WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

CHAITANYA CHANDRADAYA - ACT TWO

This is an excerpt and discussion from a reading in Chaitanya Chandradaya a play in Ten Acts by Kavi Karnapura who is accepted by most as being the author during satsanga 7-12-13. 

Renunciation:This is strange. Without pure devotional service to Lord Vishnu, expert meditation, samadhi, faith, scripture study, good works, japa, and austerity are like an actor's expert playing on a stage. They are only different ways to fill an empty belly.(17)

O Kali, well done! Well done! You brought the entire earth under your rule.(18)

Renunciation: I see that now everyone's thoughts, words, desires and deeds are all destroyed by the impurities of Kali. When will I see the Vaishnavas chanting Krishna's glories and serving Him as they shed tears, the hairs of their bodies stand erect in ecstasy, and they are equal to both friends and outsiders?(21)

Devotional Service: Renunciation, in this time of Kali, there is not the slightest trace of spiritual life. There is no real substance, only decoration.(34)
Only devotional service, which is both the goal of life and the means of attining the goal of life, can defeat Kali, material illusion, and the bonds of birth and death.(35)

DISCUSSION

Gauraharidas:... Devotional service is just like it says... is very rare. But Lord Chaitanya when He came here ... appeared here... devotional service appeared in every home. Just by talking about Lord Chaitanya and His glories and associating with His devotees it makes that devotional service appear again. That's why these devotees like Vrndavan das Thakur... they say those who read or hear the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya will awaken pure devotional service because it just like the Lord appearing by making Him appear by talking about Him...discussing His pastimes... sincerely...with faith.

Meena Devi Dasi: But prabhu, that is devotional service.

Gauraharidas: Well, you can talk about something or somebody or chant mantras but if this devotional service doesn't appear in the heart, it's like you read earlier, it's like ornaments on a dead body. The life is the devotional service...chanting the mantras with devotion. This has to appear in the heart otherwise it's dry.

Meena Devi Dasi: Ah, there's performance and activities which are recognized as devotional activities but then there's the spirit of devotion.

Gauraharidas: That's what they call pure devotional service...it's that spirit of devotion. It has to enter the heart, awaken in the heart otherwise it's just dry. It's like we just read...an actor is on stage performing these things...looking good ...uniforms and all that... but there's no life. There's no devotion... It only appeared when Lord Chaitanya appeared.