Post by Uttamasloka on Mar 21, 2018 20:04:19 GMT -5
It has been around 3 years since mines entering of Krsna Consciousness, so needless to say I am at a lowly, neophyte stage. I have just finished my teenage years. During recent times, I managed to keep a regular attendance of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavatam class as well as hearing from him through his books. I am actively involved in Sankirtan. Honestly speaking, whenever I used to hear of Raganuga-Bhakti, I dismiss it as an inaccessible stage for conditioned living entities, something to be practised when one has been completely eradicated from his anarthas. I've heard my congregational senior devotees describe it as "not to be contemplated as of yet." Therefore, I took their advice and whenever Srila Prabhupada would mention it, I would let it jump over my head. One thing I've noticed is the lack of education regarding this topic from ISCKON. I've tried looking for YouTube lectures resulting in Vrindavana Babajis (which I want to avoid).
Don't feel too bad. Most devotees have had a similar experience and have the same misconceptions. ISKCON doesn't teach raganuga-bhakti because most of the gurus don't understand it properly. Some do, but I'm not sure how much they share it with others. One prominent guru recently said in a lecture that we don't have to practice raganuga-bhakti, we just have to engage in vaidhi-bhakti to Lord Caitanya and that's the same as raganuga-bhakti! I'm not joking. This is the kind of apasiddhanta being taught in ISKCON temples. Not good.
I can't remember how, but I've stumbled upon Uttamasloka Prabhu's book few weeks ago
I suspect that was Krsna's arrangement.
Although I've barely been introduced to KC, this book definitely shone a new light. I haven't thoroughly studied the book (at this stage I probably shouldn't), but I did skim through the topics which I found to be more relevant to my questions. I've learned quite a lot from this book, Jiva's do not fall from Vaikuntha, we are able to develop a relationship with Krsna according to our innate mood, etc...
You can read my book and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have while reading it. Just eMail me and we'll discuss things privately: Uttamasloka@riseup.net
My question are;
(1) So I've learned that the single prerequisite for Raganuga-Bhakti is to have transcendental lobha awakened in one's heart. So, Raganuga-Bhakti is to be practised at later stages of Sadhana Bhakti, but can this lobha to follow a nitya-siddha Vraja-vasi (in accordance to one's innate mood) be cultivated (or desired for) in the beginning stages of Sadhana Bhakti (i.e Shraddha or Sadhu-Sanga)?
(1) So I've learned that the single prerequisite for Raganuga-Bhakti is to have transcendental lobha awakened in one's heart. So, Raganuga-Bhakti is to be practised at later stages of Sadhana Bhakti, but can this lobha to follow a nitya-siddha Vraja-vasi (in accordance to one's innate mood) be cultivated (or desired for) in the beginning stages of Sadhana Bhakti (i.e Shraddha or Sadhu-Sanga)?
As you will read in chapter 3, lobha may have awakened in some devotees in their previous life and it has now manifest of its own accord. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains how greed appears in Raga-vartma-candrika:
There are two causes for the appearance of greed:
(1) the mercy of Kṛṣṇa
(2) the mercy of another anurāgi devotee
There are again two kinds of mercy bestowed by a devotee:
(1) mercy bestowed by a rāgānugā devotee in a previous life – praktana
(2) mercy bestowed by a rāgānugā devotee in the present birth – adhunika
The praktana devotee takes shelter of the lotus feet of a rāgānugā guru after the greed has arisen in him, and the adhunika will get that greed only after having surrendered to the feet of such a guru.
It is said (BRS, 1.2.309): “The only causes of the appearance of greed are the mercy of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee. Therefore, some call the path of rāgānugā-bhakti, pusti mārga (the path of mercy).” RVC, 1.6
In a Q&A after a Srimad-bhagavatam class, the follow exchange took place regarding a neophyte devotee:
Hansadutta: So Prabhupada, a neophyte devotee, he may think it might be very nice to be Krishna’s friend, but he may actually be a blade of grass and he’ll be fully satisfied when he comes to that stage?
Prabhupada: No. If he thinks like that, then he should cultivate that knowledge in that way. Yes. That is described in The Nectar of Devotion and Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Hansadutta: But that may not be his actual position. It may be something else?
Prabhupada: No. But when, at the time of devotional service, if such impetus comes, that means he has got such relation. It is to be developed. That’s all. That means the actual relationship with Krishna is coming out gradually. It is being developed. So one has to develop it, following the footsteps of Krishna’s friends in Vrindavana. These are described here.
Yes. Not directly. No. You cannot say that “I have become Sudama.” No. You have to follow the footsteps of Sudama. “I have become mother Yashoda.” No. You have to follow the footsteps of mother Yashoda. That is real position. And as soon as you say, “I am Yashoda. I am Sudama,” then it is as good as the Mayavadis say, “I am God.” You see? So dasa-dasanudasa. That process should be followed.
Hansadutta: Suppose someone is satisfied simply being related with the spiritual master.
Prabhupada: That is everyone’s business. Everyone’s business. That is not a particular taste. That is the duty of all devotees.
(2) If so, one has to obviously be guided in that way by those who have either reached the goal or are treading on that path. There are 64 angas of Sadhana Bhakti, starting from guru-padashraya. Krsna emphasises the importance of surrender to a Guru (tad viddhi pranipatena). So is it necessary that one takes diksha from a guru who is either on the stage of Raganuga or have attained Bhava/Prema via Raganuga?
That would be ideal, i.e.: receiving diksa from a guru at the stage of prema, and if such a guru cannot be found, then at least an advanced madhyama devotee who is practicing raganuga-bhakti.
(3) If so, where does one find such a guru? Even if not for diksha, be it for siksa
As the saying goes, "When the student is ready - the guru will appear." Krsna will make that arrangement for you. At this stage, siksa is more important. We can discuss this further privately by eMail.
This may be due to my extremely condition nature, where I am not able to properly see things. But in our societly, all the emphasis is on preaching and so it should be. But from merely skimming your book, I found out that it is also imperative that one starts to think about internal development. This is the missing leg of our society (at least to my conditioned perspective).
Yes, it is sadly missing from ISKCON. I know this for a fact because thousands of ISKCON devotees have read my book and communicated these things to me in our private discussions.
I would like to apologise if I am jumping haphazardly, please do let me know if that is the case.
No apologies necessary. You're inquiries are fine.
I would like to offer my dandavat pranam unto the exalted feet of Uttamasloka Prabhu. What I've read from your book is in-line with the previous acharyas (as you have given all the pramanas), it is also harmonious with the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. You must definitely be empowered by Srila Prabhupada to take on such a task.
Thanks for your kind words of support and gratitude. I appreciate. We'll continue this discussion in private. Keep reading my book.
In service,
Uttamasloka dasa...