Post by Admin on Jan 30, 2013 16:48:54 GMT -5
I have several questions on the content of this chapter that I would like to put before the assembled devotees, and I will create a thread for each so as not to complicate the discussion.
The first deals with the consequences of vaishnava aparadha. On page 113 Jiva Goswami is quoted thus:
"By two types of grave offenses – offense to the dearest devotee or to Krsna Himself – even real bhäva is destroyed. By medium offense, bhäva becomes bhäväbhäsa – a shadow of bhäva.
By slight offense, the bhäva degrades in category. Becoming an inferior type means that there will be degradation in terms of the five rasas and the eight stages from mahäbhäva down to rati. Thus, change in bhäva will take place according to the seriousness of the offense."
Vishvanatha Cakravarti adds:
If the aparadha is slight, the bhäva changes type. Madhura-rati becomes däsya-rati. Däsyarati becomes sänta-rati.
My question is this: if the offender makes a medium offense his bhava is degraded to bhavabhasa. One assumes that after some period of time and by begging forgiveness the offender may rectify himself, and again take up the path of bhakti to his/her ultimate success.
However is the offense is slight the consequence seems to me much more severe! There is then degredation of bhava and madhurya rati bescomes dasya rati, etc.
It seems that at this point one's relationship is downgraded eternally, and can never recover to a higher one. That is serious!!
This seems like the eternal punishment that the Christians propagate.
Where am I wrong? Is it that the more serious offender cannot rectify himself and again establish their position in Madhurya, or is it that the mild offender is only downgraded for some time?
Which brings up another related question: is it possible to be "promoted" once one is in the spiritual world, either from Vaikuntha to Goloka, or in Goloka from santa or dasya to a higher bhav?
Dhanesvara Das
The first deals with the consequences of vaishnava aparadha. On page 113 Jiva Goswami is quoted thus:
"By two types of grave offenses – offense to the dearest devotee or to Krsna Himself – even real bhäva is destroyed. By medium offense, bhäva becomes bhäväbhäsa – a shadow of bhäva.
By slight offense, the bhäva degrades in category. Becoming an inferior type means that there will be degradation in terms of the five rasas and the eight stages from mahäbhäva down to rati. Thus, change in bhäva will take place according to the seriousness of the offense."
Vishvanatha Cakravarti adds:
If the aparadha is slight, the bhäva changes type. Madhura-rati becomes däsya-rati. Däsyarati becomes sänta-rati.
My question is this: if the offender makes a medium offense his bhava is degraded to bhavabhasa. One assumes that after some period of time and by begging forgiveness the offender may rectify himself, and again take up the path of bhakti to his/her ultimate success.
However is the offense is slight the consequence seems to me much more severe! There is then degredation of bhava and madhurya rati bescomes dasya rati, etc.
It seems that at this point one's relationship is downgraded eternally, and can never recover to a higher one. That is serious!!
This seems like the eternal punishment that the Christians propagate.
Where am I wrong? Is it that the more serious offender cannot rectify himself and again establish their position in Madhurya, or is it that the mild offender is only downgraded for some time?
Which brings up another related question: is it possible to be "promoted" once one is in the spiritual world, either from Vaikuntha to Goloka, or in Goloka from santa or dasya to a higher bhav?
Dhanesvara Das
