"Parakiya-bhava, or conjugal mellows in the relationship of a
paramour, is available in Vraja alone. Whereas this same relationship
in Vaikuntha is absent between Lord Narayana and Laksmi-devi and
is considered immoral.
The 'sahajiyas' mundane sentimental love
"In the material world a man's lust for a woman and vice verse,
is misinterpreted as spiritual love by a certain group of people known
as sahajiyas. They will surely suffer eternal hell, because they
artificially attempt to impose transcendental emotions on a mundane
relationship.
"But when the sahajiyas tread the proper path of devotional
service and receive the mercy of Lord Krsna,, they become disgusted
with this body, the material senses, and the sense pleasures derived
from them. They then begin to aspire for the transcendental
nectarean mellows of devotional service.
Raya Ramananda's love
"Sri Ramananda Raya's devotional service is pure and simple
and strictly follows religious principles. He is perfectly detached from
matter and uses everything in the service of the Lord, although he is
apparently situated in a physical form.
"His body is spiritual, and he is always serving the Lord in the
Vrndavana mood. This is due to the fact that he has received Lord
Caitanya's mercy. He writes and directs plays utilising beautiful
actresses, yet he remains unaffected by such intimate contact with
women, and he is always transcendentally situated.
"No one other than Sri Ramananda Raya is eligible to teach and
understand the subject of divine love. One whose mind is always
eager to see, touch, and enjoy a woman is never pure enough to learn
the confidential truths of divine love.
Pure devotion is impossible to attain for one who identifies
someone as man or woman.
"One can never attain the priceless gift of living devotional
service if his consciousness is polluted by association with women or
materialistic men who are lusty for the opposite sex. The pleasures of
the flesh are invariably transient and can never transport us to the
transcendental realm.
"One who acts on the transcendental platform of rendering
devotional service in the mood of the damsels of Vrndavana can alone
cultivate real spiritual life. Through living in the mood of the gopis of
Vraja, he is no longer attracted to the mundane exchanges between
man and woman.
One whose external social dealings and conduct are perfect, like
a gentleman following the path of true religion who never deviates
from scriptural injunction, and internally he intensely cultivates the
mood of the gopis of Vrndavana, serving the lotus feet of Lord Krsna
with all his heart, is truly eligible for attaining love of Krsna.
"The poem which begins with yah kaumara harah - 'the one
who stole my heart in my youth' - is really used as an analogy by
Lord Caitanya. One has to transcend the physical plane, and then
the charming Krsna becomes his life's hero, and Krsna's consort
becomes the heroine in all Their transcendental pastimes. He then
serves Them with the purest love.
Sahajiyas are fit for hell deluded by Kali-yuga
"If someone claims that by some artificial process the spiritual
nature can be projected into this material world, that ordinary men can
be worshipped as the Supreme Lord Krsna and that by this method
the supreme goal can be attained, then he is wrong. According to the
instructions of Lord Caitanya, such a proposition is unacceptable. I
know such perverted intelligence will lead to hell.
"one should always avoid the association of those persons who
consider that the material body can be artificially spiritualised. To
enlighten such a person with Krsna consciousness is almost impossible.
This idea has gained prominence due to Kali-yuga's evil influence,
but such thinking will certainly lead to the degradation of the pure
precepts of the Vaisnava religion.
"A person who has developed mature faith in God will
understand the purports of the use of these analogies of material loving
affairs, not taking them literally. Such an elevated saint worships the
Supreme Lord Krsna in his original, spiritual body. Great spiritual
personalities like Candidasa and Vidyapati are perfect examples of
liberated souls who discarded their previous misconceptions and
cultivated the pure devotional process.
"The highest concept in pure devotional service is The unalloyed
worship of the transcendental loving exchanges of the Supreme Lord
Krsna. Yet the nature of the mischievous, materialistic mind is to be
reluctant to accept these facts. Dear Raghunatha, consider well these
points carefully, because you are the devotee who will have to
propagate the high standards of proper Vaisnava conduct in the near
future.
"Reveal your mind to Lord Caitanya about your desire to
worship the Supreme Lord in this confidential and intimate mood and
take His permission to do so. Become steadfast and determined, set
your heart on achieving this end."
