UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Jesus Christ, the empowered Representative of God showers unconditional love on the world. As He is crucified He appeals to the Lord to forgive those who are killing Him, they are in ignorance and do not know what they are doing. The appeal of a vaisnava to the Lord is always honored by the Lord. In fact it is the only way the fallen souls can get the Mercy of God is by the entreaty of a pure servant. The pure servant is the manifestation of pure devotion. The Lord never denies pure devotion. He is always eager to experience pure devotion. Pure devotion brings Him the highest pleasure.

But this unconditional love doesn't end there at the crucification. Jesus Christ extends Himself in spirit after His departure. He is present in his devotees and followers in the spirit of devotion. This spirit is also a manifestation of pure devotion to God. When this spirit of pure love and devotion to the Lord is denied or attacked it is exactly like killing Lord Jesus again. Only this time in His spirit form. His unconditional love manifests in his spirit form also. Those that deny the spirit of love and devotion are in ignorance and they are forgiven because they do not know what they are doing.

The scope of this love is unfathomable. Lord Jesus has made Love of God available to anyone and everyone through unconditional love.

Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya also showers unconditional love on the world but in a slightly different way. His unconditional love is directed toward the Lord Himself. Lord Chaitanya prays. Leave me broken hearted by not being present before me and still I love you. You are my Lord birth after birth  In the incarnation Of  Krishna Chaitanya the Lord is appearing as His own devotee in the mood of pure devotion. Now the forgiving is done by the devotee due to "neglect" by the Lord. Even if you abandon me I love you. No matter what I love you. I am yours eternally. Even if you break my heart I can never stop loving you.

This is also unconditional love.
On the one hand Lord Jesus forgives the ignorant and on the other hand the devotee forgives the Lord although there is never anything to forgive of God, however for experiencing loving mood this is there when a devotee develops an intimate relationship with the Lord. Both types of unconditional are now pouring forth on the world.

CHRIST OR KRISHNA OR BOTH?
GAURAHARIDAS AVADHUTA YOUTUBE

STAGES OF BHAKTI YOGA

I have a bit of a history of things like chapati flings. There was also a large serving spoon with hot oatmeal one time in Potomac temple aimed at two brahmins who kept arguing over whether or not the chickpeas had been offered since they didn't get on the offering plate. I am amazed at the accuracy of these tosses, They seemed to hit the mark with uncanny accuracy. 

I think those days are through though. 
There is something else going on now that is uncanny. 
A transformation. I thought it would never come. It is here. 

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The next step after anartha nivritti... 
nistha...firm bajan,
after that will be ruci... actual taste.... 

As described in The Nectar of Devotion, a summary study by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Srila Rupa goswami's Bhakti rasamrta sindhu: 

THE NECTAR OF DEVOTION

The stages within bhakti-yoga

• Sraddha:

Sraddha, or faith, ist the first step of the aspirant of bhakti on his or her journey. Sraddha means to have firm faith in the revealed scriptures, which deal with the subject of bhakti. Sraddha also means the joyful endeavour to very carefully and attentively follow the process of bhakti like it is documented in the scriptures. Sraddha can be caused by natural and spontaneous attraction or by forceful imposition of the written word. Sraddha of the spontaneous and natural kind is born in the association of sadhus. Forcefully imposed faith is caused by blindly following and imitating.

• Sadhu-Sanga:

‘Sanga’ means serving the sadhus, hearing Sri Krishna-katha from them, behaving as they behave, glorifying them – and be engrossed in serving them with body, speech and mind – this is sadhu-sanga. Then amongst these sadhus we may meet someone whose shelter we sincerely desire; he becomes our Sri Gurudeva. We should take diksha (mantra-initiation) and shiksha (spiritual advices) from him.

• Bhajana-kriya:

Now we start hearing, glorifying, arcanam, vandandam etc.

Bhajan-kriya is of two types –

1.  - not firm
2.  - firm

In the beginning stages our bhajan (worship) is not firm.

We have to cross a few hurdles before our bhajan becomes firm.

When a devotee who has sraddha takes initiation from a real Sri Gurudeva, and by his mercy starts bhajan, he is highly enthusiastic. He is always eager to practice devotional actions. So we call this stage as utsahamayi or ‘enthusiastic’. However this state does not remain long.

