga replies to Meera Panigrahi  
It is not easy for any human being to judge what is the right company for Bhaktee. There is an example SADNAA 
(A Buthcher bt profession) happened to be true Bhakt of THE LORD PRABHu.

Meena Devi Dasi replies to Prakash Bagga
Yes. Sincerity is the only qualification. Bhakti is not confined to social restrictions.
Nice story to illustrate:
There was a brahman who liked to meditate and study and chant under a tree on a hill overlooking a main road with a lot of foot traffic to and from the market area. He would go there everyday for several hours. At the same time there was a woman who earned her livelihood by prostitution who used pass along the road below. 
When the brahman would see her he would recoil in disgust. When she would see the brahman she would pray to the Lord how wonderful it was that there were pure people who were studying the Vedas and worshiping and serving God directly. And how unfortunate she was that by force of circumstance she had such a lowly life. 
At the time of death the brahman did not go back Home back to Godhead but the prostitute did. 
We will be able to recognize if we are sincere. 
If a person is actually asleep he can be awakened. But if he is pretending to be asleep how will he be awakened? A person may pretend to be asleep because he doesn't really want to wake up. 

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE - WHY?

Ashok Kumar Practice in spirituality is a poppycock. It is about inner introspection and exploration of the eternity. The examples you have given essentially applies to the objective world, a play of ego and dualism. Spirituality is all about intuitive understanding and not about perception and cognition. It is a pathless land and what you need is a vision to see things objectively, as they are before us. Ashtavakra calls an enlightened being as a total IDLER, reveling in His own majestic presence.
Thank you

Meena Devi Dasi replies to Ashok Kumar
Practice of some sort will be there. The rules of practice vary according to the level of realization of the practitioner.
" In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. This taste leads one further forward to attachment for Krishna consciousness, which is matured in bhava, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life." Six faults that destroy bhakti - nyamagraha
In the process of devotional service, whatever rules are prescribed for each level are all subordinate to one principle rule:
Remembering Krishna is the eternal duty. All other prescriptions mentioned in the shastras have arisen from this main prescription. Forgetting Krishna is never allowed. All other prohibitions mentioned in the shastras have arisen from this main prohibition. Keeping this main prescription in mind while advancing, the practitioner should give up his attachment for the prescriptions of the previous level and accept the prescriptions of the next level." Six faults destroy bhakti - nyamagraha
Those who are pure in devotion need not follow any rules but they may follow rules to help others. Even Krishna Himself does this:
"O son of Pṛthā, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in work. For, if I did not engage in work, O Pārtha, certainly all men would follow My path. If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would also be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings." BG 3:22-24
This is the essence of the Gita: Krishna is asking Arjuna to come to higher level. "Abandon all varieties of religiousness and just surrender to me..." BG 18:66 

Ashok Kumar Replies to Meena Devi Dasi
You have elaborated quite comprehensively. This is how a debate takes its course. Very nice! 
This may be a shocking statement for you. It may heart your conditioned Seeker-ego which you might have built with so much effort, time and energy. I don't know about you and your pursuits. But i ask a simple question! Where do you find yourself on this path and are you content with progress so far. Love and gratitude

Meena Devi Dasi replies to Ashok Kumar
I find my myself at your feet.

Ashok Kumar Replies to Meena Devi Dasi
You are welcome

Dhyan Arpitam replies to Ashok Kumar
An expert swimmer may advice the new learner to just enter the water have self-confidence, be fearless, trust the water and 'let go', you will float. But how many can do that? Only after he becomes good at swimming, he agrees -there is no need to throw hands and feet, you can just float and be weightless. So it is with the spiritual practices…just surrender to HIM and be happy. 

