Who has the adhikära (qualification) for räganuga bhakti?
Jun 17, 2015 7:04:58 GMT -5
niscala likes this
Post by Vrindavan das on Jun 17, 2015 7:04:58 GMT -5
Let us discuss our adhikara (qualification) for this path of raganuga sadhana bhajan. What is my eligibility for this path of spontaneous loving devotion?
Have I really "undergone a significant
amount of anartha-nivrtti to come to that point."?
The answers are here given by the acaryas:
Have I really "undergone a significant
amount of anartha-nivrtti to come to that point."?
The answers are here given by the acaryas:
In Jaiva-dharma, Bhaktivinoda Thäkura gives his unique perspective on lobha in conjunction
with rägänugä-bhakti. Following a discussion about räga, we begin with a statement about a
sädhaka who doesn’t yet have räga:
Bäbäji: …It is auspicious that a person in whose heart such räga has not arisen should strive
to cultivate such bhakti by behaving according to vidhi (the rules and regulations of çästra).
The principles at work in vaidhi-bhakti are fear, respect and reverence, whereas the only
principle at work in rägätmikä-bhakti is lobha, or greed, in relation to Sri Krsna’s lilä.
Vrajanatha: Who has the adhikära (qualification) for rägamayi bhakti?
Bäbäji: Vaidhi-sraddhä bestows the adhikära for vaidhi-bhakti, and similarly, lobhamayi
sraddhä (faith imbued with greed for Krsnaa’s vraja-lila) bestows the adhikära for rägamayi
bhakti. The bhäva of the vraja-väsis towards Krsna is the supreme example of rägätmikä-bhakti.
One who has the great fortune to have greed (lobha) to obtain the same bhäva as
the vraja-väsis have towards Krsna has the adhikära for rägänugä-bhakti.
Vrajanatha: What are the symptoms of such lobha?
Bäbäji: When one hears about the intensely sweet bhävas of the vraja-väsis, one’s intelligence
begins to consider how one may enter into those dealings. That desire is the symptom that
lobha has awakened.
A person who has the adhikära for vaidhi-bhakti tests everything on the platform of
intelligence, knowledge of sästra, and reasoning; and when he hears krsna-kathä, he only
accepts it if these three support it.
However, there is no such consideration in räga-märga, for intelligence, knowledge of sästra,
and reasoning are not desired on this path. All that is needed is the greed for the
sentiments of the vraja-väsis: “What are the sweet bhävas of the vraja-väsis towards Krsna?
Is it possible for me to obtain such bhävas? How can this be obtained?”
This intense yearning is the symptom of greed, and one who does not have it does not
have the adhikära for rägänugä-bhakti. This you should understand. JD, Chapter 21
Very clear, consistent and powerful statements from our äcäryas about greed, lobha. Not one of
them mentioned anything about first being freed from all anarthas and material desires, or being
very advanced, or even purity, nor do they mention those things anywhere else in conjunction
with being qualified for rägänugä-bhakti. They all said – greed, lobha is the sole qualification to
begin this process.
In fact, Visvanätha Cakravarti even went as far as to say that, “nor does the
candidate ever consider whether or not he is qualified for the path of rägänugä-bhakti.”
As we will learn in the next chapter, only after the stage of bhäva, when bhäva matures into
prema, are all anarthas and material desires completely destroyed. That being said, it is also
understood that a person who is truly ready for this path, will have undergone a significant
amount of anartha-nivrtti to come to that point.
with rägänugä-bhakti. Following a discussion about räga, we begin with a statement about a
sädhaka who doesn’t yet have räga:
Bäbäji: …It is auspicious that a person in whose heart such räga has not arisen should strive
to cultivate such bhakti by behaving according to vidhi (the rules and regulations of çästra).
The principles at work in vaidhi-bhakti are fear, respect and reverence, whereas the only
principle at work in rägätmikä-bhakti is lobha, or greed, in relation to Sri Krsna’s lilä.
Vrajanatha: Who has the adhikära (qualification) for rägamayi bhakti?
Bäbäji: Vaidhi-sraddhä bestows the adhikära for vaidhi-bhakti, and similarly, lobhamayi
sraddhä (faith imbued with greed for Krsnaa’s vraja-lila) bestows the adhikära for rägamayi
bhakti. The bhäva of the vraja-väsis towards Krsna is the supreme example of rägätmikä-bhakti.
One who has the great fortune to have greed (lobha) to obtain the same bhäva as
the vraja-väsis have towards Krsna has the adhikära for rägänugä-bhakti.
Vrajanatha: What are the symptoms of such lobha?
Bäbäji: When one hears about the intensely sweet bhävas of the vraja-väsis, one’s intelligence
begins to consider how one may enter into those dealings. That desire is the symptom that
lobha has awakened.
A person who has the adhikära for vaidhi-bhakti tests everything on the platform of
intelligence, knowledge of sästra, and reasoning; and when he hears krsna-kathä, he only
accepts it if these three support it.
However, there is no such consideration in räga-märga, for intelligence, knowledge of sästra,
and reasoning are not desired on this path. All that is needed is the greed for the
sentiments of the vraja-väsis: “What are the sweet bhävas of the vraja-väsis towards Krsna?
Is it possible for me to obtain such bhävas? How can this be obtained?”
This intense yearning is the symptom of greed, and one who does not have it does not
have the adhikära for rägänugä-bhakti. This you should understand. JD, Chapter 21
Very clear, consistent and powerful statements from our äcäryas about greed, lobha. Not one of
them mentioned anything about first being freed from all anarthas and material desires, or being
very advanced, or even purity, nor do they mention those things anywhere else in conjunction
with being qualified for rägänugä-bhakti. They all said – greed, lobha is the sole qualification to
begin this process.
In fact, Visvanätha Cakravarti even went as far as to say that, “nor does the
candidate ever consider whether or not he is qualified for the path of rägänugä-bhakti.”
As we will learn in the next chapter, only after the stage of bhäva, when bhäva matures into
prema, are all anarthas and material desires completely destroyed. That being said, it is also
understood that a person who is truly ready for this path, will have undergone a significant
amount of anartha-nivrtti to come to that point.