Within a short time we find our eagerness webbing. We feel bored and our worship suffers a ‘low tide’. Sometimes our bhakti is intense and at other times it is slack. Therefore the wise call this state an ‘intense-slack’ period. During this time we get many ideas, such as – I shall leave my family and practice bhakti in seclusion or I will practice bhakti as a householder or out of hearing, glorifying etc.

I will practice only one item of bhakti or I will practice all of them etc. etc. Therefore we also call this state as vyudha-vikalpa or ‘alternate ideas’. In this stage we have to literally fight with our materialistic tendencies. Sometimes we win and at other times material desires get the better of us. Since this continues, we call it the vishay-sangara or ‘material association’ state. Devotional practice should force our material desires to wane and increase our love.

However if it does not happen we should realize that it is because we are not following the advices of bhakti properly (as given by Srila Rupa Goswami). Therefore we also call this state as niyamakshama – ‘unable to follow rules’.

When we practice bhakti, sometimes people are drawn to us; then temptations such as monetary gain, power and position appear on our path. These are the parasitic creepers growing on the Bhakti-kalpa-lata (bhakti is like a divine creeper that can fulfill all the wishes of a devotee). Therefore it is our duty to sever them first and become steady in our loving service..

• Anartha-nivritti: 

Anartha-nivritti means „getting rid of bad qualities“

When we are not firm in bhajan, our anarthas (unwanted material obstacles) force us to slip down the ladder of bhakti. Unwanted things are of four types -

1. Those arising from bad actions – these unfavourable things arise from past and recent bad activities.
2. Those arising of pious actions – the pious activities we have performed in the past grant us a rich lifestyle. This absorbs us in sense-gratification and causes anarthas.
3. Those arising from aparadhas – Offenses against the Holy Name and against spiritual souls
4.  Those arising from bhakti – When we advance in bhakti we may get money, fame and power. This gives rise to anarthas. Thus bhakti too can cause bad qualities if we are not careful.

What are the external symptoms that tell us we have got rid of all unwanted things?

When we lack the following –

1. Laya – we feel sleepy while chanting the Mahamantra, while hearing and while meditating.
2. Vikshepa – when we conduct worldly matters during hearing, glorifying etc. we call it ‘vikshepa’.
3. Apratipatti – even though we may lack laya and vikshepa, sometimes we do not feel like hearing or glorifying – this is ‘apratipatti’.
4. Kashaya – While doing bhakti such as hearing etc. if we get negative feelings such as anger, greed, pride – it is called ‘kashaya’.
5. Rasaswada – if we are unable to concentrate on hearing etc. because our mind is dwelling on material pleasures or attachments, it is called ‘rasaswada’.

• Nistha:

 This is the stage of firm bhajan.

“How do we decide whether our bhajan is ‘not firm’ or ‘firm’?

1. When we are lax in hearing, glorifying etc. we are not firm, and when we are strong in these activities we are ‘firm’.”
2. When we become devoid of the five symptoms of anarthas as mentioned above, then we can say we have become ‘firm in bhajan’ or we have gained ‘nishtha’.

• Ruci:

When we relish the sweetness of Sri Krishna’s name, beauty, qualities , pastimes and associates we have reached the state of ‘ruci’.

• Asakti:

“When our ruci (interest) in bhakti-actions becomes extremely intense and our thoughts keep roaming around Sri Krishna alone, then this stage is called ‘asakti’. The process of bhakti-yoga is like a gracious wish-fulfilling creeper on which asakti blooms like a cluster of buds that burst into the colorful flowers of bhava (asakti gives rise to bhava) that finally turns into prema (the fruit).” (Madhurya Kadambini, 6th shower)

• Bhava oder rati:

We have glimpses into the Divine Play and we are filled with Divine Love. Srila Rupa Goswami describes nine symptoms of this stage –

1. We are not disturbed by anything.
2. No second we want to live without bhakti.
3. No interest in things not related to Krishna.
4. Free from the false ego.
5. Unshakable firm faith in the mercy of Krishna.
6. Great longing to be with Krishna.
7. Always eager to chant the Holy Name.
8. Always eager to glorify Krishna.
9. Extremely eager to live in Vrindavana.

• Prema:

Pure love to the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krishna; this pure love has the power to conquer Their hearts. It is like gold molten a million times.

