If a first initiate devotee was to ask you, prabhuji, what five tips can you give me to make rapid and sure advancement in devotional service? How would you answer?
Please add your replies below. We will remain open for answers for about three months. We will then tabulate the results, and present an analysis for all to enjoy.
Note; this survey is not restricted to morning program etc only, rather it is wide open. More than one entry, but on a different topic is acceptable. Try to limit to a max. of three topics. Good examples of topics would be a. morning program, or b. chanting Hare Krsna, or c. Pujari tips, or d. cooking tips, or e. preaching tips, or f. sankirtana tips, or g. kirtana tips, etc. HK
Try not to just say, "chant pure harinama', that is not a complete point or answer; rather, say HOW a person can chant purely. Point form is preferred, please. An example follows;
Replies
1. chant lots of panca tattva mantra, as much as maha mantra even., on beads at your regular japa times, and otherwise constantly.
2. chant at least 12 rounds before mangala arotik set your clock and DO IT. NEVER fail to get up unless you cannot.
3. think about the meaning of what you are saying and singing during the morning programs, while you are doing the ceremonies, arotiks, Tulsi puja, etc
4. listen to and enjoy all the transcendental sounds as the main focus of your consciousness while attending the mroning program. ( You will really find enjoyment only if you seek to serve. )
5. Offer praises to the Deities during the morning darshana, and also say something nice about the beauty etc of the Deities to the devotees and pujaris.
6. Bonus secret special tip; Beg Radha 's mercy by getting up with the head pujari's hours, and pray before the altar is even opened, with tears and desire, but be cool, not loud. You are allowed to gnash your teeth on the floor or bang your head on the altar, however, if that is required.
Sankirtana; Two components; harinama sankirtana, books/prasadam distribution.
Devotees, especially newer ones, need to recharge and find some shelter whuile preaching and collecting on the streets. A strong sankirtana provides this powerful purifying force. Devotees can takes turns speaking with onlookers and distributing books, magazines, invitations. Keep one devotee free to manage a book table with ionvitation cards to the sunday feast. Get a good pirce for your books, but also never ever leave them feeling like you cheated them!! That is totally nonsense. Don't boether arguing, just be nice and friendly and somewhat general but genuine, and they will see, if they are good people, that you are sincere, and they may agree to hear the kirtana and take a magazine or book.
Also keep a personal address book and business cards so you can get keep in touch with serious inquirers, or even pick them up with the temple van and escort them at the next Sunday feast program, as special guests. Introduce them, if possible, via speaker at class to the assembly, make them feel special and welcome, give them a maha feast plate, and arrange so they can easily call you to be picked up for the next feast program again. Get their business and /or e-addresses. Be sure they get Prabhupada's Gita on the way out of the Temple or before, plus chanting beads for the more serious newcomers !! Gauraharibol !
The main instruction for serious devotees, and as exemplfied by Srila Prabhupada, is to be engagaed in Krsna's service 24 hours a day. That is samadhi and is the deathless platform. Even if one passes from this world while so sngaged indevotional service, he will simply take up his service once again in whatever body Krsna sees fit to next provide. That is liberated and deathless.
Bhgavatamrta Prabhu's advice is very important and should be attended to carefully, as he has acquired a taste for the chanting. And that, for us devotees, is everything. If one listens to the heart and the practical directions he is indicating, one is sure to be closer to attaining a taste for chanting, also.
1. You must shower before entering the kitchen to cook or clean. Wear tilak, and clean cloth. Neither sneeze nor cough. If you must go to use the toilet, you must again shower before re-enetering the kitchen. Keepfinger and toe nails short and clean.
2. Only initiated devotees shoud be doing anything much in the kitchen. Only brahmanas should cook there. You must not touch another brahmanas cooking or turn the heat on or off unless you have their permission. A non brhamana should not light the stove or any fires etc.
3. Do not talk needlessly, ie no prajalpa. It contaminates the food as well as pollutes the vibes. Be careful and thoughtful about what you are doing and how to best sequence your activities to obtain the desired goals. Be considerate of others in the kitchen. Never argue in Krsna's kitchen.
4. You may chant constantly and /or listen to recorded kirtana of all types.
5. Always clean up after yourself immediately, such that the kitchen is mostly always clean, except that cooking utensils may be put in the sink or as arranged and cleaned by other devotees as arranged, or by yourself later. But they must be either cleaned by you or definite arrangements made, as you cannot leave the kitchen until you have completed the yagjya, including cleaning up after.Put all ingredients back nicely in their place and clean up all spills etc. Keep all the cleaning supplies and kitchen utensils etc also sterilie and clean, such as wash cloths, steel wool, sinks, garbage pails, bins, etc. Wash the cutting tables immediately after using. Otherwise, all surfaces including stoves and walls and tables etc must be kept totally clean at all times.
6. Clean up behind others at Sunday cooking times if they are inattentive. A good example will impress them. It is that simple.1
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Prabhupada!!!
I would say no no no, a sign of good spiritual progress is progress which is steady and gradual. Our sadhana is always fresh and always new.
Association is also very benefiting for advancement. You must bare in mind that if you associate only with those in Vaidhi Bhakti or Kanistha Adhikari it will become almost impossible to advance to Raganuga Bhakti or Madhyam Adhikari. Adau Shraddha Tato Sadhu Sango ...bhajana kriya..anartha nivritti...syat..nistha...Ruci...bhava prema. This is the process of bhakti.
The importance is to always remember Krsna, never forget Krsna. Sravanam Kirtanam Vishno Smaranam. Hear Chant and remember. Hear and relish the Transcendental pasttimes of the lord. Engage in scrutinizing study of Prabhupada's books. Chant and Remember. Given the circumstances you are in right now you should perform the best devotional service you can! This is advised by Chaitanya. Try to be in His service all the time, All ways thinking of Him.
Our hearts are filled with anartha's and we are in this purificatory process of ridding these anartha's or Unwanted Things. When our hearts our clean and we have reached Anartha Nivritti then this welcomes Krsna with arms wide open. These anartha's can be hidden in the most secret places of our hearts. So we must distinguish what is our desire.
Jaya Radha Madhava.... To love Krsna is not saying He is God therefore I should Love Him. This is conditional love. Love for Krsna is unconditional Love. This is True Love. The first thing you need to distinguish our Ruci or interest or taste. What is it about Krsna that attracts us most. Then this Love develops and we wouldn't wish for anything more than more Bhakti and this Transcendental Bliss.
Follow your instructions, and stay steady.
love
Michael
Without knowing what are Krsna's qualities, how shall we accept him as our God? Hearing and deeply contemplating, ie worshipping these instructions and lessons, we might obtain enough mercy to begin to appreciate Who is Krsna exactly, and then we shall idenfity correctly our true identities and purposes.
Thank you Mataji ! It is obvious in reading that you are speaking with the lucid passion of mature realizations.
Chanting keeps us connected with Him, you say, also, He IS His Body !! That is realization from chanting. It is simple, but it is profoundly moving when actually realized deeply. This realization changes the whole framework of one's sadhana. It soon becomes early bhavas and then raganuga!
Pamho. I hope my comments are correct and acceptable, Mataji SuDevi?
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