CULTIVATION OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
NOTES TO MY BOOK
A SHORT ADD
29.08.2017 In verse SB 2.4.16, the 'brahma-gatim' is used. The step to cross the next important GATE, realizing Brahman, Eternity. In the subject of my book I am working on, this is the Fifth Level, I am calling Fifth Chakra, actually the Energy Center, not in material concept of Chakras, but in spiritual understanding of progressing consciousness of one who makes an effort on recognising and achieving higher eternal perspectives. So this is without any difficulty 'gata-klamah' if one 'carana-upasadanat' – simply dedicates oneself unto the Lotus Feet,... of the Lord.
This Fifth stage is a Spiritual Body, mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in the purport. Uncover of the spiritual identity, a conscious man, baby 'Ego', 'Real Ego' starts its walk...
As we have the material body we see in the material world, we are also developing gradually Spiritual Body, which is a Living Entity with all attributes of a PERSON.
My book is based on Bhaktivinoda Thakura's divisions of 'Cultivation of Devotional Service' in Seven steps, Levels. This Levels are corresponding to the 'grow' of a Spiritual Body of the individual Soul.
21.08.2017 The next Level is the 4) 'Cultivation of Speech', Fourth Chakra, 'Desire Body' or 'Psychic Body' of passions, desires, aspirations. On this level the desires are transformed, go beyond emotions and “I” Ego, revealing Purusa identity, or consciousness.
This position turns separateness into compassion (Buddha, Christ, etc.), and this Body, VERY RARELY ACHIEVED or REALIZED is an instrument to hold the pattern of perfection, the divine idea, communication beyond time and space, natural plane of Mystic Siddhis.
The health of this Body is tremendously enchanted through the practice of MANTRA MEDITATION, chanting, reading slokas, kirtana, etc.,which helps release the mental 'knots' of obsessive thoughts,... specially effective is chanting of: HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.
This Fourth Level is a Transformation Level, it turns up side down everything we know in this World,... it is 'the end and the beginning'. This Fourth Chakra platform brings us to the point of a First step of a Sannyasa, we can call 'Small Sannyasa', which is actually a very high level.
That is the last 'Note to my Book', this section of Four Levels and Four Chakras closes the first part and First Book I am working on.
The second part of my work will be a sequential separate Second Book, which will include the Three higher Levels of Consciousness, Three last Chakras (Fifth, Sixth and Seventh), and the 'Platform Above'. This relates to the Three higher steps of Sannyasa, culminating with the Fourth completely transcendental level of a Paramahamsa, but this will be really after.
Those who know the Russian 'dolls' called 'Matrioska' can imagine the coverings of the Soul easier, this identical faces-forms of 'dolls', painted wood forms empty inside, contain one another, like a smaller boxes are closed inside the bigger one's. So the Soul is covered through the Layers of such sheets (called also 'Kosas'), many 'Bodies', this is like wearing many clothes one on another. To come to the pure consciousness we must uncover the individual Soul, oneself, recognize and realize each of the coverings to gradually purify them all up to the transparent state which it is called a Visuddha Sattva, luminous pure position of Atma, the Soul, identical in quality with God Himself, and only then we can come to the point of associating with Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krsna.
10.08.2017 The Third Level is 3) Cultivation of One's Relationships, and Third Chakra, Form and Fire Element, Emotional Body (anger, fear, euphoria, etc.) to train. This is the most Demanding and Dominative Body.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that there are two types of Relationships, with the Lord and with the Lord's associates. So there is 1) Santa – Neutrality, 2) Dasya – Servitude, 3) Sakhya – Friendship, 4) Vatsalya – Parenthood, and 5) Kanta – Conjugal Love , and as well secondary Rasas like Adbhuta – Wonder, Hasya – Comedy, Bhayanaka – Horror, etc.
SB 1.1.3 p.: “Every living entity desire to relish some taste derived from sense perceptions, called Rasas: 1) Rudra (anger), 2) Adbhuta (wonder), 3) Sringarra (conjugal love) ...” And this personal desire which comes from sense perception and which is more or less Egoistic so to say in Material World is transformed on that point to love of Godhead. So, this habitual attachments on material plane are gradually directed to the spiritual Goal, God whom on learns to love, through the process of self-realization.
As we know this all Rasas from external experiences, which are unwanted connections, we engage to the loving service to the Lord, following the examples of the eternal associates of the Lord, specially Vrajavasis, explained elaborately by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his 'Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu', which we know in only One Part as 'Nectar of Devotion'.