FLOWERS FROM THE CREEPER OF BHAKTI

I was seeing Srila Prabhupada as He was leaving. Everyone concerned with leadership. But He knew Krishna would take of everything. Like when He installed the Deity in Australia. He saw the devotees were not really up to Brahminical standards to maintain Deity worship but He spoke to Krishna that He would more or less have to take care of Himself. It may have been something like that as He was leaving the planet and the question of who was qualified to lead, to act as guru. Lord Caitanya Himself would have to be guru. The spirit of Devotional Service having been poured out on the world in a big way would guide us. Lord Krishna in the mood of Radharani. Sri Krishna Chaitanya. 

As with the appearance and disappearance of Lord Jesus. 

We are dealing with spirit here. Spiritual energy. And that spiritual energy works wonderfully. We will naturally gravitate towards each other, those of same mind and heart. 

Sumati prabhu was my first teacher. I would cry to see her serve Radha gopi ballava. To hear her chant japa brought tears to my eyes. I did a lot of crying in Sumati prabhu's association in the early 70's at Boston temple. She engaged me in the service of the Lord by going through the neighborhood in the Boston suburbs of Brighton, the early temple, with a wheelbarrow, BTG's and little prasadam cakes to approach the neighbors for flowers from their yards. I would come back with the wheelbarrow full and the altar was always flooded with gorgeous flower arrangements and decorations. Roses, fruit tree blossoms, sunflowers, zinnias, vines, whatever was growing nearby. She had me polish all twelve brass vases every day, so they glowed like gold. That was an incredible time for me. In her association. I was not able to reveal my mind to her or enter any kind of discussion and became angry after some time. I offended her by throwing a chapati at her frisbee style across the prasadam room. It hit Sumati prabhu on the side of the face and I was made to leave the temple. I went to LA. Srila Prabhupada was there and the publication of Chaitanya charitamrita was underway. 

I am ever indebted to Sumati for engaging me like that. I was nothing but a street urchin that wandered in one day.

Jaya Gauraharidas. I cry to see your devotion. You are engaging me in collecting flowers from the tree of bhakti for the pleasure of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya. I was nothing but dry mental speculator until I wandered into your assembly. 

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MUSINGS

Some thoughts after sanga:

You were discussing the force of spirit and how different spirits carry the living entity here and there.The force of the spirit of pride can carry someone to rebel and leave the association of devotees. Pride is a quality of conscious energy or spiritual energy. There really is spiritual energy  It is where the emotions reside. A prideful spirit. Spiritual energy influenced by pride. These qualities pride, lust, envy, anger are qualities of the spiritual energy.

When someone is cut off from their relationship with God due to offenses to the Lord and His Devotees these same qualities of spiritual energy bewilder him and he becomes more and more entrenched in the external potency of the Lord. The pure qualities of spiritual energy become infected in contact with the external material energy. Covered by the dust of the material elements.

In such a dust covered state if someone is influenced by a spirit full of anger it will be misguided and directed to violate someone else causing them great inconvenience and discomfort. And then himself subjected to the reaction under the strict laws of material energy.

When the spirit is purified these qualities serve the internal pleasure potency of the Lord. In his pure state the spirit influenced  by anger would serve the pleasure of the Lord to instigate a disagreement as between lovers or friends. No one is harmed only the pleasure of fighting or arguing may be there. No violation or harm. No one is inconvenienced. Anger exhibited in the internal potency of the Lord is pleasurable. And especially serves to enhance the reconciliation that always follows.

This is a great science. The science of spiritual energy. To understand this science we need to take shelter of  a bonafide Spiritual Master. A pure soul who know the science of emotions.  The science of Spirit. The science of Love of God.

Srila Rupa Goswami as instructed directly by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Himself has written a study of this science in his Bhakti rasamrta sindhu  The summary study of this book is given by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion.

NECTAR OF DEVOTION

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TWO OLD MEN

Yesterday I wandered around a shopping plaza playing the drum and chanting. Again received wonderfully. At one point, I stood in the middle of the parking lot and looked all around, chanting the Holy Names of God and became immersed in tuning in on the Life of All that Lives. Strolling , drumming and chanting sometimes there was noone around but there were birds and trees. I was absorbed.

As I approached an outside cafe area several people were sipping coffee or whatever at the little tables along the sidewalk. Two old men were there. One was standing the other sitting. They motioned me to come closer so they could hear better. (My chanting is not very loud, nor is the drumming loud.) The man standing began to dance with arms in the air and laughing. He touched the drum and danced some more  Everyone was watching and enjoying the fun.

