Chapter 3 Eligibility of the Candidate for Accepting Devotional Service On account of his association with mahātmās, or great souls one hundred percent engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, one may attain a little … Read More
CHAPTER SIX How to Discharge Devotional Service Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states that his elder brother (Sanātana Gosvāmī) has compiled Hari-bhakti-vilāsa for the guidance of the Vaiṣṇavas and therein has mentioned many rules and regulations to be … Read More
CHAPTER SEVEN Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi, “My dear King, please know for certain … Read More
CHAPTER SEVEN Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi, “My dear King, please know for certain … Read More
The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of … Read More
The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of … Read More
CHAPTER NINE Further Consideration of Devotional Principles BLASPHEMY One should not tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees. In this connection, in the Tenth Canto, seventy-fourth chapter, verse 40 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Parīkṣit … Read More
TILAKA AND TULASĪ BEADS In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement describing how a Vaiṣṇava should decorate his body with tilaka and beads: “Persons who put tulasī beads on the neck, who mark twelve places … Read More
Reciting Notable prayers According to great learned scholars, the whole Bhagavad-gītā contains many authorized prayers, especially in the eleventh chapter, where Arjuna prays to the universal form of the Lord. Similarly, in the Gautamīya-tantra all the … Read More
RENDERING SERVICE TO DEVOTEES In the Padma Purāṇa, there is a nice statement praising the service of the Vaiṣṇavas, or devotees. In that scripture Lord Śiva tells Pārvatī, “My dear Pārvatī, there are different methods of … Read More
RESIDING IN MATHURĀ In the Varāha Purāṇa there is a statement praising the residential quarters of Mathurā. Lord Varāha tells the men of earth, “Any person who becomes attracted to places other than Mathurā will certainly … Read More
CHAPTER TWELVE Further Aspects of Transcendental Service HEARING THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES According to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, any book that gives enlightenment in the matter of advancing in devotional service is considered to be revealed scripture. Śrīla … Read More
BEING A SURRENDERED SOUL In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa there is the following statement about self-surrender: “My dear Lord, a person who has surrendered himself unto You, who is in firm conviction that he is Yours, and who … Read More
PERFORMING ALL ENDEAVORS FOR KṚṢṆA In the Nārada Pañcarātra there is a statement of how one can act in all spheres of life for the satisfaction of the Lord. It is stated there that a person … Read More
OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eleventh chapter, verse 41, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Uddhava, “My dear friend, if someone offers Me the best thing in his possession, or anything which is very … Read More
OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eleventh chapter, verse 41, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Uddhava, “My dear friend, if someone offers Me the best thing in his possession, or anything which is very … Read More
SURRENDERING EVERYTHING TO THE LORD Regarding complete self-surrender, there is a nice description in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, twenty-ninth chapter, verse 34, where the Lord says, “A person who has completely surrendered unto Me and … Read More
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN FRIENDSHIP Devotional service in friendship can be divided into two categories: the first is to act as the confidential servant of the Lord, and the other is to act as the well-wisher of … Read More
CHAPTER ELEVEN Aspects of Transcendental Service: SERVITORSHIP In the opinion of the karmīs (fruitive workers), offering the results of karma is called servitorship. But according to Vaiṣṇava ācāryas like Rūpa Gosvāmī, servitorship means constant engagement in … Read More
