Sri Bhajana-rahasya was compiled by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. With this book, the great teacher gives us a hint of his own method of bhajana, a guide for his sincere followers. The undersigned Akincana, a few years … Read More
False renunciation is prohibited. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is written: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate When someone is anxious to achieve liberation and renounces things related to the Supreme Personality of God as material, … Read More
The eighth offense is as follows: dharma-vrata-tyaga-hutadi-sarva subha-kriya-samyam api pramadah It is offensive to consider chanting the Hare Krishna mantra as a ritual religious ceremony. The performance of religious ceremonies, the keeping of vows, the practice … Read More
The third offense at the lotus feet of the holy name is to regard the spiritual master as material and thus envy his noble position. The fourth offense is to denigrate the Vedic literature: the four … Read More
The second namaparadha is described as follows: sivasya sri-visnor ya iha guna-namadi-sakalam dhiya bhinnam pasyet sa khalu hari-namahita-karah guror avajna sruti-sastra-nindanam tathartha-vadah hari-namni kalpanam In this material world, the holy name of Visnu bestows all blessings. … Read More
The ten offenses during the chanting of the holy name should be canceled. These are described in the Padma Purana, Svarga-khanda: satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanute yatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarham Insulting the … Read More
The Manah-siksa (7) enjoins one to abandon one’s harmful mentality in the form of desire for fame and dishonest criticism: pratisthasa dhrsta svapacaramani me hrdi natet katham sadhu-prema sprsati sucir-etan-nanu manah sada tvam sevasva prabhu-dayita-samanta-matulam yatha … Read More
It is forbidden to offend the sadhus. It is offensive to see a Vaisnava according to material conceptions. The Upadesamrta says (6): drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas ca dosair na prakrtatvam iha bhakta-janasya pasyet gangambhasam na khalu budbuda-phena-pankair … Read More
These six types of association, when exchanged between devotees, increase devotion. They diminish it when exchanged between non-devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, with the following words taken from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka, even forbade looking at one who enjoys … Read More
The six types of association which enhance bhakti are described in the fourth verse: dadati pratigrhnati guhyam akhyati prcchati bhunkte bhojayate caiva sad-vidham priti-laksanam Giving gifts received in charity, accepting gifts from charity, sharing one’s thoughts, … Read More
The six obstacles to advancement in Bhakti are mentioned in the second verse: atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah jana-sangas ca laulyam ca sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati Devotional service is ruined when one gets too entangled in the … Read More
There are two ways to free oneself from anarthas: directly, by following the rules, and indirectly, by observing the restrictions. The means of freeing oneself from the three anarthas – material desires, heart weaknesses and … Read More
The favorable circumstances for bhakti are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.36): etavad eva jijnasyam tattva-jijnasunatmanah anvaya-vyatirekabhyam yat syat sarvatra sarvada He who seeks to know the Absolute Truth, the Divine and Supreme Person, must on every occasion, … Read More
Anyone who wishes to obtain Krishna’s mercy must take refuge in a bona fide guru. In the moment in which he commits himself only in service under the direction of the guru does he eventually come … Read More
Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37) later states: bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad isad apetasya viparyayo ‘smrtih tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma When the living entity is attracted to material energy, which is separated from Krishna, it is overcome by fear. … Read More
Sincere humility is described in Krishna-karnamrta (30): nibaddha-murddhanjalir esa yace nirandhra-dainyonnati-mukta-kantham daya-nidhe deva bhavat kataksam daksinyalesena sakrn nisinca This rascal weeps with folded hands and, without hesitation, offers you these prayers sincerely. I pray in a … Read More
All anarthas, however, turn away with the performance of nama-sankirtana. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.14): apannah samsrtim ghoram yan-nama vivaso grnan tatah sadyo vimucyeta yad bibheti svayam bhayam Beings entangled in the terrible web of deaths and … Read More
There are four kinds of material desires: aihikesvaisana para- trikesu caisana ‘subha bhuti-vancha mumuksa ca hy asat-trsnas catur-vidhah The desire for material objects, for heavenly comforts, for mystical powers, and the desire for liberation are the … Read More
There are four types of illusions concerning spiritual knowledge: sva-tattve para-tattve ca sadhya-sadhana-tattvayoh virodhi-visaye caiva tattva-bhramas catur-vidhah Sva-tattva bhrama (the illusion of one’s own identity), paratattva-bhrama (the illusion towards the Supreme Personality of God), sadhya-sadhana-bhrama (the … Read More