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami then approached Lord Caitanya, and
he very humbly begged for His permission to execute devotional
service in this mood. Lord Caitanya consented to it in my presence,
and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami now serves Lord Krsna with a very
satisfied mind.
Lord Caitanya's instructions to Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
"Do not listen to mundane prattle and do not waste your time in
frivolous discussions. Why eat to titillate the palate and maintain the
body lavishly with luxurious amenities? Do not hanker for esteem and
respect, but offer respects to everyone. Take shelter of the holy name
of Krsna and chant constantly. Serve Srimati Radharani and Sri
Krsna in the mood of Vraja in the core of your heart."
The Lord's unequivocal instructions opened Raghunatha dasa
Gosvami's eyes of knowledge, and he understood that pure love of
Godhead can never be cultivated without first being freed from all
material illusions.
Lord Caitanya continued: "Through pure chanting and in
meditation develop your pure, perfected, spiritual form, and worship
Krsna, the Lord of Srimati Radharani. Free yourself from the desire
for distinction and adoration. Always offering respect to others,
cultivate complete detachment from material life and become as
tolerant as a tree.
"Externally, your devotional service is to always chant the name
of Lord Krsna, and internally, constantly engage in serving Sri Sri
Radha-Krsna with your spiritual body. Control your rapacious palate
and give up luxury and comfort. Do only what is essential for
maintaining your body."
Markata-vairagya or monkey renunciation
Do not try to artificially impose the transcendence on the
mundane by imagining some mortal couple to be the Divine Couple,
Radha and Krsna. This self-deception destroys all religious
principles.
Lord Caitanya has warned us, "A false renunciant is a person
who is externally renounced, but who is actually always trying to
enjoy, the material world. He is like a monkey who appears detached
due to his natural habits but is excessively attached to sex life.
The pure renunciant
A pure renunciant is always engaged in chanting the holy name.
He begs only what he needs to maintain his body. If one practices
renunciation, not depending on Krsna but on others for his
maintenance, then he will not achieve spiritual success. Krsna will
also reject him. and if a renunciant submits to the urges of his
tongue, he becomes a prisoner of his sensual urges and loses the
chance of achieving the transcendental realm.
A real renunciant is always chanting Lord Krsna's name. his
diet is simple, consisting of leafy vegetables, fruits and roots, etc. But
a lusty person who makes social calls on people's houses to gratify his
tongue will never receive the shelter of Lord Krsna's lotus feet.

Chapter 17 The Standards Of Vaisnava Etiquette Reflects The Class of a Devotee ON AN ANOTHER OCCASION Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami said to Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, "I have to tell you something very confidential." Religious practices without chanting are futile

The perfect varnasrama system is to maintain one's life by
performing his prescribed duty according to varna and asrama,
constantly chanting the holy name and rendering loving devotional
service to the Supreme Lord Krsna. He who follows this is truly
intelligent, righteous and a real Vaisnava.
"Mere ritualistic performances masquerading as religion are
cheating processes. They rob human life of it's value and degrade the
performer. One may make an attempt to act righteously without
executing devotional service to the Supreme Lord. And he may
belong to any social order of life: celibate student, householder, retired
or a renouncer of the world, but his company should be avoided if he
is not a devotee of Krsna.
Acquire sambandha and act on the platform of yukta-vairagya
"Everyone should act on the platform of yukta-vairagya - using
everything without attachment in Lord Krsna's service. This must be
done with a true understanding of sambandha-jnana or knowledge of
our real relationship with the Supreme Lord. When sambandha-jnana
further unfolds, one realises that the Supreme Person is the object of
all devotional sentiments (alambana). And when such alambana
perceptions become purified then love of Godhead (or prema), first
dawns on the horizon of our spiritual consciousness.
"A devotee will be respected even by venerable souls if he
renders devotional service and cultivates prema for Lord Krsna, but a
living entity is no more than a pitiful mongrel puppy if he is devoid of
devotional service. He is indeed a Vaisnava who is engaged in
devotional service; not he who leaves home and lives by begging but
does not worship Krsna. A devotee must never accept the remnants
or flowers offered directly to a demigod, nor acknowledge invitations
to ritualistic performances of karma-kanda.
