Page 31 - Lekha-mala (English)
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Posts to BVKS Sanga                                        21

           who have come to the liberated state should always meditate
           on Vrindavan and Krishna’s devotees there, if they can’t live
           there. My question is that when I’m perfoming vaidhi-sadhana-
           bhakti, does meditation upon Vrindavan bring me faster to
           raganuga-sadhana-bhakti or is it bonafide at all, when I’m
           just a very unexperienced neophyte practitioner of devotional
           service. In other words, which is the fastest and most effective
           way to get through the anartha-nivritti stage?

           Certainly meditation upon Vrindavan is bona fide, but a
           key point here is to have come to the liberated stage. Srila
           Prabhupada is indicating that such systematic meditation as
           part of one’s sadhana is suitable for devotees who have come
           to a considerably advanced platform. Elsewhere in his writings
           Srila Prabhupada indicates that for devotees to attempt to enter
           higher levels before attaining eligibility will be detrimental to
           their advancement and even to that of others.

           So to hear about and cultivate remembrance of Vrindavan is
           good even from the beginning of one’s Krishna consciousness,
           but  not  disproportionately.  One  also  has  to  cultivate  basic
           knowledge of the devotional science, and serve a guru and
           other devotees and become purified. In this regard please see
           Cc. Adi 7.17 Purport.

           Regarding the fastest and most effective way to get through
           the anartha-nivritti stage: the answer may be found in the
           first few verses and purports of Nectar of Instruction. It is best
           to be more concerned about effectiveness rather than speed.
           Usually persons unduly keen to go through quickly fail to do
           so effectively. Better to be slow and sure, and to depend on the
           mercy of guru and Vaisnavas rather than trying to polevault
           into rasa lila. Patience is a virtue.
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