symptoms). At the same time all the sancari-bhavas (vyabhicari-bhavas, or apparently disturbing symptoms) also come into play.

"Rasa is like a machine. Rati, or permanent emotion, is the axle of this machine. Once the machine starts moving by the combined energy of the four bhavas, the permanent emotion or sthayi-bhava is then converted into rasa. The devotee, who is the asraya (a shelter or container of ecstatic love for Krsna), becomes the enjoyer of that rasa. And the rasa mentioned here is the vraja-rasa or the spiritual mellow of Vrndavana. That rasa is the essence of everything, and is the highest goal for the jiva. The Vedas expound four goals: dharma, artha, kama, and moksa (religious principles, economic development, regulated sense enjoyment and liberation). But beyond these goals of the Vedas, the actual acme of all perfection is rasa. Fully realized and perfected beings are entitled to taste that rasa.

Elevation via the Hare Krsna maha-mantra

"Amongst the introspective jivas, he who is attracted to pure devotional service is the most evolved. The jiva takes up the path of bhakti only after he has accrued sufficient sukrti (piety) from previous births. When he develops strong faith (sraddha), he comes into contact with a pure and saintly spiritual master. By the grace of the spiritual master, he is initiated into the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra—the holy names of the Divine Couple.*

Most of us—whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, civilized or uncivilized—are struggling to enjoy our senses. This is due to false identification with the body.
Jagad Guru Speaks

"Although in the beginning this jiva has sraddha, his desire for material success poses an obstacle on his path of progress. The spiritual master graces him with a disciplinary process suitable for overcoming this obstacle; thus he gains spiritual strength from chanting. Chanting on tulasi beads and meditating on a fixed number of holy names daily is the best form of worship, and will

* Han is the vocative form of Hara, a name of Srimati Radharani; Krsna is the principal name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning 'the All-attractive One'; and Rama may be understood either as the name of Krsna's brother, Lord Balarama the son of Rohini, or as a name of Lord Ramacandra, the hero of the Ramayana. — Ed,