However, the conclusion from that transformations goes far further to realize the fact that all the Rasas are again only the Five Steps Stones (“as a desire to relish taste derived from SENSE Perception”,... connected to FIVE SENSES) to the higher, most perfect love beyond the 'Transformations of all Rasas' up to the pure loving service, The Most Pure Loving Relationship with the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha Krsna.
03.08.2017 The next step is 2) The 'Social Cultivation', which is connected to the Second Chakra, the genitals level, Water Element and Thirst. It is the Etheric Body. Here the Prana acts, which is responsible for the activity of the organs 'Karmendriyas' and Varnasrama activities.
Varnasrama as a Model for the society of humans, properly adapted divides everyone, selects, and situate in it's natural way to a certain Varna-level, and Asrama- level as well. So we have the Brahmanas (while considered only by qualification) as the heads of the whole society, this learned and wise persons qualified in all respect, experts in all branches of life are the advisers and guiders to the Ksatriyas – warriors, Vaisyas – business men or farmers and the Sudras – workers.
The Asrama System starts with Brahmacaris – the students or servants, then Grhastas - householders, Vanaprastas – who are giving up everything for spiritual advancement, and finally we have the renounced Sannyasis.
All this divisions of Humans should strictly direct their own Pranic – activities to the Supreme Lord, the Universal Form of the Varnasrama System, where each and every person is situated, and the wise and conscious cooperation brings the satisfaction of the Lord, whole Cosmic Body which means the satisfaction of every individual. This is the secret of success in life, instead of separatist vision which we experience nowadays with it's misconceptions, fanaticism, etc..
Although the Vaisnavas are trying to be transcendental to the Varnasrama system: 'naham vipro,.. na sudro...', the life is forcing everyone to act on a certain level and the knowledge of that divisions helps to live an effective life as a God conscious persons.
The most important aspect of this Varnasrama System is the Protection, specially the protection of Cows. Cow is the Mother for all and the eating of a mother's flesh is just an ignorance, 'avidya', lack of knowledge and education. The affection of a Mother Cow is in Vatsalya mood, loving mother, which brings us to the third step we would discuss next, the 3) Cultivation of one's Relationships.
21.07.2017
1) CULTIVATION OF SENSE OBJECTS. The first platform of consciousness and realization, and as well the First Chakra is connected with the Five Senses . This is the Physical Body: “The Temple of Living God”.
As we know there are the Five Sense Objects: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether and Smell, Taste, Form, Touch, Sound. This Five Senses will guide us also in vertical way through the first Five Chakras (Bg 3.42, Bg 7.4, etc.) to the higher perspectives. The connection we feel on each platform of consciousness on a certain Chakra, the realization of God, specific on each level, and the connection with the Sense Objects and the Senses, and repeated control of them through the process of Devotional Service is an inherent attribute of that Cultivation. It can be known to those who practice it but at the same time the complexity of this whole intercourses and the answers why some things are going one, what keeps us still on a certain level or brings us back to it again and again, is worth to unveil and understand. Though we know that the recognition is the key of success.
02.06.2017
INTRODUCTION
There is a story that talks about Seven Brownies, each representing one colour of the Rainbow. Only when all the Brownies stand together at the beginning of the Rainbow one by one with their own colours, in order of Rainbow colours, they could be transported to the other end of the Rainbow.
The Seven colours of the Seven Chakras correspond, match exactly to the colours of the Rainbow, 1)Red, 2)Orange, 3) Yellow, 4) Green, 5) Blue, 6) Dark Blue, and 7) Violet.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura defines Seven features of the Cultivation of Devotional Service as inseparable aspects of our daily service, where each of them includes all others, multiplying seven by seven. This complexity refers to the Seven Chakras and rise the consciousness through them all up to the top and beyond to the Spiritual reality. So we can say that the process of Self Realization is tinged with colours and when all the colours – parts of the process are fully realised, they can transform one like a Seven Brownies through the Rainbow Way to other side to the Spiritual World.
The first aspect of the Cultivation of Devotional service is 1) Cultivation of Sense Objects and will be discussed next.
INFORMATION
16.05.2017
NOTES TO MY BOOK
During my study in Vrndavan VIHE I was somehow interested in the topic of the Mind, Cosmos and Vaisnava Etiquette, giving Seminars on them. The research I did in this area brought me to the Cultivation of Devotional Service by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Working on that Seminar from few years I found my previous interests are included in this one Cultivation and the work is expanding very much. When I was presenting this Seminar a year ago I realised it is a very broad work therefore finally a few months ago I decided, inspired by Krsna, I will start to write a book about it.
The 'Cultivation of Devotional Service' Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura divides into a Seven sections in descending way from the top to the button, This I am presenting however in ascending way of rising the consciousness, as the progress of the participant on the way back to Godhead. There will be further notes about it.
Cont...