Study authentic devotional scriptures systematically under a qualified spiritual master to genuinely progress toward Krishna consciousness.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
squeel] He was going on saṅkīrtana in four parties. We have studied this thing from Caitanya-caritāmṛta, or Teachings of Lord Caitanya, that from the dealings of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, because although He's Kṛṣṇa Himself, He's playing the part of ācārya, playing the part of devotee. namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanyanāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ [Cc. Madhya 19.53] Bhaktākhyaṁ bhaktāvatāraṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam, pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇam [Cc. Ādi 1.14]. So we should follow Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the six Gosvāmīs, and gradually let us learn what is devotional service, how to execute it.
Everything is very nicely explained in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu which we have presented herewith as The Devo..., Nectar of Devotion, "The Complete Science for the Bhakti-yoga." So first of all, we should take advantage of these granthas, and then gradually make progress. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore said that kabe hāma bujhabo śrī yugala-pīriti. rūpa-raghunātha-pade haibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhabo śrī yugala-pīri... [Lālasāmayī] Without understanding Rūpa-Raghunātha, or without going through the literatures given by Rūpa-Raghunātha, if we jumpingly, all of a sudden, try to become a devotee of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa... Of course, our aim is to become devotee of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, but how to become Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa we must study these books, Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu especially. Thank you very much.
Devotees: Haribol! [end] Endnotes 1 (Popup - samsara-davanala-lidha-loka) Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka Eight Prayers to the Guru by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, who appeared in the middle of the seventeenth century, is a great spiritual master in the Kṛṣṇa conscious chain of gurus and disciples. He says, "One who, with great care and attention, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the brāhma-muhūrta obtains direct service to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, at the time of his death." (1) saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-lokatrāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam saṁsāra-(of) material existence; dāvā-anala-(by) the forest fire; līḍha-afflicted; loka-the people; trāṇāya-to deliver; kāruṇya-of mercy; ghanāghana-tvam-the quality of a cloud; prāptasya-who has obtained; kalyāṇa-auspicious; guṇa-(of) qualities; arṇavasya-who is an ocean; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities. (2) mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gītavāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena romāñca -kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam mahāprabhoḥ-of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; kīrtana-(by) chanting; nṛtya-dancing; gīta-singing; vāditra-playing musical instruments; mādyat-gladdened; manasaḥ-whose mind; rasena-due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-añca-standing of the hair; kampa-quivering of the body, aśru-taraṅga-torrents of tears; bhājaḥ-who feels; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (3) śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānāśṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato 'pi vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam śrī-vigraha-(of) the arcā-vigraha (Deities), ārādhana-the worship; nitya-daily; nānā-(with) various; śṛṅgāra-clothing and ornaments; tat-of the Lord; mandira-(of) the temple; mārjana-ādau-in the cleaning, etc.; yuktasya-who is engaged; bhaktān-his disciples; ca-and; niyuñjataḥ-who engages; api-also; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (4) catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasādasvādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam catuḥ-four; vidha-kinds; śrī-holy, bhagavat-prasāda-which have been offered to Kṛṣṇa; svādu-palatable; anna-(by) foods; tṛptān-spiritually satisfied; hari-(of) Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-saṅghān-the devotees; kṛtvā-having made; eva-thus; tṛptim-satisfaction; bhajataḥ-who feels; sada-always; eva-certainly; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (5) śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāramādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam śrī-rādhikā-(of) Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; mādhavayoḥ-of Lord Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa); apāra-unlimited; mādhurya-conjugal; līlā-pastimes; guṇa-qualities; rūpa-forms; nāmnām-of the holy names; prati-kṣaṇa-at every moment; āsvādana-relishing; lolupasya-who aspires after; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (6) nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam nikuñja-yūnaḥ-of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; rati-(of) conjugal love; keli-(of) pastimes; siddhyai-for the perfection; yā yā- whatever; ālibhiḥ-by the gopīs; yuktiḥ-arrangements; apekṣaṇīyā-desirable; tatra-in that connection; ati-dākṣyāt-because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya-who is very dear; vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana.
I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. (7) sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam sākṣāt-directly; hari-tvena-with the quality of Hari; samasta- all; śāstraiḥ-by scriptures; uktaḥ-acknowledged; tathā-thus bhāvyate-is considered; eva-also; sadbhiḥ-by great saintly persons; kintu-however; prabhoḥ-to the Lord; yaḥ-who; priyaḥ-dear; eva-certainly; tasya-of him (the guru); vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa]. (8) yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam yasya-of whom (the spiritual master); prasādāt-by the grace; bhagavat-(of) Kṛṣṇa; prasādaḥ-the mercy; yasya-of whom; aprasādāt-without the grace; na-not; gatiḥ-means of advancement; kutaḥ api-from anywhere; dhyāyan-meditating upon; stuvan-praising; tasya-of him (the spiritual master); yaśaḥ-the glory; tri-sandhyam-three times a day (sunrise, noon, and sunset); vande-I offer obeisances; guroḥ-of my spiritual master; śrī-auspicious; caraṇa-aravindam-unto the lotus feet. By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa.