How Emotion Becomes an Experience (Rati -> Rasa)
→ The Enquirer

Here are the verses from the beginning of the second section of Bhakti Rasāmṛta, from my old 1998 notes:.I begin with text 3 because 1 and 2 are maṅgalācarana.

3-4

asya pañca lahary yaḥ syur vibhāvākhyā ‘grimā matā |
dvitīyā tv anubhāvākhyā tṛtīyā sāttvikābhidā || 3 ||

vyabhicāry abhidhā turyā sthāyi-saṁjñā ca pañcamī |
athāsyāḥ keśava-rater lakṣitāyā nigadyate |
sāmagrī-paripoṣeṇa paramā rasa rūpatā || 4 ||

asya – in this (Southern Ocean); pañca – five; lahari – waves; yaḥ – she; syuḥ – should be; vibhāva-akhyā – called “vibhāva” (“stimuli”); agrimā – the first; matā – in my opinion; dvitīyā – the second; tu – but; anubhava-akhyā – called “anubhāva” (“expressions”); tṛtīyā – the third; sāttvika-abhidā – called “sāttvika” (“reflexive expressions”).

vyabhicārī abhidhā – called “vyabhicārī” (“counter-expressions”); turyā – the fourth; sthāyi-saṁjñā – well known as “sthāyī-bhāva” (“foundational emotion”); ca – and; pañcamī – the fifth; atha-asyāḥ – now, here; keśava-rateḥ – of affection for Keśava; lakṣitāyā – the characteristics; nigadyate – I will describe; sāmagrī – completely, entirely; paripoṣeṇa – totally nourishing; paramā – paramount; rasa – bhakti rasa; rūpatā – the form or nature of.

In this Southern Ocean are five waves. In my opinion, the first should be called “Stimuli” (Vibhāva), but the second should be called “Expressions” (Anubhāva), and the third called “Reflexive Expressions” (Sāttvika-bhāva). The fourth should be called “Counter-Expressions” (Vyabhicārī-bhāva), and the fifth is well known as “Foundational Emotion” (Sthāyi-bhāva).

Now, I will describe how affection for Keśava can be completely and fully nourished to become paramount bhakti rasa.

5

vibhāvair anubhāvaiś ca sāttvikair vyabhicāribhiḥ |
svādyatvaṁ hṛdi bhaktānām ānitā śravaṇādibhiḥ |
eṣā kṛṣṇa-ratiḥ sthāyī bhāvo bhakti-raso-bhavet || 5 ||

vibhāvaiḥ – Vibhāva (“stimuli”); ca – and; anubhāvaiḥ – Anubhāva (“expressions”); ca – and; sāttvikaiḥ – Sāttvika-bhāva (“reflexive expressions”); vyabhicāribhiḥ – Vyabhicārī-bhāva (“counter-expressions”); svādyatvam – tasted; hṛdi – in the heart; bhaktānām – of the bhaktas, devotees; ānitā – taken, brought near; śravaṇādibhiḥ – hearing, etc.; eṣā – this; kṛṣṇa-ratiḥ – affection for Krishna; sthāyī bhāvaḥ – Sthāyi-bhāva (“foundational emotion”); bhakti-rasaḥ – Bhakti Rasa; bhavet – if/becomes.

If activities like hearing about Krishna bring stimuli (Vibhāva), expressions (Anubhava), reflexive expressions (Sāttvika-bhāva), and counter-expressions (Vyabhicārī-bhāva) into contact with one’s affection for Krishna, then one’s foundational emotion (Sthāyi-bhāva) becomes Bhakti Rasa, and is tasted in the heart of the devotees.

Bhakti Rasa, the transcendental experience of rapture in love of Godhead, has five components. The most basic component is the foundational emotion, “Sthāyi-bhāva,” which is the specific type of unique affection one has for Krishna. This basic emotional relationship with Krishna can be heightened into a rapturous experience (“Bhakti Rasa”) under certain circumstances. First it must be stimulated (“Vibhāva”). Hearing about Krishna, and similar activities, usually introduces the elements that create this stimulation. Once stimulated, one’s emotions for Krishna need to be experienced by being expressed through the senses (“Anubhāva”). For the experience to reach the state of divine rapture (“Bhakti Rasa”), the emotion must also be expressed reflexively, in ways such as shivering, becoming stunned, crying, perspiring, etc. (“Sāttvika-bhāva”). Finally, counter-expressions (“Vyabhicārī-bhāva”) such as attempting to conceal one’s feelings heighten the experience further.