B.k. Jagadish Replies to Meena Devi Dasi
NICE Analysis Meena Ji !....Thank You !...
But I do not Understand/Agree your mentioning : -
" Those who are pure in devotion need not follow any rules... " 


Meena Devi Dasi replies to B.k. Jagadish
Rules are not followed for the sake of following rules. There is a goal. When the goal is reached the rules are not necessary. The goal of following rules in spiritual practice is to reawaken love of God lying dormant in the heart. When love of God is awakened then the Lord guides and directs the devotee from within. We are spirit not matter. As long as we have some attachment for enjoying, controlling material nature we will need some rules to guide us out of this tendency. But when we are completely free from the desire to enjoy material nature (even though we may be dealing with it in everyday life) by experiencing a higher taste in loving service to the Lord there is no need for such rules. 
"The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness." BG 2:59
For most of us this higher taste comes from the mercy of the Lord in the form of His Pure Devotees. It can come directly from the Lord Himself, but that is very rare. This is the great value of association with devotees. 

B.k. Jagadish replies to Meena Devi Dasi
Agreed !... But you are Conveniently side-stepping the following Words of the Lord Meena Ji ! 
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेव    तरो जनः |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||३-२१||
yadyadAcharati shreShThastattadevetaro janaH .
sa yatpramANaM kurute lokastadanuvartate .. 3-21..
"Whatever a great man does, that alone other men also do; whatever he sets up as the standard, that the world (people) follows."
Btw I consider you as a Great Soul Meena Ji !ha ha ha ......
My PRANAMS at your Feet !..... Thank You for your kind reply !.... 

Arun Sharma Replies to B.k. Jagadish
Dear Jagdish Sir
In my humble opinion Shree Meena Jee has not side stepped any words of Lord. What lord said is " Whatever a great man does, that alone other men also do; whatever he sets up as the standard, that the world (people) follows." Now the question is who is a great man. The choice is simple & obvious whoever in the Love of Lord ( Prema ) is a great man & whatever h/she do will become rules for other to follow.
With warm regards Dhyan Arpitam Replies to Arun Sharma
Good question... who is the great man... Takes one know one, isn't it? 

Dhyan Arpitam replies to Meena Devi Dasi
Excellent....difference is like between a blind man and one with sight. The blind needs cruthes (rules) or he will collide and may hurt self of others... the one with sight... well he sees, right? 

Sreeram Manoj Kumar  replies to Meena Devi Dasi
Excellent Meena ji :):):):):):)

Meena Devi Dasi replies to Sreeram Manoj Kumar 
There is flood of love of Godhead on the way. Like a giant tsunami it is building now. When it hits the shore we will all be swept away. Floating, swimming, drowning in an ocean of bliss... jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya sankirtana...

REMOVING BLOCKAGES

Heinrich Emrich Here is another view on this: "Hearing and chanting ultimately are not processes exclusively intended to accomplish some goal. They are not a means to an end, they are an end in themselves. They are a spiritual experience that is a feeling, a love, and a harmonic resonance with the energy of the Divine Beings. Therefore sravanam-kirtanam are relevant at all stages of life.

     If a person has no feeling while hearing and chanting, then they are doing something wrong or they are so blocked or energetically distorted that they cannot resonate with the spiritual vibrations. In that case, they need to correct this deficiency to receive benefit from the spiritual practice. This is usually the case for extreme beginners after they pass the “honeymoon” period of initial bliss.

     I think the best course of action for blocked people is to find out the sources of their energetic distortions and work on them. This will improve their spiritual practices so they can experience the deep love and devotion that is bhakti."

~ Robert Campagnola (Hari, former Harikesha Swami)

Meena Devi Dasi Yes. Very nice. thank you.

     It can take time and requires patience as the blockages are exposed. Usually one at time in my experience. Once they are acknowledged they begin to dissolve. It can be somewhat painful and embarrassing for the false ego but that is what needs to happen. Like removing a thorn. I have found that having experienced this once and then realized what had happened I became enthusiastic for when it would happen again. I did not know what other "thorns" were there as I couldn't exactly identify them but in due course they became obvious one by one and the miracle of spiritual healing continued. and still continues. So I remain enthusiastic... okay what is next. Bring it on.. Let's get on with it. No time to waste. But still patience. When the time is right. All the while Hare Krishna mantra.

     Looking for good association, hearing the messages of Godhead from pure devotees, through their writings and whenever possible through their sincere followers. Like Rupa Goswami's nutshell instruction. "Accept everything favorable for devotional service, reject everything unfavorable."