The old man sitting motioned me to come closer and chant in his ear. I leaned close and chanted the mantra into his ear. He lit up. Literally. I could see him change. He sat back and smiled and called out loudly, Hare Krishna. A big smile. When he chanted Hare Krishna it had such force that I was pushed back ten feet and the chanting and was suspended  The drum kept beat but I was stunned. When I finally could chant again it was different. It was a loud long Hare Krishna. I believe he was able to receive the mantra within his heart. It felt to me like a heart to heart communication.

People are like the walking dead. We have the medicine. The philosophy is there, books and books of philosophy to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is God and what the nature of God is and how to approach Him. Now that we are convinced let us take the actual medicine. Glorification of the Lord made easy in the form of chanting. Nitai gauranga..
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HOW IMPORTANT IS A DEVOTEE?

How important is a Devotee?

Well, consider this:

Srila Vyasadeva Himself, the compiler of all the Vedas has taken instruction from Narada. After compiling all the Vedas for the betterment of human society Srila Vyasadeva was morose. Shouldn't he be elated? He had presented everything people would need to know for all time about how to manage society for its betterment. A great service of welfare. 

Acting as Vyasadeva's rasa guru, Narada muni enlivened him to glorify Krishna and His Devotees revealing that this is the highest welfare work and is the taste Vyasadeva is looking for, opening up the path back home back to Godhead. 

After all what is Krishna doing eternally? He is enjoying with his devotees, tasting various moods of loving exchange in unlimited varieties of relationships. After all He is the Supreme Enjoyer isn't he? What better way to enjoy than love in unlimited varieties? Unlimited relationships?

Srila Vyasadeva has given us his own devotional outpouring in loving service to the Lord, as kindled by his surrender to Narada in the form of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM

And what is the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This great devotional masterpiece, perfectly composed in thousands of Sanskrit verses  firmly establishes Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and gives accounts of devotees of the Lord in such a way as to elevate the reader to the perfectional stage of love of God. Starting at the beginning and reading through in order of presentation the reader is sure to reach the proper conclusion. 

Starting with Narada and then to Vyasadeva, Brahma, the Pandavas, the demigods, the rsis, saintly kings, avadhutas, every one is there in Srimad Bhagavatam. By hearing from Vyasadeva in His mood of love of God how these personalities are absorbed in their service to the Lord the path back home back to Godhead is illuminated. 

And when we are back to Godhead? What do we find?
Everyone there is absorbed in their loving service to the Lord. 

Now to go one step further: 
In order to really get the message home to the fallen unfortunate residents of Kali yuga who are so distracted, confused and materially attached, the Lord Himself incarnated 500 years ago as Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya. He has appeared as His own Devotee. 

How important is the association of a Devotee? 
The Lord Himself appears as a Devotee. 
Shouldn't it be obvious this is most important?  
Why would He appear as a Devotee if it weren't so?

Sri Krishna Chaitanya has flooded the world with devotional ecstasy. We are so stubborn and foolish we remain attached to material endeavors, thinking there is some spiritual benefit in them. If we study carefully the life and pastimes of Lord Chaitanya we will see there is nothing material in them at all. Hearing and chanting the Holy names, pastimes, form, qualities, is the process given by Him for reaching the proper conclusion. His "sankirtan yajna" is the process at this time for developing love of God.

CHAITANYA CHARITAMRTA

Conclusion:  Krishna and his Devotees is all there is . When I take shelter in love and submission of His Devotee(s) the Lord being pleased gives Himself to me.
Offense to a Devotee is the single most detriment. The truth can never be known that way. Such a person will remain in the darkness until they are relieved of their offensive mentality. And that darkness could be uncountable lifetimes. 

How important is a Devotee? You tell me!

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SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM, 9.4.68

"The devotees are My heart, and I am the heart of My devotees. My devotees do not know anyone but Me; similarly, I do not know anyone but My devotees." This is the intimate relationship between the Lord and His devotees." Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68

Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68

The path back to Godhead as described by all realized souls is through the Mercy of a Pure Devotee Representative of the Lord. Hear from Him and take shelter at His feet, surrendering all preconceived ideas, misconceptions, pride, and desires for material gain. The Lord within the heart helps the sincere disciple to continue to surrender under His good guidance. 

When the guru is pleased the disciple gains a place within his heart, and there he finds the Lord that is within his own heart. The heart of the Pure Devotee is very big since Krishna is fully manifest there. There is room for everyone provided they enter the right way. 

Where is Krishna? He is in the heart of His Pure Devotee. 

