Revival of the dormant affection or
love of Godhead does not depend on the
mechanical system of hearing and
chanting, but it solely and wholly
depends on the causeless mercy of the
Lord.
SB 1.7.6, Purport
You need to be a member of puredevoteeseva to add comments!
Comments
Dayānanda: But what about the persons who may be a little bit devoted but who have not achieved that unalloyed devotion?
Prabhupāda: Kaniṣṭha-adhikārī. They are not devotees, but they are called bhaktābhāsa. There is some signs of bhakti. Actually they are not bhakta. Bhaktābhāsa. Ābhāsa. Ābhāsa means a simple, a little light.
Hṛdayānanda: So devotee really means one who has love for Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Yes, unalloyed, without any condition. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11), zero, all other, that "I am this, I am that, I am jñānī, I am yogi, I am karmī, I am minister, I am king"—all these are thinking like that, they're all nonsense. "I am servant of Kṛṣṇa"—that is greatness. Jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109). That is self-realization, ātma-tattvam
The first quote points out that even if chanting, if it is mechanical, it is not pure chanting, and will gradually lead to pure chanting. Pure service and chanting means from the platform of self-realization. Others are but learners, new to the practice. They are also great, aho bato svapaco to gariyan, yaj jivagre ... etc that one who is chanting , is a rare and special soul who has performed sacrifice and austerity and read scriptures. Both the new chanter and the mature one are great, mahatmas, but the standard is very high to be a Guru or pure chanter of holy Names.
Also, one should not think they can force their way through the gates of heaven; it is purely by the Grace of Godhead we are allowed entrance into such pure realms.
The second quote points out that the standards are high, there is no compromise or funny business; one should not think oneself very advanced and a great devotee prematurely, but retain the humble understandings, and serve sincerely, chant sincerely, and remain a humble soul. One should think oneself the servant of all the others, but of course not to the extent of being artificial about it.
Sometimes the acaryas say things which may seem discouraging to us, as the goal seems so lofty, yet at the same time it is meant to keep us humble, and that is ultimately favorable for us.
"Our only strength is chanting
Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. So if
we stick to the principle of
chanting Hare Krishna Mantra,
following the rules and regulations,
that will give us strength to work
on both sides - namely to
enlighten people in Krishna
Consciousness and cut down the
bad government full of atheistic
people."
Letter to Madhudvisa Maharaja
15 September, 1971