‘Prema’ ordinarily means ‘love’. We find this word overused in the material world. But what is really meant by prema or love?  hladinira sara ‘prema’, prema-sara ‘bhava’ bhavera parama-kastha, nama—‘maha-bhava’ mahabhava-svarupa sri-radha-thakurani sarva-guna-khani krsna-kanta-siromani (Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Adi-lila, 4.68-69)  “The essence of hladini is prem, the essence of prem is bhava, and the ultimate expression of … Continue reading Prema for Śrī Kṛṣṇa is self-manifesting

The devotees that are fixed in smaraṇa will also attain these relishable services within their minds. When smaraṇa becomes deep it is called dhyāna, or meditation. This dhyāna or nidhidhyāsana is the best means of meeting the Lord face-to-face. In the Pātañjala-darśana it is written - tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam: "To fix one's mind on a … Continue reading About meditation

For the benefit of the neophytes in rāgānugā-bhakti, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmīhas revealed the expertise of these ornamenting-services through his prayers. The neophyte should not serve as he likes it; he should serve according to Śrī Rādhārāṇī's wish, following in the footsteps of those who understand what is on Her mind. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura … Continue reading Be patient – don´t jump to soaring heights

 "It is not good to have my own thoughts about how to attain Śrī Rādhā's service. Those who are like bumblebees, intoxicated by drinking the honey that oozes from Śrī Caitanya's lotus feet, are always eager to attain the intimate service of Śrī Rādhā, and they cannot attain it and experience it without following in … Continue reading Eagerness

Tattva Sandarbha Anuccheda 51 "Absolute Reality Is Nondual Consciousness" “What is the nature of this Substantive (vastu), which is the AbsoluteReality(tattva)?” This is disclosed in the following statement: “All those who have realized Absolute Reality (tattva) refer to that Reality as nondual consciousness (advaya-jñāna)” (sb 1.2.11). Here the word jñāna indicates that the Absolute is … Continue reading Absolute Reality Is Nondual Consciousness

Śrīpāda Raghunātha Das then prays for having a wonderful attachment to the Vrajavāsīs, the residents of Vraja-dhāma. Here ‘Vrajavāsīs’ must be understood to mean those who live in Vraja-dhāma in the broadest sense of the word.  The scriptures and the saints say that although the dhāma is a transcendental place it assumes a material form … Continue reading Attachment to the Vrajavāsīs and all Vaiṣṇavas

Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has taught that living in Vraja is one of the five most powerful items of devotion which will grant love to the lotus feet of the Lord (the others being: Associating with the devotees, worshipping the deity, hearing the Śrīmad Bhāgavata and chanting the Holy Name), because: anyeṣu puṇya tīrtheṣu muktir eva … Continue reading Attachment to living in Vraja

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, māyā’s conditioning of the jīva has no beginning; it is anādi. Although statements such as, “she covers the real nature of the jīva” seemingly imply a beginning, in fact there is no beginning to the jīva’s bondage. Śrī Kṛṣṇa confirms this:  prakṛtiṁ puruṣaṁ caiva viddhy anādi ubhav api vikārāṁś ca … Continue reading Māyā’s conditioning of the jīva has no beginning