Hare Krishna Prabhuji & Mataji.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
This is my first post on this forum after joining Iskcon last month.
Since then, I have started daily chanting of two rounds of japa mala along with listening (in free time) to kirtans and bhajans of Srila Prabhupada, Atmarama Das, Krishna Das and other prabhujis.
Yesterday, a friend mentioned that intense bhakti for Krishna will also invite more problems in my life since devotees have to go through several struggles as Krishna continues to test the bhakts on a continual basis.
I am keen to understand how to start practicing bhakti as a beginner and does the above statement hold true?
Hare Krishna
Saumil
Replies
Some devotees start with bhakti in this life and some continue from previous lives. The first type have some clearing period which may be harsh in some cases. It's very individual. The second type are going on more or less smoothly, depending on the seva, of course. There are obviously tests to grow. If one becomes influential in spreading KC, enemies will appear. This is a test of genuineness - it is always opposed by asuras.
Hari Hari
ys J.
Hare Krishna Jan Prabhuji,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Your explanation has made me thinking as never heard about this. So, basically everyone is progressing at a different pace and I would like to compare my progress each day to who I was yesterday and who I am today in the path of bhakti, thank you.
Haribol,
Saumil
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Welcome to Krsna Consciousness and to this forum both.
Regarding being a beginner, I will tell you the ABCDE of devotion.
A - Association of devotees. I am sure you have heard that we are known by the company we keep. We are influenced by people we associate with. So please be in the company of devotees. You will be able to learn a lot more in the company of devotees and you will realise the fun aspect of devotion.
B - book. Read Srila Prabhupada books, esp Bhagavad Gita As It Is. There are smaller books as well - Chant and Be Happy, Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers, Life Comes from Life and other small books. You will get answers to all your questions and get good understanding of our philosophy.
C - chanting. Please chant 4 rounds of mahamantra every day, without fail. Do this for 6 months and you will yourself realise how much chanting is beneficial.
D - diet. Eat only pure vegetarian food which is offered to Krsna. This way, you will automatically leave non veg and onion garlic.
E - ekadasi. If possible, please refrain from grains and beans on ekadasi.
Regarding your friend's statement - intense bhakti for Krishna will also invite more problems in my life since devotees have to go through several struggles as Krishna continues to test the bhakts on a continual basis.- these kind of things keep happening, When a person is interested in Krsna Consciousness, mayadevi will put different hurdles on the path. Please ask your friend that if you dont come in devotion, will you not have to face trials and tribulations that life will naturally throw at you? Is it not better to give exams for Krsna, rather than for maya? Problems will always be there as long as we are in this world prabhu. Like one cannot be in water and say I will not get wet, one cannot be in material world and not face miseries. The nature of this material world is - anityam asukham lokam or dukhalayam ashaswatam - both mean the same - temporary and full of miseries. Our choice whether we want to face miseries for Krsna or for maya.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krishna Radha Rasamayi DD,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Thank you for the guidance (ABCDE of devotion) and an easy to remember approach for progress in Bhakti. I also respect your explanation and agree that giving exams for Krsna is better than for maya. Lastly, I have started following the steps (you advised) and can see myself enjoying the bhakti process.
Haribol,
Saumil