Activities of householders and renounced devotees
"Vaisnavas are broadly of two types; householders and
renunciants. Both are qualified to perform pure devotional service,
but their duties vary. Both are required to act on the platform of
yukta-vairagya. Thus, they steadily progress on the path of unalloyed
surrender with devotion and knowledge.
Duties of a householder Vaisnava
"A Vaisnava householder should always live according to the
prescribed duties; graciously hosting guests to their full satisfaction.
His spiritual discipline will not be impaired by his living or associating
with his wife. Nor is it forbidden for him to use mustard oil or other
perfumed oil. Foods like milk, curd, etc., which are considered by
ritualistic brahmanas to be inedible and non-vegetarian, become
wholesome vegetarian food for the yukta-vairagi.
"He is always attentive in chanting the holy name free from the
ten offenses. He accepts everything favourable for the execution of
devotional service and carefully rejects things that are unfavourable.
His spiritual success and excellence grow by cultivating undeviating
faith in the holy name. A Vaisnava of this stature becomes illustrious
in his householder life. He strictly avoids fault-finding and analysing
others behaviour. He is compassionately disposed to all living entities
and is dedicated to act for their benefit, always free from envy.
Duties of renounced Vaisnavas
"The renounced Vaisnava reduces his material activities down to
merely maintaining body and soul together; he is disinterested in
saving anything for the future. He avoids the slightest contact with
women, and he wholeheartedly worships the Supreme Lord Krsna
(Hari).
"Thus the different Vaisnavas act in their designated manner,
and by worshipping Krsna and rendering devotional service to Him,
they find shelter in His internal spiritual energy.
Vaisnavas are Free of fault finding
"One should never make distinctions between householder and
renunciant Vaisnavas. This mentality results in the perpetration of
grievous offenses. The important fact to remember is that one who
has a fault-finding nature is not a devotee, but rather he is a disgrace
to the whole Vaisnava community.
"One should diligently develop his own devotional discipline with
sincere simplicity, devotional service to Lord Krsna as the essence of
all human activities. Devotional service becomes impotent for one
who cannot subdue within himself the evil habits of fault-finding,
deceit, dishonesty and deviousness. These sinful culprits act against
the injunctions of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and with uncontrolled senses
they try to enjoy material nature.
"anugrahaya bhaktanam manusam deham-asritah
bhajate tadrsih krida yah srutva tatparo bhavet"
In the Srimad Bhagavatam it says, "The rotten sinners falsely
presume that they are Supreme Lord Krsna. Impudently they try to
imitate Lord Krsna's transcendental pastimes and pollute the process
of pure religious principles.
A pure devotee serves Sri Sri Radha-Krsna
"The pure devotee, who attains his original, spiritual form,
renders unalloyed devotional service to Srimati Radharani and Sri
Krsna in Vraja in the mood of a gopi. But the atheist, who is eager
to imitate Krsna's mood as the Supreme Enjoyer, will surely be
damned to the lowest hell.
"Antaranga bhakti" (or confidential devotional service) is never
executed in this material body, but is performed on the platform of
the purified mind. The foolish upstarts, given to constant faultfinding,
think that such confidential service can be externally performed.
Hence, the pure devotees carefully avoid such despicable, evil-minded
company and simply serve Lord Krsna in their original, spiritual
forms.
Krsna is the purusa, and everyone else is prakrti
"Pure devotees are satisfied in their constitutional position as
prakrti (the subordinate female principle), drinking the nectar of Lord
Krsna's lotus feet. For Krsna alone is the purusa, (The Supreme
Enjoyer - male principle) my dear, revered Raghunatha dasa."
The householder and his prescribed duties
Then Raghunatha dasa once again humbly approached Svarupa
Damodara Gosvami with folded hands. "I have another question.
Please enlighten me. The highest and purest form of devotional
service is above the prescribed religious practices of varnasrama
dharma. Therefore, why is the householder bound by prescribed
duties according to his asrama, if he can easily transcend the duties of
his social order and render spontaneous devotional service?'
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "Listen, dear brother, I will
disclose to you the essence of everything by enunciating the principles
of pure devotional service. It is simple to live one's life following one's
prescribed duties, but if one tries to execute someone else's prescribed
duties, then his life becomes burdensome and artificial.
