Dear readers, I am back. Please forgive my absence.
The Babaji (Vashnava renunciate) about whom I wrote about earlier under the heading "Part One" (Sri Binode Bihari Das Babaji Maharaj) has written an amazing guide for those who would attempt to tread the ancient path of Bhakti (devotion to Krsna, the Absolute Person, God if you will) according to the desires of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. With some slight editing for grammar, this is page 92-93 of this text. Just really inspired and wanted to share. Radhe Radhe!
1. Q: To what degree is my heart pure?
A: To the degree I have stopped seeing faults in others.
2. Q: How much have I progressed in bhajan(the process of and practice of devotion to Krsna)?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego, material desires
and thoughts other than those of Sri Bhagavân (Krsna or, "that person who possesses the six auspicious qualities in infinitude" in other words, God).
3. Q: How much have I gained Bhakti Devi’s (devotion for Krsna personified conceptually) mercy?
A: I have gained Bhakti Devi’s mercy to the extent that I consider myself
lower than others, unworthy and fallen.
4. Q: How fearless have I become?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego and taken
shelter of Sri Govinda’s (Krsna's)lotus feet.
5. Q: How much of a pure devotee (of Krsna) have I become?
A: To the extent I have stopped seeing faults in others and forgiving.
6. Q: How much has my intelligence become clear?
A: To the extent I can seek out my own faults and try with body,
speech and mind to improve myself.
7. Q: How free have I become of false ego?
A: To the extent I can hear harsh words of an evil person and
not become agitated.
8. Q: How illuminated is my heart with bhakti?
A: To the extent it has become free of false ego and it is agitated for the
darshan (mystical glimpse - defined as seeing and being seen) of the Divine Couple.
9. Q: How liberated am I?
A: As much as I am free of material desires.
10.Q: How detached am I?
A: As much as I have become disinterested in worldly matters.
11.Q: Am I deprived?
A: Yes, if I am still waiting for that auspicious moment to arrive when
I will begin bhajan (practices of devotion to Krsna).
12.Q: Am I qualified to receive Sri Bhagavân’s mercy quickly?
A: Yes, if I think –“I don’t have one second to lose. Death will come
any moment and snatch me.” Thinking like this, if I accept all sorrow
amidst innumerable troubles and tribulations and I continue in the
endeavors of bhajan with firm determination. ((We can gain Sri
Bhagavân’s kripâ (mercy)more quickly in unfavorable circumstances than
when our situation is favorable). How fast I will gain
kripâ - unfavorable circumstances are the tests.)
13.Q: Am I foolish?
A: Yes, I am, if I consider this destructible material body to be mine.
14.Q: Am I intelligent?
A: Yes, if by using this body that is material, destructible and full of
suffering - I am able to obtain the transcendental, eternal and
blissful Sri Govinda - I am truly very intelligent.
The Babaji (Vashnava renunciate) about whom I wrote about earlier under the heading "Part One" (Sri Binode Bihari Das Babaji Maharaj) has written an amazing guide for those who would attempt to tread the ancient path of Bhakti (devotion to Krsna, the Absolute Person, God if you will) according to the desires of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. With some slight editing for grammar, this is page 92-93 of this text. Just really inspired and wanted to share. Radhe Radhe!
1. Q: To what degree is my heart pure?
A: To the degree I have stopped seeing faults in others.
2. Q: How much have I progressed in bhajan(the process of and practice of devotion to Krsna)?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego, material desires
and thoughts other than those of Sri Bhagavân (Krsna or, "that person who possesses the six auspicious qualities in infinitude" in other words, God).
3. Q: How much have I gained Bhakti Devi’s (devotion for Krsna personified conceptually) mercy?
A: I have gained Bhakti Devi’s mercy to the extent that I consider myself
lower than others, unworthy and fallen.
4. Q: How fearless have I become?
A: To the extent I have become free of false ego and taken
shelter of Sri Govinda’s (Krsna's)lotus feet.
5. Q: How much of a pure devotee (of Krsna) have I become?
A: To the extent I have stopped seeing faults in others and forgiving.
6. Q: How much has my intelligence become clear?
A: To the extent I can seek out my own faults and try with body,
speech and mind to improve myself.
7. Q: How free have I become of false ego?
A: To the extent I can hear harsh words of an evil person and
not become agitated.
8. Q: How illuminated is my heart with bhakti?
A: To the extent it has become free of false ego and it is agitated for the
darshan (mystical glimpse - defined as seeing and being seen) of the Divine Couple.
9. Q: How liberated am I?
A: As much as I am free of material desires.
10.Q: How detached am I?
A: As much as I have become disinterested in worldly matters.
11.Q: Am I deprived?
A: Yes, if I am still waiting for that auspicious moment to arrive when
I will begin bhajan (practices of devotion to Krsna).
12.Q: Am I qualified to receive Sri Bhagavân’s mercy quickly?
A: Yes, if I think –“I don’t have one second to lose. Death will come
any moment and snatch me.” Thinking like this, if I accept all sorrow
amidst innumerable troubles and tribulations and I continue in the
endeavors of bhajan with firm determination. ((We can gain Sri
Bhagavân’s kripâ (mercy)more quickly in unfavorable circumstances than
when our situation is favorable). How fast I will gain
kripâ - unfavorable circumstances are the tests.)
13.Q: Am I foolish?
A: Yes, I am, if I consider this destructible material body to be mine.
14.Q: Am I intelligent?
A: Yes, if by using this body that is material, destructible and full of
suffering - I am able to obtain the transcendental, eternal and
blissful Sri Govinda - I am truly very intelligent.
posted by skippy longbeach at 6:16 PM
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