The Way of Sadhana-bhakti

It is written in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu:

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ‘tha bhajana-kriya

tato ‘nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah

athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati

sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah 

Pious activities such as serving unknowingly or hearing Krishna-katha from a devotee (ajnata-sukrti) lead to bhakti. Such pious activities which lead to bhakti, generate faith. Then the association of pure devotees is sought. Then initiation is received from the spiritual master and under his instructions the regulative principles are observed. One thus frees himself from all unpleasant habits and places himself firmly in devotional service. Attachment and taste develop as a result. This is the way of sadhana-bhakti, the practice of devotional service according to regulatory principles. Emotions intensify progressively, and eventually the awakening of love occurs. Such is the gradual development of God’s love for a devotee who devotes himself to Krishna consciousness.

While chanting at the nistha stage the anarthas are uprooted; therefore, the taste for the holy name arises. As the number of extirpated anarthas increases, attachment grows. By the time one begins to enter the stage of bhava, or rati, almost all anarthas have been eliminated.

This is a section of the book “Bhajana-Rahasya”.
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