Seventeenth Theme: The Disciplines of Sadhana-bhakti

In the fiftieth section, Sri Jiva says: 

Now, wishing to determine the real meaning, i.e. the correct conclusions (siddhanta) (according to the version of Vyasa and Sukadeva), in these six Sandarbhas we will establish sambandha, abhideya and prayojana, one after the other and in detail. The first of these (the Tattva-sandarbha) will deal with sambandha, the relationship between the principle being taught and the means by which it is introduced.

 

Sri Jiva holds that Vyasa summarizes the essence of this relationship in the Bhagavatam (1.1.2) with the phrase: 

vedyam vastavam atra vastu

The principle taught is bhakti; the means is listening to Bhagavatam. The Absolute Truth can be found in Bhagavatam and in the practice of the disciplines (sadhana-bhakti), through which it is possible to attain the ultimate goal of life (prema-bhakti).

 

Prabhupada taught his disciples that the most important disciplines are as follows: 

 

*) Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and eating only sanctified food (prasadam) 

*) Living in a sacred place, such as one of the many temples of the Krishna consciousness movement

*) Listening to and reciting the Holy Scriptures, the most important of which is Srimad-Bhagavatam

*) Accept initiation and guidance from a bona fide spiritual master 

*) Observe regulatory principles, such as not eating meat, not taking intoxicants, etc. 

*) Offering something as a sacrifice, whether it is part of time, possessions, intelligence or energy

This is a section of the book “Tattva Sandarbha”, in English.

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