THE JEWEL OF INDIA'S SPIRITUAL WISDOM

About Srila Prabhupada:

Pushpa Chaturvedi  He was the jewel of India's spiritual wisdom.

Meena Devi Dasi  Yes. He made the wisdom of India known to the rest of the world. Now there is hope. He wanted to wake India to her special place in the world. The land of Krishna... It is coming. The awakening. Jaya Sri Krishna Chaitanya sankirtana. 

Pushpa Chaturvedi  I am currently reading his book Krsna and enjoying it  He was the world's foremost Vedic scholar and teacher  JAI SHREE KRISHNA 

Meena Devi Dasi  Yes. His Krishna book is written so simply, like a story. But actually it is a very powerful scripture taken as a summary study of the 10th Canto Bhagavatam. He was so expert at presenting Krishna consciousness according to time place and circumstance. His commentaries are His devotional ecstasies. The pure devotee of Krishna illuminates the path of devotion by their own devotion. That is the true meaning of teaching by example.

WE TEND TO FORGET THE HUMAN

Meena Devi Dasi  Srila Prabhupada had the stamina and vitality of a young man and he was in His 70's.

Heinrich Emrich  Really? And I thought he is or rather was a timeless, everlasting personality.

Meena Devi Dasi  We tend to forget the human.

Meena Devi Dasi  I touched his hand one time. Just to make sure.

Heinrich Emrich  That was good.  I heard that he was a very soft and gentle person.

Meena Devi Dasi  Yes. Very graceful. His motions were very fluid. First time I saw Him (I was little out there as a hippie) I thought He might not have any bones. Because of the fluidity. All moving is dancing, all talking is song.

Heinrich Emrich  So he liked to take pleasure in that too. Very human.

Meena Devi Dasi  In one of his poems he writes to Krishna, I am like a puppet so make me dance...as you like

Heinrich Emrich  Great, so he enjoyed "dancing" with Krishna in mind.

Meena Devi Dasi  May be more like as he surrendered fully to Krishna, Krishna actually took over his body and mind. Like when Krishna drove the chariot for Arjuna. He not only drove the chariot but Krishna also directed Arjuna in the battle. shoot here, don't shot there.. etc.

Heinrich Emrich  Interesting, so the Supreme took over his body and mind and acted through him in this world?

Meena Devi Dasi  Yes.

Meena Devi Dasi  He didn't lose His individuality though.

Meena Devi Dasi  He was in a relationship of love.

Heinrich Emrich  Yes, when love takes over, one's mind surrenders. That's natural. So he was in Love with the Supreme. A great mystic must he have been as well.

Meena Devi Dasi  Yes. And only recently here. And well documented. We are so very fortunate like that.

I MUST HAVE BEEN GLOWING

Waiting in the waiting room for an eye exam, I put ear plugs in my ears to muffle the sound of the TV which was showing something called "Hearts and Souls." People who all died and were on their way to another realm together on a bus but got delayed and take the opportunity to return to their loved ones to right any wrongs. So it was a little weird; the supernatural movie playing, that there is another level of existence.

And there I was sitting next to the TV and facing front to the people who were mesmerized by the movie… chanting away on my beads. I was different from them. I didn't need to fit in with the crowd. By seeing me chanting they could get some mercy. Seeing and hearing someone chanting Hare Krishna Maha mantra. 

I wanted to run up to the them, tell them the wonderful news,” Krishna's sankirtan movement is taking place right now on this planet and spreading everywhere. Get the mercy, get out of material illusion and become blissful and happy and return home back to the spiritual sky just by hearing and chanting about Krishna."

I kept chanting softly on my beads. I realized more and more how everything is there in the Holy Name:

Every Ratha yatra ever performed is there in the Maha mantra all the way to the original Ratha yatra enacted by the Lord and His eternal associates themselves.

Every offering, every service ever rendered to every one of the Vishnu deity forms that ever were manifest is there in the Maha mantra.

Every pastime of the Lord is there in the Maha mantra.

Every incarnation of the Lord is there in the Maha mantra.

The entire spiritual world and all the devotees and all of His eternal associates are all there in the Maha mantra.

Every Maha mantra ever chanted by anyone is there in the Maha Mantra all the way to the original inauguration of the chanting of the sankirtan movement by Lord Chaitanya Himself.

