Post by niscala on Dec 30, 2013 18:15:42 GMT -5
The Spirit Sprite... and the Letter Languid
In regard to many topics currently on the table in devotee discussion groups, there appears to be four broad methods of approach, analysis and conclusion. Only one serves the spirit of the sastric law, while the others use sanskrit letters to serve ulterior motives only.
The first is the institutionalized one, which is whatever the leaders have decided is true is true, for they have the brains, the rest of us have wool. The other three, which may or may not overlap the first, are in the categories discussed by Bhaktivinode Thakura in Sri Chaitanya Siksamrita.
The fear-based approach- being too attached to the level of understanding which one is on now- means that one is loathe to embrace change, a new approach, or a new understanding. One identifies with the opinions one has always held to be true, and fights and defends such opinions. Or one is overly attached to the stage of bhakti one is now at, and doesn't want to evolve to the next level, arguing against the need to, or just not showing interest in it at all.
Bhaktivinode Thakura: Some people lament that they have not attained devotion to Krsna, but at the same time, they do not make any real attempt to raise themselves to the level of bhava-bhakti...Thus many devotees on the level of vaidhi bhakti make no attempt to progress to bhava bhakti.
The other ill-advised approach is to be too hasty and impatient with change, either by embracing new ideas because they hold appeal to one's sentiment, excite one's imagination, provide reason to leave a group, or create controversy, or by rushing to evolve too quickly, before one has the prerequisite qualifications (adhikara).
Bhaktivinode Thakura: By progressing... step-by-step, the living entities can eventually achieve the highest end, Krsna prema. If they hurry too quickly to progress to the next step, they will fall to the lower step. If they delay too long on one step, they will become lazy and block their own progress.
All of these categories have two subsets- the cheaters and the cheated.
The right approach, approved by Bhaktivinode Thakura, is to be unattached and ready to move to a new understanding at the right time and in the right way, based on the desire for truth, evolution, as well as sincerity and honesty of heart to know when one is ready. This category also has two subsets- the teachers and the benefited.
Bhaktivinode Thakura: Understanding that either excessively quick or slow movement is an obstacle, people should elevate themselves gradually by becoming firmly fixed on one level, and then they should give up that when firmness in the higher level has been attained.
That we take the right approach is essential in any discussion, but most essential when the topic is that which is most relevant to our spiritual development- the relevance of raganuga bhakti, for the acaryas have described that without taking to this process in the step-by-step way they recommend, entrance into Vraja cannot be possible.
Those siding blindly with the institution accept the institutional dogma that serving the institutional goals will reward one with raganuga, without following any of the guidelines and recommendations deemed as necessary by all the acaryas. They place all their faith in soldiers who have proven themselves fallible, over and over again. Thus, numerous misconceptions beset them, such as the belief that anyone in a superior position in the hierarchy of control, a sannyasi or leader, is automatically more advanced, and thus his opinion is to be accepted over any others- simply because of that.
Those that are afraid of change in themselves, use excuses such as “I am way too fallen for that!” to avoid challenging themselves to move to the next level. Thus fear of change and attachment to their present position and understanding cheats them into thinking they are being humble and non-ambitious by doing so. Their cheating gurus assure them that they should always remain in such a humble position, and by the mercy of their gurus (themselves) they will be delivered, provided they please their gurus (themselves).
Those who are in the category of sahajiya are in the third group, and are impatient to proceed very quickly on the bhakti path, without the necessary qualifications described in sastra. Their cheating gurus assure them they are qualified for such a level, often only on the basis that they have a rasika guru (themselves) and such disciples think themselves more advanced, simply on the basis of
that.
The acaryas warn us against such sahajiyaism and therefore, while cheating gurus of the third category play on the impatience and ambition of their disciples, the cheating gurus of the second category play on their fear of such warnings. When they see a tendency in their disciples to move upwards, and embrace the path of loving devotion from the heart, they discourage such attempts as “sahajiyaism” or “sentimentality” though they don't mind all kinds of sentimental accolades directed towards themselves on their birthdays. It is only unbounded sentiment for Krsna that they discourage.
Often gurus in this category are in the institutionalized mindset described above. On close examination, however, they can be present even in the groups that adhere to the sastric viewpoint that it is only through raganuga bhakti that the soul can enter Vraja. They are found to discourage their followers from moving forward in the following ways:
1. by exclusion- if you have not had the direct vapuh of a rasika vaisnava, you cannot progress, despite having and following his vani. After all, the vani through his books is available to all, the vapuh, for a chosen elite. Another version of this relates to birth- those of mlecca birth are excluded.
2. by appealing to humility- you must be on an exalted platform such as asakti before serious meditation in raganuga can take place, or you must be free from all material desires.