There can be nothing more damaging to spiritual progress for the aspiring devotee than to offend the Pure Devotee. 

THE AFFECTS OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUS ASSOCIATION

Dear Lord Gauranga,

Now that I have let You into my heart I am no longer able to keep my composure. As far as usefulness, I was of more use to You lifeless. The mechanics of existence were at least manageable without interruptions of crying and bewilderment, shortness of breath  Now I never know when a fit of this sort will erupt  How can I get anything done if all I do is sit and cry? 

If You show the slightest dissatisfaction or I develop the slightest defensive attitude I am under siege. 

If I confess this You are sure to make matters worse. But what can I do? I can no longer hide my condition  Better to let You know I am conscious of what You are doing and leave it up to You, if You want to torture me like this or make me useful. 

I can almost see You. I certainly know You are here. 

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NECTAR OF INSTRUCTION, TEXT 2

"One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) overendeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements."
Nectar of Devotion, text 4 

"...(4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically...."

On the one side we see ISKCON leaders emphasizing rules and regulations. The danger there is in not allowing the Devotional Energy as embodied in Sri Chaitanya mahaprabhu and His surrendered servants to manifest. Rules and enforcers of rules become supreme. And the sweetness and loving mood of the Lord and His associates is not allowed. 

On the other side we see predecessors in the Gaudiya math of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati presenting intimacy with the Lord prematurely, attracting the minds of the still yet materially bewildered disciples and confusing them further by mixing material with spiritual. Those who heart is not completely pure cannot realize the intimate dealings of the Lord and His Associates, since those dealings have not the slightest tinge of material desire in them.

It is by the association of realized souls that we can stay on the path back home back to Godhead. Hearing from them and chanting, the Truth of Godhead is revealed in their association. That is the way to not be captured by the illusory energy in either her form as simply rules and regulation for their own sake or alluring promises of sensual gratification somehow spiritually blessed. 

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Remembrance Srila Prabhupada, Hrsikesananda das

SANKIRTAN YAJNA

Today I spent all day hearing and chanting. I read from Nectar of Devotion Nectar of Devotion and listened to Amala Bhakta prabhu's reading of Chaitanya Charitamrta Chaitanya Charitamrta . I felt like a ghost. Empty. I listened and listened. I chanted and chanted. Empty.
When I heard how Lord Chaitanya descended with His associates for pasttimes I was relieved.
Tomorrow I go and chant in the shopping areas. The Walmart parking lots and plazas. I have a child's mrdunga, not too heavy to carry for a 66 year woman. No official attire or dress. Just the Holy Name. I will purify myself and others will hear and get the mercy too.
Jaya Gauraharidas avadhuta who goes everyday through the streets of Mayapura with his stringed instrument, chanting and dancing. The shop keepers call him the mood changer.
Gauraharida thakur

EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED

Service now is the hearing and chanting and remembering the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya in the association of those who relish such hearing and chanting. This is the path the goswamis recommend. If we find such association it is a great blessing. It is rare. Mostly devotees are active with different projects and community development, but in order to become fully attached to Krishna and return home we must find those who are emotionally attached to the Lord so that we can also become emotionally attached. This is what is meant by Love of God.

THE DEITY ON THE ALTAR OF THE HEART

The altar is cleaned and empty and (aside from paint) ready for The Lord. But the arca vigraha form is not the deity for this altar. This altar is like the heart that is cleaned and ready for The Lord. It is like a transcendental television tuned to Chaitanya lila. It looks empty but if you listen very carefully you can see and hear Gauranga lila. By the mercy of the siksa guru I have been shown the transcendental science of Love of God and how to enter it's mystery. Jaya Gauraharidas Avadhuta.

ONE TINY SPARK

Purification is the heart being prepared for the Lord to reside.

The altar is under construction Nitai gauranga are waiting to enter.
The fire of sankirtan is fueled by the love of their devotees.
One tiny spark of pure love of God sets the world aflame.
I fall at the feet of the soul that carries that spark.
Gauraharidas avadhuta carries the torch.

THE CURTAIN IS PULLED BACK

Love of Godhead comes in waves, I have no doubt that a second inundation is on the way that will sweep us all back home, back to Godhead. Who can stop Lord Chaitanya? How will you go, swim, float or drown? Guess I sound a little fanatical. I am becoming more and more fanatical everyday and it's great!! Laughing,crying. When the curtain is pulled back by good association, hearing submissively and the Lord in the heart makes himself visible all there is the Lord and His devotees. All the other stuff we are so busy with is of no concern.. And all we crave is the association of realized souls..

veda-vāda-ratā

Bhagavad gita, as it is: chapter 2, verse 42

"Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this."