When one’s foundational emotion of attraction to Krishna is thus stimulated and expressed, it can be tasted within the heart as the divine state of bliss known as Bhakti Rasa.

6

prāktanyādhunikī cāsti yasya sad-bhakti-vāsanā |
eṣa bhakti-rasāsvādastāsyaivā hṛdi jāyate || 6 ||

prāktani – previously learned; ādhunikī – contemporarily; ca – and; asti – is; yasya – one who; sad-bhakti-vāsanā – enveloped in eternal devotion; eṣa – this; bhakti-rasāsvādastā – the nature of tasting Bhakti Rasa; asya – in this; evā – certainly; hṛdi – in the heart; jāyate – is born.

The ability to taste Bhakti Rasa certainly develops in the heart of one who is enveloped in eternal devotion as a result of previous and contemporary studies.

Śloka 5 briefly explained what Bhakti Rasa is. Now, Ślokas 6-11 present the topic of who is qualified to experience it.

7-10

bhakti-nirdhūta-doṣāṇāṁ prasannojjvala-cetasām |
śrī-bhāgavata-raktānāṁ rasikāsaṅga-raṅgiṇām || 7 ||

jīvanī-bhūta-govinda-pāda-bhakti-sukha-śriyām |
premāntaraṅga-bhūtāni kṛtyāny evānutiṣṭhatām || 8 ||

bhaktānāṁ hṛdi rājantī saṁskāra-yugalojjvalā |
ratir ānanda-rūpaiva nīyamānā tu rasyatām || 9 ||

kṛṣṇādibhir vibhāvādyair gatair anubhavādhvani |
prauḍhānandaś camatkāra-kāṣṭhām āpadyate parām || 10 ||

bhakti ­– Bhakti; nirdhūta-doṣāṇām – purified of faults; prasanna–ujjvala-cetasām – happy, bright mind; śrī-bhāgavata-raktānām – with taste for things related to Bhagavan, like Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and devotees of Bhagavan; rasika-āsaṅga-raṅgiṇām – who take pleasure in associating with those who taste Bhakti Rasa.

jīvanī-bhūta – who has become the very life of; govinda-pāda – the feet of Govinda; bhakti-sukha – the happiness of Bhakti; śriyām – opulence; prema-antaraṅga-bhūtāni – which has become the internal aspect of Prema; kṛtyāni – activities; eva – certainly; anutiṣṭhatām – those who express that station.

bhaktānām – devotees; hṛdi – in the heart; rājantī – existing; saṁskāra-yugala – together with the impressions of previous experiences; ujjvalā – brilliant; ratiḥ – affection; ānanda-rūpa – the form of bliss; eva – certainly; nīyamānā – being brought; tu – but; rasyatām – to the stage of Rasa.

kṛṣṇa-adibhiḥ – by Krishna, etc.; vibhāva-adyaiḥ – by Stimuli (“Vibhāva”), etc.; gataiḥ – attained; anubhava-ādhvani – expressing itself tangibly (“audibly”), prauḍha-ānandaḥ – mature bliss; camatkāra-kāṣṭhām – the platform of wonder; āpadyate – arrives at; parām – paramount.

Those who are purified of faults, happy and bright-minded, who are inclined to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, who enjoy associating with those who taste Bhakti Rasa, for whom the feet of Govinda is their very life, who are opulent with the happiness of Bhakti, and whose activities express the internal realization of Prema – When Bhakti exists in the hearts of such devotees, together with the brilliant impressions of previous experiences, then affection for Krishna is brought to the blissful stage of Rasa when excited by Stimuli, etc. (such as Krishna, etc.). When it expresses itself tangibly, it arrives at the paramount platform of wonder and mature bliss.


Wednesday, October 16th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

THE WALKING MONK CONTEMPLATES AVOIDING BEING SELF RIGHTEOUS IN BHAKTI AS TAUGHT BY HIS GURU...
 