Those desirous of us moving forward will place the sastric warnings in the right context, and find sastric content which helps us to move forward- when we are ready. Those desirous of holding us back will stress the content which is composed of warnings, or skew the understanding to favor our non-involvement in the attempt to progress, or to favor their superior position. Those desirous of cheapening the process, altogether ignore warnings, even when they are clearly relevant in terms of time, place and circumstance.
All can and will find content in sastra to support their position. But while all may be adhering to the letter of the law, in quoting sastra, it may be asked who is adhering to its real spirit or intent? The purpose of the Lord in His form as sabda-brahman is to have us all evolve to the level that is possible for us and as quickly as possible- Krsna wants us to come to Him! Lord Chaitanya broke open the storehouse of love of God, plundered its contents and distributed them freely. Those who took up His mercy came from all backgrounds of non-qualification and were raised to the ecstatic platform of love of God. Thus, the issue of adhikara took a back seat to the magnanimous spirit of compassion.
The warnings in sastra and by the acaryas, to avoid sahajiyaism are also in this spirit, for a non-qualified person may simply imitate and think himself advanced, and ultimately make less progress than if he had been honest with himself from the beginning, and take bhakti step-by-step.
Those who take up the mood of Chaitanya, keep these warnings in the place for which they were intended, and never allow them to be sources of discouragement for the serious practitioners. Not wanting to see anyone discouraged or stagnating, they try to raise their adhikara, qualifications for advancing, being as they are beset with an intense desire to see them advance in love of Godhead. By their words they instill fervent desire in the heart of the sincere listener- such fervent desire is the adhikara of lobha- necessary to enter spontaneous devotion.
The sastra is really a wish-fulfilling desire tree, being Krsna Himself. Whatever we want from Him, or His sastra, He can deliver. If we look for verses that hold people back in their evolution, we can find them and if we look for verses that encourage people beyond their level of adhikara, we can find that as well. If we look for verses that infuse people with a desire to enter into the mood of the gopis, and thus become qualified to take up that path, we can find content that will provide that impetus. This middle path, not ignorant of warnings, yet not being disempowered by them, nor allowing them to disempower or discourage others, follows intimately the spirit of the sastric law. Otherwise it is one set of letters against another, which without entering into the spirit for which they were intended, will never yield an outcome. We need to be sincere well-wishers of ourselves- and each other. Then the sastra will propel us forward.
In regard to many topics currently on the table in devotee discussion groups, there appears to be four broad methods of approach, analysis and conclusion. Only one serves the spirit of the sastric law, while the others use sanskrit letters to serve ulterior motives only.
The first is the institutionalized one, which is whatever the leaders have decided is true is true, for they have the brains, the rest of us have wool. The other three, which may or may not overlap the first, are in the categories discussed by Bhaktivinode Thakura in Sri Chaitanya Siksamrita.
The fear-based approach- being too attached to the level of understanding which one is on now- means that one is loathe to embrace change, a new approach, or a new understanding. One identifies with the opinions one has always held to be true, and fights and defends such opinions. Or one is overly attached to the stage of bhakti one is now at, and doesn't want to evolve to the next level, arguing against the need to, or just not showing interest in it at all.
Bhaktivinode Thakura: Some people lament that they have not attained devotion to Krsna, but at the same time, they do not make any real attempt to raise themselves to the level of bhava-bhakti...Thus many devotees on the level of vaidhi bhakti make no attempt to progress to bhava bhakti.
The other ill-advised approach is to be too hasty and impatient with change, either by embracing new ideas because they hold appeal to one's sentiment, excite one's imagination, provide reason to leave a group, or create controversy, or by rushing to evolve too quickly, before one has the prerequisite qualifications (adhikara).
Bhaktivinode Thakura: By progressing... step-by-step, the living entities can eventually achieve the highest end, Krsna prema. If they hurry too quickly to progress to the next step, they will fall to the lower step. If they delay too long on one step, they will become lazy and block their own progress.
All of these categories have two subsets- the cheaters and the cheated.
The right approach, approved by Bhaktivinode Thakura, is to be unattached and ready to move to a new understanding at the right time and in the right way, based on the desire for truth, evolution, as well as sincerity and honesty of heart to know when one is ready. This category also has two subsets- the teachers and the benefited.
Bhaktivinode Thakura: Understanding that either excessively quick or slow movement is an obstacle, people should elevate themselves gradually by becoming firmly fixed on one level, and then they should give up that when firmness in the higher level has been attained.
That we take the right approach is essential in any discussion, but most essential when the topic is that which is most relevant to our spiritual development- the relevance of raganuga bhakti, for the acaryas have described that without taking to this process in the step-by-step way they recommend, entrance into Vraja cannot be possible.
