In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto six chapter two, Visvanatha Cakravartipada describes two stages of nama bhajan:
1. Nama-aparadha
2. Vaikuntha-arohana
Vaikuntha-arohana means ascending to the spiritual realm. This stage can be equated with shuddha-nama when you’re no longer making any offenses. This is the stage of nishtha where the way to Vaikuntha is relatively smooth. Now real bhakti sadhana begins.
As one advances through the levels of ruchi, asakti, and bhava one rises higher and higher toward spiritual perfection; the eternal prema seva of Radha Govinda Yugal in Goloka Vrindavan.
Sri Jiva Goswamipada describes many stages in nama bhajan in Bhakti-Sandarbha anu. 256:
“In the beginning one should hear Krishna nama to purify the antah-karana (mind, intelligence). When the heart is purified Krishna’s form will appear in the mind. When Krishna’s form fully manifests His qualities will be revealed. Then Krishna’s associates and lilas will gradually be disclosed.”
When you chant Hare Krishna your subconscious mind, which is called chitta, becomes purified, and you’ll see the form of Krishna in your mind. This is the first step in nama bhajan. Until that happens, you won’t experience the second step wherein the qualities of Krishna like affection, kindness and compassion arise in your mind.
First, you realize that Krishna’s name is Krishna. You are convinced that there is no difference between Krishna and His form and qualities. This truth manifests deeply in your purified mind while chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Then you will see Krishna’s form in your mind. While meditating on Krishna’s form, Krishna’s qualities will be felt in your mind.
After Krishna’s qualities you will perceive the associates (parishads) of Krishna whom you are hankering to see and serve eternally like your guru sakhi, Tulasi-manjari, Visakha-sakhi, and Srimati Radharani. Then Krishna’s pastimes will appear in your pure mind and heart.
In summary, when you have a shuddha antah-karana, which means your mind and intelligence are sufficiently purified by intensive chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, you will see Radha-Krishna’s lilas after experiencing all the other levels of nama, rupa, guna, and parishads. So, it means you have to do a lot of offense less chanting.
Lila Smaran Is Not Easy
We chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and try to think of Radha-Krishna’s eternal pastimes but is this really lila-smarana?
My Gurudeva said, “Smarana is not thinking of lila. Smarana is when the lila manifests in the unconscious mind. The lila will come to you.”
So, what to do? We are trying to get impressions, to make samskaras of Radha-Krishna lila by reading about lila, thinking about lila, meditating on lila. This is all very good. But this is not exactly lila-smarana.
Bhakti Sandarbha anu. 278 describes five stages of smarana:
Smarana– occasional thinking of Krishna or remembering Krishna in any way.
Dharana– concentration, withdrawing the mind from external objects and fixing it on Krishna.
Dhyana– meditation, specifically thinking of Krishna’s name, form and other attributes.
Dhruvanusmrti– constant remembrance of Krishna without interruption like a continuous flow of nectar.
Samadhi– trance, when the object of one’s meditation, Radha-Krishna, is manifest without any awareness of one’s self. So real lila-smarana is samadhi.
So, we just keep going, keep chanting and practicing. Because whatever you think of that’s what you’ll attain. We will do true Radha-Krishna lila smarana when the mind is pure. And the best way attain a pure mind is by nama bhajan, chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
Nama Bhajan Steps to Lila Smaran
Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das Babaji Maharaj
In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto six chapter two, Visvanatha Cakravartipada describes two stages of nama bhajan:
1. Nama-aparadha
2. Vaikuntha-arohana
Vaikuntha-arohana means ascending to the spiritual realm. This stage can be equated with shuddha-nama when you’re no longer making any offenses. This is the stage of nishtha where the way to Vaikuntha is relatively smooth. Now real bhakti sadhana begins.
As one advances through the levels of ruchi, asakti, and bhava one rises higher and higher toward spiritual perfection; the eternal prema seva of Radha Govinda Yugal in Goloka Vrindavan.
Sri Jiva Goswamipada describes many stages in nama bhajan in Bhakti-Sandarbha anu. 256:
“In the beginning one should hear Krishna nama to purify the antah-karana (mind, intelligence). When the heart is purified Krishna’s form will appear in the mind. When Krishna’s form fully manifests His qualities will be revealed. Then Krishna’s associates and lilas will gradually be disclosed.”
When you chant Hare Krishna your subconscious mind, which is called chitta, becomes purified, and you’ll see the form of Krishna in your mind. This is the first step in nama bhajan. Until that happens, you won’t experience the second step wherein the qualities of Krishna like affection, kindness and compassion arise in your mind.
First, you realize that Krishna’s name is Krishna. You are convinced that there is no difference between Krishna and His form and qualities. This truth manifests deeply in your purified mind while chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Then you will see Krishna’s form in your mind. While meditating on Krishna’s form, Krishna’s qualities will be felt in your mind.
After Krishna’s qualities you will perceive the associates (parishads) of Krishna whom you are hankering to see and serve eternally like your guru sakhi, Tulasi-manjari, Visakha-sakhi, and Srimati Radharani. Then Krishna’s pastimes will appear in your pure mind and heart.
In summary, when you have a shuddha antah-karana, which means your mind and intelligence are sufficiently purified by intensive chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, you will see Radha-Krishna’s lilas after experiencing all the other levels of nama, rupa, guna, and parishads. So, it means you have to do a lot of offense less chanting.
Lila Smaran Is Not Easy
We chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and try to think of Radha-Krishna’s eternal pastimes but is this really lila-smarana?
My Gurudeva said, “Smarana is not thinking of lila. Smarana is when the lila manifests in the unconscious mind. The lila will come to you.”
So, what to do? We are trying to get impressions, to make samskaras of Radha-Krishna lila by reading about lila, thinking about lila, meditating on lila. This is all very good. But this is not exactly lila-smarana.
Bhakti Sandarbha anu. 278 describes five stages of smarana:
Smarana– occasional thinking of Krishna or remembering Krishna in any way.
Dharana– concentration, withdrawing the mind from external objects and fixing it on Krishna.
Dhyana– meditation, specifically thinking of Krishna’s name, form and other attributes.
Dhruvanusmrti– constant remembrance of Krishna without interruption like a continuous flow of nectar.
Samadhi– trance, when the object of one’s meditation, Radha-Krishna, is manifest without any awareness of one’s self. So real lila-smarana is samadhi.
So, we just keep going, keep chanting and practicing. Because whatever you think of that’s what you’ll attain. We will do true Radha-Krishna lila smarana when the mind is pure. And the best way attain a pure mind is by nama bhajan, chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
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