Upadesamrita seminar..
I attended a seminar on Rupa Goswamis book "Upadesamrita", basic instructions for Gaudiya vaishnavas. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left eight written verses called "Siksastaka", Rupa goswami left basic instruction for devotees in eleven verses in "Upadesamrita" - nectar of instruction, guiding us from basic instructions of tolerating the urges of the senses to glorifying the topmost devotee Srimati Radharani and her lake Radha kunda, which is filled with ecstatic, ambrosial Krsna prema.
Seminar was held in Croatia-Lika-Saborsko, at Lokesh house. About 25 devotees attended the seminar which was held by my Guru Maharaja - Smita Krsna Swami. Many questions arrised and interesting discussions were discussed among participants. We also used free time to visit near forest and Plitvica lakes - second most beautifull nature park in the world after Niagara falls.
Here are some pictures from the event.
vaco vegam manasah krodha vegam
jihva vegam udharapastha vegam
etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah
sarvam api mam prithivim sa sisyat
A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind’s demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.
atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati
One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities:
1)eating more than necessary or collecting more funds then required.
2)over endeavoring for mundane things, which are very difficult to attain.
3)talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters.
4)practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically.
5)associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness.
6)being greedy for mundane achievements.
utsahan niscyad dhairyat
tat tat karma pravartanat
sanga tyagat sato vrtteh
sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati
There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service:
1)being enthusiastic,
2)endeavoring with confidence,
3)being patient,
4)acting according to regulative principles (such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam –hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna),
5)abandoning association of non devotees, and
6)following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas.
These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.
dadati pratigrihnati
guhyam akhyati pricchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
shad-vidham priti-lakshanam
Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.
krishneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta
dikshasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isamsusrushaya
bhajana-vijnam ananyam
anya-nindadi-sunya-hridam ipsita-sanga-labdhya
One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Krishna, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation [diksha] and is engaged in worshiping the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that Pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.
drishtaih svabhava-janitair vapushas ca doshair
na prakritatvam iha bhakta janasya pasyet
gangambhasam na khalu budbuda-phena-pankair
brahma-dravatvam apagacchati nira-dharmaih
Being situated in his original Krishna conscious position, a pure devotee does not identify with the body. Such a devotee should not be seen from a materialistic point of view. Indeed, one should overlook a devotee's having a body born in a low family, a body with a bad complexion, a deformed body, or a diseased or infirm body. According to ordinary vision, such imperfections may seem prominent in the body of a pure devotee, but despite such seeming defects, the body of a pure devotee cannot be polluted. It is exactly like the waters of the Ganges, which sometimes during the rainy season are full of bubbles, foam and mud. The Ganges waters do not become polluted. Those who are advanced in spiritual understanding will bathe in the Ganges without considering the condition of the water.
syat krishna-nama-caritadi-sitapy avidya-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocika nu
kintv adarad anudinam khalu saiva jushta
svadvi kramad bhavati tad-gada-mula-hantri
The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krishna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root.
tan-nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu-
smrityoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya
tishthan vraje tad-anuragi jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram
The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one's full time -- twenty-four hours a day -- in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord's divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one's tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vrindavana dhama] and serve Krishna under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord's beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.
vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad
vrindaranyam udara-pani-ramanat tatrapi govardhanah
radha-kundam ihapi gokula-pateh premamritaplavanat
kuryad asya virajato giri-tate sevam viveki na kah
The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krishna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
karmibhyah parito hareh priyataya vyaktim yayur jnaninas
tebhyo jnana-vimukta-bhakti-paramah premaika-nishthas tatah
tebhyas tah pasu-pala-pankaja-drisas tabhyo 'pi sa radhika
preshtha tadvad iyam tadiya-sarasi tam nasrayet kah kriti
In the sastra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jnanis], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Krishna, is superior to him. The gopis are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krishna. Her kunda [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Krishna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then, will not reside at Radha-kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprakritabhava], render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who perform Their ashtakaliya-lila, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha-kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.
krishnasyoccaih pranaya-vasatih preyasibhyo 'pi radha
kundam casya munibhir abhitas tadrig eva vyadhayi
yat preshthair apy alam asulabham kim punar bhakti-bhajam
tat premedam sakrid api sarah snatur avishkaroti
Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna's love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krishna is fully aroused.