Let's Get The Bhakti Down
 
Juhu Beach, India
 
It was at this beach that a man had been standing on his head when our guru, Srila Prabhupada, passed by him.  One of his students said to Srila Prabhupada, disclaiming the yogi saying, "This is not one of our men."  At that time the mood was that if you did anything that wasn't directly devotional you would be considered as being in maya (illusion).
 
Srila Prabhupada was silent for a few seconds and then remarked about the fellow doing the head-stand that this was good for health, implying that it was good for a practitioner of bhakti to do this type of thing.
 
Sometimes, those who are in devotion may carry a self-righteous attitude about what they do, regarding other practical things as secondary or less important.  My remark on that is we need to obtain a balance.
 
Here's an example of something interesting where the point of devotion was amiss for the sake of being practical.  Murali Krishna Swami is a huskily built green-eyed Boston bloke who used to excel in hockey before he became a monk.  He and I were sitting side-by-side at the edge of a carpet where we were enjoying doshas and chutney.  Two fellows proceeded to roll up the carpet in order to avoid spillage.  In the process M.K. Swami's dhoti (lower garment) got trapped in the carpet.  He finally yanked and freed his dhoti remarking to me, "Do they have to do this now?"  Once the carpet came my way my dhoti got trapped in also and the way things were looking I was going to be pulled in if I hung on.  If I was to remain indifferent I might become guilty of indecent exposure if I let the dhoti take its own course.  (Funny, but we just heard a recording on the message of renunciation).  In the meantime I tried to balance my plate of prasadam (food) when the plate tipped and the chutney spilled on my tugged-at dhoti.
 
I revealed the evidence to the carpet-rolling devotees who merely waggled their heads.  I thought maybe a tiny bit of thoughtfulness was absent.  So be it!
 
In any event I had a great day with team members of Vande (Vaishnava Arts for a New Devotional Era).  All was civilized in the end.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
5 KM

Krsna conquers us
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 September 2013, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.38)

One who remembers Krsna all the time becomes captured by Krsna. Krsna slowly captures us. It is said: jayati jananivaso devaki-janma-vado (SB 10.90.48). Jananivaso or Jananivasa is speaking about Krsna who is the resort, or shelter, of all living beings. Jayati means he conquers or it means ‘victory’.

001-Krishna_VisionIt is described by Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakur, in the commentary of that verse, that jayati is in the present tense and it means that Krsna is victorious. Not like he will be victorious or we hope that Krsna will conquer our heart. No, he is conquering right now. Basically what it means is that Krsna is penetrating into our consciousness even though we are conditioned souls and we are reluctant. It doesn’t matter how much tilak we put, how big the neck beads are; it doesn’t matter whether we live in a temple; it doesn’t matter even if we are bramachari for ninety-nine years, still we don’t want to surrender. There is a portion in us that does not want to, it is resisting; there is reluctance in us. And no matter how devotional we fold our hands, still we don’t want. We want to keep independence, we want to enjoy. That tendency is very strong.

It does not matter because by associating with Krsna, Krsna is victorious, says Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakur. He is victorious now. So, whenever we are associating with Krsna, he is penetrating and there is no false ego. Although the false ego is like a wall, a high wall which is so thick that the Chinese Wall looks like nothing; and nothing seems to go through that wall of false ego, except for Krsna. For Krsna it is nothing, he penetrates into our hearts and our consciousness.

 

 

Prasad Distribution in Nantes France
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Prasad Distribution In France
In the North of France there is a historical city called Nantes.
My friend Tristram decided to organise a campaign against food waste in this city so we packed up the van with the pots and burners and off we went for an adventure in France.
HG Dandakaranya prabhu joined ISKCON in France in the early seventies so he had a good grasp of the French language, whereas I studied Freach for 6 years and can hardly say hello.
HG Sanaka prabhu (gurukuli) and HG Achinta rupa prabhu made up the team. After a long drive we set up the kitchen and sorted the bhoga.
The plan was to distribute the prasad in a big warehouse place, I didn’t think anyone would show up for lunch so we sent a team to the local University.
But as if by magic 6,000 people showed up and we cooked 3 massive pots of subji and poperdoms.
The Franch people were super responsive to the prasad and we didn’t crack any jokes about frog’s legs or snails.
Enjoy the movie
Your Servant Parasuram Das

16.10 – When one makes lust a god, lust makes one a devil
→ The Spiritual Scientist

“No problem’s so big that sex can’t solve it.” So believe the materialists whose minds are filled with endless sexual fantasies.

