Astama-yama Sadhana
Night Pastimes
The method of bhajana and the place of residence of one who has achieved the contemplation mentioned above are explained in the Upadesamrta (8):
tan-nama-rupa-charitadi-sukirtananu-
smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya
tistan vraje tad-anuragi-jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram
The essence of all advice is that one should use all the time – twenty-four hours a day – chanting well and remembering the divine name of the Lord, His transcendental form, His qualities and His eternal pastimes, so as to gradually engage the tongue and mind. Thus, one should live in Vraja (Goloka Vrndavana-dhama) and serve Krishna under the guidance of His beloved companions, the Vrajavasi. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees who are deeply attached to His devotional service.
The method of the devotee’s bhajana is described in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. A devout raganuga must always perform his beloved eternal devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master:
krishnam smaran janam casya
prestham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau
kuryad vasam vraje sada
A devout raganuga always lives in Vraja constantly remembering Krishna along with His closest companions, according to their specific rasas. If you are unable to live in Vraja physically, you should do it mentally. Those who are ignorant and always engage in material sense gratification are unable to ever live in Vraja. However, the maha-bhagavatas who from an external view cannot live in Vraja are actually always there.
This is a section of the book “Bhajana Rahasya”, by Bhaktivinode Thakura.
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