OFFERING RESPECT TO THE BANYAN TREES In the Skanda Purāṇa it is directed that a devotee should offer water to the tulasī plant and āmalaka trees. He should offer respect to the cows and to the … Read More
OBSERVING FASTING ON EKĀDAŚĪ In the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa it is said that one who observes fasting on Ekādaśī is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in pious life. The basic principle … Read More
ACCEPTING ONLY WHAT IS NECESSARY In the Nāradīya Purāṇa it is directed, “One should not accept more than necessary if he is serious about discharging devotional service.” The purport is that one should not neglect following … Read More
RESIDING IN A SACRED PLACE In the Skanda Purāṇa it is also said that for a person who has lived in Dvārakā for six months, for one month, or even for one fortnight, there is awaiting … Read More
BEING PREPARED TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING MATERIAL FOR KṚṢṆA’S SATISFACTION In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated, “For one who has given up his material sense enjoyment and has accepted the principles of devotional service, the … Read More
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAINTLY PERSONS In the Skanda Purāṇa it is advised that a devotee follow the past ācāryas and saintly persons because by such following one can achieve the desired results, with no … Read More
SERVING THE SPIRITUAL MASTER WITH FAITH AND CONFIDENCE Regarding accepting initiation from the spiritual master, in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, seventeenth chapter, verse 27, it is stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa, “My dear Uddhava, the spiritual … Read More
ACCEPTING INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIM Sage Prabuddha continued to speak to the king as follows: “My dear king, a disciple has to accept the spiritual master not only as spiritual … 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 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 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 5 The Purity of Devotional Service All of the previous instructions imparted by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his broad statements can be summarized thus: As long as one is materially inclined or desirous of merging … Read More
Chapter 4 Devotional Service Surpasses All Liberation How much a devotee is seriously attached to the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be understood from the statement of Mahārāja Pṛthu (Ādi-rāja), which is … Read More
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 2 The First Stages of Devotion The three categories of devotional service which Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī describes in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu are listed as devotional service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service in pure … Read More
Attracting Krishna Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has stated that devotional service attracts even Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Kṛṣṇa. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa is called Madana-mohana, … Read More
The happiness of becoming one with the supreme Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says that if brahmānanda, or the happiness of becoming one with the Supreme, is multiplied one trillionfold, it still cannot compare to an atomic fraction … Read More
The rareness of pure devotional service In the preliminary phase of spiritual life there are different kinds of austerities, penances and similar processes for attaining self-realization. However, even if an executor of these processes is without … Read More
Happiness in Krishna consciousness Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has analyzed the different sources of happiness. He has divided happiness into three categories, which are (1) happiness derived from material enjoyment, (2) happiness derived by identifying oneself with … Read More