The Bhagavad-gita (16.10) indicates that such people take shelter of lust (kamam ashritya). Whenever they need a break amidst life’s problems, instead of seeking refuge in Krishna, they seek refuge in lust. Thus they make lust into a god who, they faithfully believe, will solve their problems.

However, lust is a terrible god. Unidimensional obsession with lust makes it voracious, in fact insatiably voracious (dushpuram). The more they indulge in lust for getting some pleasure or at least some relief, the more lust tightens its stranglehold on their minds, goading them into increasingly immoral indulgences. Sexual pleasure being temporary never lives up to their fantasies of endless ecstasy. Groping feverishly for pleasure, they start exploring and enjoying sex in sickeningly distorted forms like pedophilia, incest and rape.

Lust gradually strips them of their entire conscience and makes them into devils who feel no hesitation in doing any misdeed, no matter how heinous. Quite to the contrary, they become sworn to unhealthy, unsavory actions (ashuci-vratah). They even proudly brag about such actions: “So many are my sexual conquests.” Little do they understand the reality: so many times has lust conquered them, making them perpetrate grievous wrongdoings and setting up their appointments with horrendous karmic consequences.

Unlike lust which out the worst in its worshipers, Krishna brings out the best in his worshipers. When amidst life’s problems we seek Krishna’s shelter, he helps us bring out the divinity latent within us as his parts. This unleashing of the divine within us helps us to not only face problems gracefully. It also helps us fight lust gallantly and march gloriously towards Krishna for life and love eternal.

***

16.10 - Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus illusioned, are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent.

 

 

 

Home Again
→ travelingmonk.com

“Having retired from all my duties and being freed from all expectations, when will I enter the abode of Sri Vrindavan alone and pass my days discussing topics of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Vrindavan, and topics of Sri Radha, the goddess of Vrindavan?” [ Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta, Sataka One, text 97 [...]

Gita Daily will be migrating to Gitadaily.com; please register for daily feed there.
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Gitadaily.com has now been active for nearly two months since its launch on Janmashtami 2013 and has already got nearly 2000 subscribers. We thank you for your enthusiastic response.

To ease the migration of Gita-daily from here to there, till now the articles were being posted on both sites. so you were getting them in your daily feed.

But as Gitadaily.com has all the Gita daily articles in a more accessible and appealing format and also because it caters exclusively to this feature, the articles will no longer be duplicated on both sites. Fresh Gita daily articles will be posted only on Gitadaily.com from the coming Monday, 21-10-13.

We request you to subscribe for the free daily feed there.

Thank you.

Food for Life Wrocław, Poland: ”In The Cold Weather Only PRASADAM Can Save Your Life” (45 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Hare Krishna Food for Life is the world's largest vegan and vegetarian non-profit food relief organization with projects in over 60 countries. Volunteers serve more than 1,500,000 free meals daily in a variety of ways, including: food vans serving to the homeless within major cities around the world; lunch time meals for poor school children throughout India; and also in response to large natural disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake Read more ›

Passing my days discussing topics of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Vrindavan, and topics of Sri Radha, the goddess of Vrindavan (120 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

"Having retired from all my duties and being freed from all expectations, when will I enter the abode of Sri Vrindavan alone and pass my days discussing topics of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Vrindavan, and topics of Sri Radha, the goddess of Vrindavan?" [ Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta, Sataka One, text 97 ] * All photos by Ananta Vrindavan das Read more ›

GBC Strategic Planning Meetings Taking Place in Juhu, Mumbai (October 14-19, 2013)
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In order to come up with systems and processes that will actually impact and improve the day to day lives of devotees and ISKCON at large, the GBC has created committees to address each of these concerns. These committees are not formed solely of GBC members but also members of what has come to be called the Strategic Planning Network (SPN) Read more ›

Invite Devotees to your Home and offer a lamp to Lord Damodara
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

 

Dear Devotees and Friends,Damodara

The month of Damodara or Kartik (October/November) is an auspicious month within which Deepavali falls. Without fail, Deepavali is celebrated with
the lighting of lamps in every home and this year shall be no exception.

On behalf of ISKCON, we are pleased to invite you to be a part of this celebration.