The actual conclusion of the Vedas remains hidden. It is through the Mercy of the Lord that the real meaning becomes revealed. That Mercy is in the form of a person who is a pure representative of  God who is also a person. By submissively inquiring and offering service to the pure representative who is experiencing his loving relationship with the Lord, by studying His teachings and his uncommon activities one can understand and enter into the spirit of Love of God and taste for himself the wonders of Love of Godhead. The Absolute Truth is realized through His pure representative. Love of God is the bond that frees one from all temporary attachments and carries one back to Godhead.The ultimate goal of all the Vedas is to return back to Godhead.
Bhagavad-gitaasitis texts 42-43
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  Sri Siksastaka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Siksastaka (Devanagari: शिक्षाष्टकं ; IAST Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam) is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu prayer of eight verses composed in the Sanskrit language. They are believed to be the only verses left personally written by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,^[1] with the majority of his philosophy being codyfied by his primary disciples, known as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan.^[2] The Siksastaka is quoted within the Chaitanya Charitamrita,^[3] Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami's biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, written in Bengali. The name of the prayer comes from the Sanskrit words Śikṣā meaning 'instruction', and aṣṭaka meaning 'consisting of eight parts', i.e., stanzas. The teachings contained within the eight verses are believed to contain the essence of all teachings on Bhakti yoga within the Gaudiya tradition.

Text

The first eight verses of the following are the complete text of the Siksastaka, as written in Sanskrit by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and as translated by Srila Prabhupada. They are found in Krishnadasa Kaviraja's Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita (Antya-līlā, verses 12, 16, 21, 29, 32, 36, 39 and 47).^[4] The final verse is a Bengali quotation from Sri Caitanya Charitamrita, Antya-līlā 20.65 - it is not part of the actual Siksastaka, but is often appended to the end when it is recited, describing the result of reciting the Siksastaka faithfully.^[5][6]

1

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ
sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

Translation

Glory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

2

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgah

Translation

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.

3

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā harih

Translation

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

4

na dhanaḿ na janaḿ na sundarīḿ kavitāḿ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

Translation

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth.

5

ayi nanda-tanūja kińkaraḿ patitaḿ māḿ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-pańkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaḿ vicintaya

Translation

O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krishna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms of Your lotus feet.

6

nayanaḿ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaḿ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
pulakair nicitaḿ vapuḥ kadā
tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati

Translation

O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs on my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?

7

yugāyitaḿ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaḿ jagat sarvaḿ
govinda-viraheṇa me

Translation

O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.

8

āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāḿ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāḿ karotu vā
yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo
mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparah

Translation

I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly in His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord unconditionally.

9

prabhura ‘śikṣāṣṭaka’-śloka yei paḍe, śune kṛṣṇe prema-bhakti tāra bāḍe dine-dine

Translation

If anyone recites or hears these eight verses of instruction by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, his ecstatic love and devotion for Krsna increases day by day.

Significance

Within his Siksastaka, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stresses on the importance of singing (bhajan) and chanting (japa) the Names of God. This is the primary feature of Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual practice (sadhana). This is particularly evident in the first three verses of the Siksastaka.
The starting verse of Siksastaka states a number of reasons why sankirtana (congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, which in Gaudiya Vaishnavism especially refers to Hare Krishna) should be emphasized in spiritual practice.

