2020.02.20 - Crises on the path of devotional service. Lecture 3 - Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Srila Prabhupada did not want us to develop our faith on the foundation of miracles, because this is the wrong foundation. The proper foundation is sastriya-sraddha, or faith in the logic of sastra. On the stage of sraddha we learn how to appreciate devotees properly, and for which quality we appreciate them. Sadhu-sanga means you know who is sadhu, and you try to follow him. At the stage of sraddha a person also associates with a sadhu, but not necessarily consider him as his guru, and at the stage of sadhu-sanga a person takes shelter of a guru. But before both spiritual master and disciple are testing each other for one year. At that time one takes pranama-mantra of a guru, and learns basic concepts and basic terms. He learns to respect seniors, guru, teachers. The main books are Bhagavad-gita and The nectar of instructions. If we are capable to properly appreciate the straightforwardness of a guru, we surrender to him. At that stage we want to surrender to guru, but some hesitation is there, we may not get enough attention, etc., and if we associate with guru properly in respectful mood, then trust will develop, we will surrender unto him. This is the crisis of independence, if we successfully overcome this crisis then we develop submissive and humble attitude, if we fail we will leave the society of devotees, or we will constantly criticize devotees. Baj means seva, kriya means systematic practice. At the stage of bhajana-kriya we learn how to act as a devotee. At this stage guru has a right to chastise his disciple. Bhajana-kriya also means preaching, you should repeat whatever you have heard from guru. Association with equals become the power of advancement. At this stage we don’t have the real bliss of spiritual experience and therefore we mix the desire to enjoy with devotional service.