The Maha mantra is unlimited.

All knowledge is there in the maha mantra.

All bliss and ecstasy are there in the Maha mantra.

The Maha mantra is Krishna Himself.

I must have been glowing with joy as I chanted Hare Krishna and the people could see me chanting. How happy I was, thinking these wonderful things. 

How could I make them understand? 

They could somehow understand just be seeing me relishing the chanting of the Maha mantra and hearing the Maha mantra.

They will get another chance to hear the chanting. 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

EYES FILLED WITH TEARS

I bathe the Lord

incarnate as the Holy Name

with my tears.

I cleanse the heart

where He will sit

with my tears.

What can I offer?

My breath made moist

with my tears.

How will I feel

love for Krishna?

with my tears.

My stone heart

is worn away

with my tears.

Fear, frustration, forgetfulness

are washed away

with my tears. 

What is the use of

repetition dull and monotone?

When will my heart 

be filled with ecstasy

as I chant the Holy Names

eyes filled

with my tears. 

THE IDEA OF ENTHUSIASTIC SERVICE

      Mostly I knew A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada through the service of the other devotees.

     Like when Sudama came running down to the kitchen in New Dwarka as I was washing the Deities plates from the last offering for the evening and he began foraging like a madman in a frenzy to find green peas and puffed rice because Srila Prabhupada wanted a little snack before taking rest.
     I got the idea of enthusiastic service to Srila Prabhupada.

     Like when Satsvarupa prabhu was sitting in the brahmacari ashram in the North Beacon Street Temple in Boston using a turned over milk crate for his desk, transcribing on a manual typewriter from Srila Prabupada's tapes. Indignantly I knocked on the door demanded a towel to dry to the Deities plates complaining that no one would help me find the towels. He jumped up and ran down the four flights of stairs two steps at a time into the basement where some paper towels were kept and returned in the same way two steps at a time in a matter of seconds, handed me the paper towels, smiled and returned to transcribing like nothing had happened.
     I got the idea of enthusiastic service to Srila Prabhupada.

     I couldn't really grasp why the disciples were so enthusiastic.
     In the Boston temple room there was a big seat with a nicely framed picture of an old Indian man in saffron cloth.
     I thought, "I could see if he was a young man but an old man?"
     I would hear the disciples chanting on their beads in the morning in front of the picture with great enthusiasm; Suhotra, Satsvarupa, Sumati, Sukhada, Sarmistha, Deviyani, Nanda, Gandarvika, Jadurani, Gauri. But why? They looked so lovingly at Srila Prabhupada and chanted so intensely?
     Most of the devotees were able to take a trip to New York to greet Srila Prabhupada as He arrived there at the airport. We ran as a group from one gate to another not really knowing which gate He would come out of. This went on for some time and then finally He appeared and I immediately understood why everyone loved Him so much. Just one look at His golden form, glowing and radiant. He was smiling with his tongue out as if tasting nectar. He was short but perfectly formed and golden. He wore several flower garlands; some very long to His knees. His eyes moved everywhere as though swimming. Dressed in saffron carrying a sannyasa staff in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other which were drooping so it appeared from the ecstatic grasp of his hand. He was surrounded by a bevy of clamoring devotees throwing flower petals in the air over his head, shouting jaya, and chanting kirtan, tripping over themselves to keep pace. He moved very quickly. Everything was instantly in technicolor. All I could do was laugh delightedly and fall to floor to offer obeisances.
     Thinking to myself, "Of course, now I understand, He is so very beautiful, like no one I have ever seen before. He is fully conscious of everything and full of love. He is like a magnet attracting the love and service of others."

THOUGH THE STORM IS RAGING

Though the storm is raging

and all around is dark,

There's a light that shining

deep within my heart.

Though they come to steal away

my knowledge and my thoughts,

To blind me with a glittering,

substance it has naught.

Tempting me to run there

and engage in useless talk.

Oh Krishna, I would have jumped right in

drowning as I tried to swim.

How thankful I am now

I can look the other way

To Your sun-like shining smile

And Your ever-blissful play.

Your forever joyful home and friends

I'm going there one day.