Those siding blindly with the institution accept the institutional dogma that serving the institutional goals will reward one with raganuga, without following any of the guidelines and recommendations deemed as necessary by all the acaryas. They place all their faith in soldiers who have proven themselves fallible, over and over again. Thus, numerous misconceptions beset them, such as the belief that anyone in a superior position in the hierarchy of control, a sannyasi or leader, is automatically more advanced, and thus his opinion is to be accepted over any others- simply because of that.
Those that are afraid of change in themselves, use excuses such as “I am way too fallen for that!” to avoid challenging themselves to move to the next level. Thus fear of change and attachment to their present position and understanding cheats them into thinking they are being humble and non-ambitious by doing so. Their cheating gurus assure them that they should always remain in such a humble position, and by the mercy of their gurus (themselves) they will be delivered, provided they please their gurus (themselves).
Those who are in the category of sahajiya are in the third group, and are impatient to proceed very quickly on the bhakti path, without the necessary qualifications described in sastra. Their cheating gurus assure them they are qualified for such a level, often only on the basis that they have a rasika guru (themselves) and such disciples think themselves more advanced, simply on the basis of
that.
The acaryas warn us against such sahajiyaism and therefore, while cheating gurus of the third category play on the impatience and ambition of their disciples, the cheating gurus of the second category play on their fear of such warnings. When they see a tendency in their disciples to move upwards, and embrace the path of loving devotion from the heart, they discourage such attempts as “sahajiyaism” or “sentimentality” though they don't mind all kinds of sentimental accolades directed towards themselves on their birthdays. It is only unbounded sentiment for Krsna that they discourage.
Often gurus in this category are in the institutionalized mindset described above. On close examination, however, they can be present even in the groups that adhere to the sastric viewpoint that it is only through raganuga bhakti that the soul can enter Vraja. They are found to discourage their followers from moving forward in the following ways:
1. by exclusion- if you have not had the direct vapuh of a rasika vaisnava, you cannot progress, despite having and following his vani. After all, the vani through his books is available to all, the vapuh, for a chosen elite. Another version of this relates to birth- those of mlecca birth are excluded.
2. by appealing to humility- you must be on an exalted platform such as asakti before serious meditation in raganuga can take place, or you must be free from all material desires.
Those desirous of us moving forward will place the sastric warnings in the right context, and find sastric content which helps us to move forward- when we are ready. Those desirous of holding us back will stress the content which is composed of warnings, or skew the understanding to favor our non-involvement in the attempt to progress, or to favor their superior position. Those desirous of cheapening the process, altogether ignore warnings, even when they are clearly relevant in terms of time, place and circumstance.
All can and will find content in sastra to support their position. But while all may be adhering to the letter of the law, in quoting sastra, it may be asked who is adhering to its real spirit or intent? The purpose of the Lord in His form as sabda-brahman is to have us all evolve to the level that is possible for us and as quickly as possible- Krsna wants us to come to Him! Lord Chaitanya broke open the storehouse of love of God, plundered its contents and distributed them freely. Those who took up His mercy came from all backgrounds of non-qualification and were raised to the ecstatic platform of love of God. Thus, the issue of adhikara took a back seat to the magnanimous spirit of compassion.
The warnings in sastra and by the acaryas, to avoid sahajiyaism are also in this spirit, for a non-qualified person may simply imitate and think himself advanced, and ultimately make less progress than if he had been honest with himself from the beginning, and take bhakti step-by-step.
Those who take up the mood of Chaitanya, keep these warnings in the place for which they were intended, and never allow them to be sources of discouragement for the serious practitioners. Not wanting to see anyone discouraged or stagnating, they try to raise their adhikara, qualifications for advancing, being as they are beset with an intense desire to see them advance in love of Godhead. By their words they instill fervent desire in the heart of the sincere listener- such fervent desire is the adhikara of lobha- necessary to enter spontaneous devotion.
The sastra is really a wish-fulfilling desire tree, being Krsna Himself. Whatever we want from Him, or His sastra, He can deliver. If we look for verses that hold people back in their evolution, we can find them and if we look for verses that encourage people beyond their level of adhikara, we can find that as well. If we look for verses that infuse people with a desire to enter into the mood of the gopis, and thus become qualified to take up that path, we can find content that will provide that impetus. This middle path, not ignorant of warnings, yet not being disempowered by them, nor allowing them to disempower or discourage others, follows intimately the spirit of the sastric law. Otherwise it is one set of letters against another, which without entering into the spirit for which they were intended, will never yield an outcome. We need to be sincere well-wishers of ourselves- and each other. Then the sastra will propel us forward.
