| Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 7 (part 1) |
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The seventh teaching: acintya-bhedabheda-tattva "Everything material and spiritual comes under acintya-bhedabheda-sambandha. Jiva and matter are both transformations of Lord Krsna's energy. This is inconceivable. Knowing acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, the jiva understands that he is the servant of Krsna and is like the spark or ray of the spiritual sun that is Krsna. Such transformations of the Lord's energy are inconceivable, says the sruti; but the so-called 'transformations' of theSupreme Lord Himself that the mayavadis would, like to have everyone believe in are only mischievous and offensive postulation. "So far, these seven teachings comprise sambandha-jnana or knowledge of the eternal relationship. The Vedas further point out abhidheya, or the easiest means to achieve that goal. Abhidheya: the nine limbs of devotional service "The nine limbs of devotional service are: hearing, chanting, remembering, worshipping, praying, rendering service, carrying out the orders of the Lord, being a friend of the Lord and completely surrendering to the Lord. The chanting of the holy name is the most important devotional activity. The Vedas have volumes describing the glories of the holy name. If a loved one of an enlightened person leaves their body, the enlightened person will understand that the person he loved has departed. He will not see the corpse as the person, i.e., his beloved. The prayojana (necessity) is krsna-prema "The jiva must take shelter of the pure devotional process. By the mercy of Lord Krsna he will attain krsna-prema, or love of Godhead. Pure devotion is indicated by the human proclivity to always render favorable devotional service to Krsna. Pure devotion strives only for further excellence in devotion, being satisfied with nothing else. It is unencumbered by the desire for fruitive action or empirical knowledge. Pure devotion is uncontaminated by fruitive activity or empirical knowledge. The Vedas recommend that one can cultivate pure devotion by taking full shelter of the holy name: this is essential. |