SAID SOMETHING WRONG

   
     The fire of guru's transcendental rant in glorification of the Lord was building and starting to rage. He has allowed me to interrupt him from time to time to try to put more fuel on the fire which I really like to do. So I brought my little piece of fuel and opened the furnace door to put it in and whoosh, singed eyebrows. The fire turned on me and if I didn't back away it would have turned me to ashes.
     For the next hour or so of the session I couldn't hear a thing. All I could do was fidget and wrestle with my mind. What did I do wrong? It couldn't have been what I said because of not being presented in a scholarly way, which gurudeva doesn't really care a whole lot about anyway, so it must have been my attitude. Was I challenging in someway? I didn't think so.
     He was making a point about how stuffy priests and brahmins full of erudite scholarship but devoid of devotional potency in their personal being are not qualified to present themselves as acaryas, worshipable representatives of God. It came to my heart that in the vaisnava line of acarya succession there are some uncommon scholars but also there are also those who are not scholars, in recent times, Gaura Kishora das babaji, who carried the devotional potency although completely illiterate. His only disciple was the greatest scholar of the time, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati.
     So I opened the door to the furnace to place my offering and whoosh, singed eyebrows.
After hours of trying to understand why I got burnt, so to speak, I concluded it is because I was interrupting too much. The fire was already very hot. Also if I'm going to be around such intensity I will need to know how to maneuver myself.
     Later toward the end of the session and the raging glorification was subsiding. I expressed my experience. In mild dissatisfaction he asked me if I was trying to challenge him that he had neglected something and that I was trying to correct him by adding the reference to Gaura kishora?
Perhaps he detected something there in my attitude that I was not aware of. It was a good lesson. If a challenging attitude was there, he saw it and I didn't. Who wouldn't want a guru like that. After all what am I doing there in the first place if he can't do things that? And even of it wasn't there why not be reminded of the dangers of challenging a real teacher?

INCREDIBLE DAY

Today was the first day in almost a week that I could walk well enough to go out of the house. Last Friday I missed a step and damaged my knee on the edge of the stair in the fall. Mahavirya suggested I may have been intoxicated due to the Mercy coming through my newly found siksa guru, Gauraharidas Avadhuta. He just may be right about that.
It was an incredible day. Everywhere I went I felt I was in a very high consciousness. Somehow I was radiating from inside something very miraculous and people around me could sense it. People were all saying hello and smiling. One small child couldn't stop saying hi over and over again until everyone in the waiting area burst into laughter. One woman approached me in the check out line thinking I was a long lost friend whom she hadn't seen in years. I even heard the stuffy man at the bank desk sigh as he offered not to charge me for a notary service he always charges for.
Jaya Gauraharidas Avadhuta who under the order of Srila Prabhupada, is taking up the mission of expanding the Hare Krishna movement to the level of bhakti rasa. I will go on hearing from him and pray for service to his mission.
Gauraharidas Avadhuta youtube channel

AUSTERITIES AND MERCY

Thank God the fire of Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan is being fanned again in the person of Gauraharidas Avadhuta, a good son.
Life in the ISKCON temples in the early 70's was very, very different from what we see now. It was quite bizarre to say the least.
Kirtans meant dancing and jumping in the air and not really knowing if you would ever land. Shouting the Holy Names so loud you would lose your voice.
The only reason anyone performed austerities was because they would do anything to get the Mercy. Now they do austerities to avoid the Mercy.
Funny how that happens.

QUALIFICATIONS

There are no material disqualifications for spiritual life. The only disqualification is to identify with one's material desires. The only qualification for spiritual life is the sincere desire to have it. Then we may be able to recognize the opportunity if we ever are given the great good fortune to meet a pure-hearted representative of God. Everything else simply points to the way. The living representative is the way. The pure representative of God is non-different from God. It doesn't get any better than that.
Live sessions 2 times/day. 8:30 am est  and  7:30 pm est
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Gauraharidas Avadhuta youtube channel

WE MAY NOT LIKE TO HEAR IT

 

We may not like to hear it for any number of reasons (fear, envy, mistrust, ignorance) but we cannot achieve life's goal without entering rasa lila.for the very simple reason that this is where the Lord resides. His form is non-different from Himself and His form is made of eternity, knowledge and bliss. The form of the Lord is one but manifests differently according to His desires to enjoy rasa lila with his associates, servants, and intimate companions who enter into a particular pleasure form of the Lord. The Lord and His expansions are unlimited.
The spiritual truth of Lord Sri Krishna is blocked from the vision of the materially conditioned soul due to his attachment to the false conception of the self as being separate and independent from the Lord. Due to this illusion of separateness and independence he becomes subject to the laws of action and reaction and becomes tightly bound within the material energy and the cycle of repeated births and deaths all the while convinced he is exerting his freedom and that the happiness he craves is just around the corner in some new karmic endeavor.
Due to the Causeless, inconceivable Mercy of God, He sends his bonafide representatives who are experiencing Rasa Lila. By recognizing and accepting their mercy, their teachings, their example, the conditioned soul can break the spell of illusion and also enter rasa lila to return home back to Godhead.
How to Detect The Qualities of Devotees Related to Lord Chaitanya In Spontaneous Love