"The sincerely devoted person intelligently executes from
amongst his prescribed duties of varnasrama only that which is
conducive to pure devotional service. And by diligently rejecting
those duties with are detrimental, he attains the platform of pure
devotion. Therefore, one should not be overly attached to stringently
following the prescribed varnasrama duties, but he has to simply
unflinchingly render unalloyed devotional service, and by so doing, he
emulates the hallowed path of saintly persons. Rejecting the overly
rigid rules and regulations of varnasrama assists in elevating one to the
platform of a pure Vaisnava.
Always remember Krsna and never forget Him
"The most important regulation is to constantly remember Lord
Krsna, and the strictest rule is to never forget Him."
Raghunatha dasa humbly inquired further, "I would like you to
kindly clarify another point. I want to know the Vaisnava conclusion
on this subject: The Vaisnavas are classified as acyuta-gotra (lineage
back to Acyuta, the Supreme Lord Himself). What is its significance
and purport?'
Acyuta-gotra and varnasrama duties
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "Both the householder and
the renunciant Vaisnavas belong to the acyuta-gotra and not to any
other gotra. The pure devotees of this divine gotra never become
attached to the ritualistic practices of varnasrama-dharma. The
Vaisnava gives up his family gotra and worships the Supreme Lord,
taking shelter of His gotra because this is the eternal gotra stemming
from the Lord Himself.
Devotees of this standard are eligible to become permanent
residents of Vraja (Vrndavana). The most perfect devotees find their
exact position of service in Goloka Vrndavana while still residing on
earth, and render service to the Lord in their liberated forms as Vraja
gopis. Others, who are 'aropa-siddha' sincerely cultivate the mood of
loving devotion within their minds.
Pravarta, sadhaka, and siddha-bhaktas
"There are three types of devotees: the steady practitioner on the
path of perfection (sadhaka), the beginner (pravarta) and the self-
realised pure devotee (siddha-bhakta). One who can understand
these gradations can easily know the science of devotion. The
beginner is known as kanistha-adhikari, or neophyte devotee; the
sincere practitioner is called madhyama-adhikari, or intermediate
devotee; and the self-realised soul is known as uttama-adhikari, or a
devotee of the highest order. The highest order devotee is
emphatically disinclined towards ritualistic practices. Both the uttama-
adhikari and madhyama-adhikari fit the description of those belonging
to the acyuta-gotra."
Aropa (superimposition or ascription)
Raghunatha dasa said, "Now I want to properly understand the
meaning of aropa to dispel my existing doubts."
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami replied, "Listen attentively to the
symptoms of aropa! This method is for a practitioner who lacks
knowledge of his real spiritual identity. There are three types of
Vaisnavas, aropa siddha, sanga-siddha and svarupa-siddha. First, I
will explain aropa siddha. Listen attentively and try to understand it.
"A condition living entity is essentially a gross materialist and is
always inclined to associate with the material phenomena and
continuously experience material happiness or distress. He is
constantly interacting with material nature, is oblivious of the
transcendental realm and has no knowledge or experience of the divine
nature. He does not realise that he is of that same transcendental
nature. He is like a child who feels forlorn due to a moment's
absence from him mother, unaware that his parents are close to him.
"If by some divine arrangement and the results of his own pious
deeds from his past lives he becomes fortunate, then his heart is
impregnated with sraddha (faith). Sraddha induces him to inquire
deeply into the mysteries of life. At first he is informed that he is
constitutionally Lord Krsna's servant. Understanding this, the sincere
desire to gain freedom from this entanglement called material life takes
shape in his heart.
Worshipping Lord Krsna
"The guru instructs him to worship Lord Krsna, and the faithful
person gradually develops a desire to worship the Lord on the strength
of the guru's words. He understands from hearing that Krsna is the
Supreme Lord, but he does not realise His eternal transcendental
nature and personality. From the world that surrounds him he
identifies objects that remind him of Krsna. He worships the Lord
and offers Him objects he values.