“As Satya Yuga is the best of Yugas, As the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as the Ganges is the best of rivers, so Kartik is the best of months and
the most dear to lord Sri Krsna”.

Here in ISKCON Perth we are organizing a very special program of offering lamps to Sri Damodara ( the baby form of Lord Sri Krishna) while singing a
very special song . In this program the devotees can visit your home and organize to offer a lamp with you and your family and friends. This can
bring a lot of auspiciousness and good luck to the whole family who takes part.

The Kartik ( Damodara) month starts from Saturday 19 October till Sunday 17 November.

The devotees can bring all the paraphernalia and arrange for all the necessary items. This is absolutely FREE ( Donations are accepted)

If you like to hold a program by inviting devotees to your home please contact

Hema Krishna prabhu – Program co-ordinator

On 0411 018 849 or hemakrishna@hotmail.com

Download Damodara Story.

Benefits of offering a lamp in Kartik month

In the Skanda Purana, it says that a person who offers a ghee lamp to Lord Damodara or Lord Krsna during Kartik ,burns away a collection of sins as
big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara and will not have take birth again in this world and and attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering.
Even if there are no mantras, no purity,no pious deeds, everything becomes perfect.

“O Narada, no sins exist anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a ghee lampto lord Kesava during Kartik “.

 

 

The Holy Name Seaside Retreat – 24 – 27 January 2014
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees and Well-Wishers,

It gives us great joy to invite you and your loved ones to the first Perth Hare Krishna spiritual event for 2014 THE HOLY NAME SEASIDE RETREAT.

Come and join with your friends, fellow devotees and special guests to get their sublime association in the tranquil settings of the Indian Ocean, whilst participating in a spiritual feast of activities ranging from transcendental kirtans, spiritually uplifting workshops on the Holy Name, international cuisine prasadamc cultural and beach activities, japa walks and more!

Everyone’s welcome and if you book and have paid in full by 31 October 2013, you will also get Early Bird Discount!

We request a donation of only $120 per adult and $70 per child (under 16) for the whole retreat including accommodation and prasadam. Early bird donations are only $108 per adult and $60 per child (under 16) for the whole retreat it includes accommodation and prasadam.

If you are unable to join us for all the days, you can also come on a daily basis on the days you can attend and the donation request for each day is only $60 per adult and $30 per child and it also includes prasadam for the day you are attending.

Venue:             Alfred Hines Seaside Camp, Hymus Street, Point Peron, Rockingham
Dates:             24 -27 January 2014
Arrival Time:    Friday from 5pm

Register now, by simply completing the attached registration form and returning with full payment into the following bank account:

Account Name:      ISKCON Inc
BSB Number:         036041
Account Number:   120564
Bank:                    Westpac
Reference:             HNSR Don (insert your name as stated on registration form)

Hand in Registration Form duly filled to Jane or scan and email to iskconperth1@gmail.com

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jane on 0430810 800 or email iskconperth1@gmail.com

Your Servants,
The Holy Name Seaside Team

Parikrama and Krishna Katha in Radhakunda 16/10/2013 (81 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

"Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna's love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-kunda is rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krishna is fully aroused." (Srila Rupa Goswami's "The Nectar of Instruction," by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, verses 9-11) Read more ›

Devotee Youth
→ Ramai Swami

IMG_0354IMG_0344

Maharati das, Govinda devi Dasi and Ravinjaya are all second generation devotees who live in Bali. Maharati is studying for his masters in pharmacy, Govinda works in management with a local company and Ravinjaya is finishing off his studies at school.

There are many devotee youths in Indonesia who are following in the footsteps of their parents and helping to spread Krsna Consciousness in their local area. They recently participated in the National SAKKHI meeting of management leaders and gave a presentation to the assembled devotees about their ideas and activities for the future.
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(ISCOWP): Three Baby Calves rescued from going to the slaughterhouse (9 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

International Society for Cow Protection (ISCOWP): It is always so wonderful to rescue cows/oxen/calves from the horrible meat/dairy industry. Our current herd of 18 animals needed to be increased so we decided to go to the Sale Barn Auction and rescue another cow. We had our planes and Lord Krsna had His plans as we came home with two little bull calves and one little heifer(girl) calf. We wish we could have bought them all. So many innocent souls in cows bodies suffering so much and being treated so badly Read more ›