"At this juncture the process of superimposition or ascription
(aropa) begins. He obtains a statue of a human-like form of the
Deity (which to a neophyte is not the eternal form of the Lord) and
worships it with incense, flowers, oils and lamp, but without the proper
understanding that the Deity is non different from the Lord. He tries
to think that all of this paraphernalia and the Deity is spiritual, and
sometimes through thought ascription he actually experiences
transcendence.
"At this stage when he is induced to surrender the results of his
works, even though the knowledge to act in a certain way is
superimposed in the thought process without realisation, it nevertheless
helps him to become steadfast on the devotional path. These are the
symptoms of aropa-siddha devotion that are manifest in the kanistha-
adhikari (the neophyte devotee).
Worshipping the Deity with proper understanding
"Thereafter, when he fully comprehends the truth about the
Deity form of the Lord and begins to worship the Deity as a
manifestation non different from the Lord, he gradually enters the
state of a madhyama-adhikari. On the uttama-adhikari platform or
advanced stage of devotion, there is no question of aropa (ascription);
his purified mind is in constant communication.
"The first rays of love of God dawn in his heart and he sees the
Lord with eyes anointed with the salve of devotion. He worships the
Lord of his heart with spontaneous devotion, discarding all kanistha
mentality, (i.e. ascribing the devotional mood). Pure devotion, by
nature, is not the same as the simulated surrender, or invoked
devotional mood through aropa, although aropa is certainly a part of
the process of bhakti.
The basis of aropa-siddhi
"One of the prime symptoms of an aropa-siddha in that he relate
to mundane objects and activities with a devotional attitude.
Obnoxious and perverted material activities and objects, even when
offered to the Supreme Lord, do not automatically becomes
transformed into devotional service. So, such a devotee offers
delectable things and renders favourable service to the Lord, not really
knowing what offerings please the Lord most. This devotional attitude
is called aropa-siddha bhakti.
Worship of the Deities by the Mayavadis is considered by them
as a temporary means to achieve liberation. Hence, for them, such
worship is aropa; whereas on the path of devotion, the ultimate
perfection of attaining one' spiritual identity is non-different from the
process by which the goal is reached.
Perfection through pure association or Sanga-siddha bhakti
"Now hear about sanga-siddha bhakti which means the spiritual
perfection achieved through the execution of pure knowledge and
devotion. Pure knowledge of the absolute and proper renunciation are
the main symptoms of sanga-siddha-bhakti. Devotion is always
accompanied by the knowledge of yukta-vairagya (renunciation
through utilising everything in the Lord's service). Humility,
compassion and tolerance automatically appear as devotion deepens.
These qualities are concomitants and assist one in devotional life, they
are its integral part.
Devotion on the platform of spiritual perfection-svarupa-bhakti
"Direct, spontaneous and pure devotion to the Supreme Lord is
possible only when one is situated in his original spiritual identity
(svarupa). Hearing, chanting, etc. are the nine kinds of activities
performed in devotional service. Svarupa siddha-bhakti (devotion
performed in one's original form), begins with pure chanting of the
Lord's names and pastimes. The prime objective of these unalloyed
devotees is to offer direct devotional service to Lord Krsna which
pleases Him.
"In the other two types of devotion (aropa-siddha and sanga-
siddha), this objective is not in full focus. The inherent spiritual
qualities which lie latent, locked within the soul, which also provide
the spirit soul the inclination for a particular devotional mellow, are the
ingredients that evoke pure devotion. They manifest in the mind of a
conditioned soul as his initial, but covered spiritually mentality. This
proclivity is aroused and then becomes rampant in the conditioned
souls who are rendering service to the Supreme Lord. Pure devotion
seeks such inclinations to flourish in.
The effects of these three types of devotion
"Svarupa-siddha is direct and spontaneous devotional service.
Sanga-siddha assists and enhances pure devotional fervour. "Aropa-
siddha" is effective only where the material concept of life is
prominent. The neophyte, or aropa-siddha if he desires to become
elevated to render transcendental devotional service must destroy this
concept first.
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami fully comprehended Srila
Svarupa Damodara Gosvami's elucidation. These wonderful spiritual
conclusions by Svarupa Damodara Gosvami about the svarupa (the
original spiritual form of the soul) are my (Jagai's) constant
companion in meditation.

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