Faith—Sadhu-Sanga

Sadhu-Sange Krsna-nama ei matra cai
samsara jinite ar kono vastu nai

(Jagadananda Pandit – Prema-vivarta).

“To chant Krsna-Nama without the association of the sadhus means also to have to proceed with difficulty. Therefore in one word the solution is in sadhu sanga. We are to secure the company of a standard realized soul, then everything will fall into place, and the king of the sadhu's is Sri Guru.”
(Swami B.R Sridhar)





Krsna yadi krpa kare kona bhagyavane
guru-antaryami-rupe kikyaya apane

'From Krsna comes inspiration to attain the transcendental world. He will send a sadhu, a Guru, a Vaisnava, and through them we will receive some light and strength — easily we shall be able to practise with their help, and attain our destination'

(Swami B.S. Govinda - Divine Guidance, pg. 21)





kona bhagye kona jivera 'sraddha' yadi haya
tabe sei jiva ‘sadhu-sanga’ ye karaya

“If, by good fortune, a living entity develops faith in Krsna, he begins to associate with devotees.
C.C Madhya 23.10




sadhu-sanga haite haya ‘sravana-kirtana’
sadhana-bhaktye haya ‘sarvanartha-nivartana’

“When one is encouraged in devotional service by the association of devotees, one becomes free from all unwanted contamination by following the regulative principles and chanting and hearing.”
C.C. Madhya 23.11




Devotee: What is the element that makes us perceive something as real?

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: The sastric name is sraddha, faith, and that is the developed state of sukriti as sadhu-sanga. Those that are in the real plane, the nirguna plane, beyond the creative world, the world of creation 'gunatita' nitya jagat; the agents of that upper world have come to establish some connection in our soul. The deepest element. What we think to be us, our soul. The connection with sadhu produces some thing which is faith and that faith can see. That is a world which is only approachable by faith. Just as we see color by eyes, sound by ear, so that world only faith can see, faith can feel it, and no other senses.

Faith, that is the real function of soul and that is awakened by the agent of Vaikuntha, the sadhu. Sukrti, jnata-sukrti, sraddha. By sraddha, then sadhu sanga, the association with the sadhu increases. And the transaction of the culture of reality that takes place gradually makes us fully conscious that where we are living, this is all transcient, this is of enemy type and the real element, my home, is elsewhere, is located in the world of pure consciousness, pure place. ''
(Swami B.R Sridhar)



The physical company is not real association but wherever this body or mental body may be, if I am in a faithful serving mood to any person, I am there with him in cetah [heart, consciousness] In the world of consciousness, only our subjugation— our faithful adherence to one soul, that is to be with him. Do you follow? Am I clear?

All: Yes.

Sridhar Maharaj: I am at his beck and call, this attitude gives us nearness of a soul, and not this body or any other things. Only submissiveness, only adherence, only faithful submission to any person that brings us near to him. This is sadhu-sanga proper.
(Swami B.R Sridhar)

Sukriti

Sridhara Maharaja: '' First is sukrti, ajnata-sukrti. Then jnata-sukrti. Then sraddha, then sadhu-sanga, then bhajana, anartha nivritti, ruci, bhava-bhakti, prema-bhakti, sneha. In this way. By gradation. First ajnata- sukrti, the energy spent for Krsna consciousness unknowingly. That will be the first foundation.

Next somewhat knowingly some contribution may come for Krsna consciousness. Then that will raise me to the plane of sraddha, (faith)when I shall, on the surface I shall search for the Krsna consciousness people and mix with them and help them and have association of them.

And then next, I shall find a Guru in Krsna consciousness. And then I shall continue my bhajana, my sadhana (spiritual practice) under his guidance. And then the anartha (faults, separate interest) will disappear and I shall get proper attraction, real pure attraction for Krsna consciousness.
And gradually I shall go up. These are the stages, from the lowest to be traced.
The sastra (scriptures) have given in this way. ''

1. Sukriti

'' Previous sukriti is spitirual merit gathered from the chance association of the divine agent (sadhu).''
Swami B.R Sridhara

''When we forget Srila Guru Maharaj’s order we receive much trouble. Behind this, two things are acting: one is fortune (sukriti), and the other is our activity. Good fortune, or sukriti is necessary, and that comes through seva (service). Good fortune grows through seva. One who can do real seva will receive a good result. However, one who does ‘seva’ but is always thinking about his own interest must be ignored by bhakti, and bhakti will not go to him. He may live so long and stay for many years in the Gaudiya Mission, but he may not get that bhakti.''
(Srila B.S Govinda Maharaj - Divine Guidance pg. 29)

Developmental stages of Faith

(as given in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu of Srila Rupa Goswami)


Sraddha - General beginning of faith.

Sadhu Sanga - Association of Pure devotees

Bhajana Kriya - Purificatory practices of Devotional service; sadhana bhakti; ie. sravan & kirttan (Hearing & chanting etc.)

Anartha Nivritti - Purging / cleansing of faults & unwanted habits, desires etc.

Nistha - Unbroken steadiness in Devotion ie. 24 hour continuous remembrance in service of Krsna.

Ruchi - Awakening of genuine taste for Devotion. Spontaneous love (raga marga) begins here.

Ashakti - When one cannot tolerate any separation from the continuous sweet taste of Krsna Consciousness.

Bhava - Ecstatic transcendental emotions. The budding stage of the flower of Prema.

Prema - The blossoming stage - Pure Divine Love of Krsna

Faith and Prahlad Maharaj

Our previous post was about the development of bhakti, or pure devotion beginning from sraddha, or faith.

There are innumerable gradations in the world of faith, however in general they can all be categorized in two classes: 'mundane' and 'divine' faith.

Mundane faith is based solely on our experience of this material world, and its goal is limited to the same. Divine faith however, has its foundation in revealed truth and its goal is eternal, infinite, and all fulfilling.

Initially, divine faith may seem to be something untouchable and intangible. However, there are those who have their unique experience in the realm of divine faith; they are known as the sadhus, or saints. It is through their divine knowledge and experience that we can come to know about the unlimited gradations of spiritual truth, which is beyond our limited mundane experience within this world.

Prahlad Maharaj is one such saint, who is known to represent the very foundation of the world of Divine faith. Through his life's example He showed how Divine faith is a living and dynamic reality which can attract the attention of the infinite Himself.

Check out the link below to hear a recent class by Sripad Mahananda prabhu speaking about the extraordinary life of Prahlad Maharaj.


http://oceanofnectar.com/public/audio/090508_Mahananda_NrsimhaChaturdasi_web.mp3

The Practical Aspects of Bhakti, Devotional life

What is faith? How does faith grow? What are the symptoms of faith? And what is the evidence of the growth of faith?

Srila B.R Sridhar Maharaj explains:

''Faith is the only means through which we can see, hear, or feel the higher world. Otherwise it is all meaningless to us. To understand that plane, an inner awakening is necessary. We can connect with the upper world only through a higher source. Therefore, divyam jnanam, knowledge of the higher plane, is not ordinary knowledge; it is transcendental, supramental feeling, and sense. By sraddha alone we can attract the infinite and when sraddha develops a definite form, after progressing through bhava, ecstatic emotion, sraddha becomes prema—divine love.

Columbus set sail, and after a long voyage, finally arrived in America. He reached the land of good hope. In the same way, with hope, sraddha, faith, we may, after crossing Vaikuntha, arrive in the highest plane of the spiritual cosmos. Sraddha is our light in the darkness. Only sraddha can guide us when we are travelers in the infinite: "I have heard that this is the way to that place—"that spirit will keep our hearts enlivened.

The definition of sraddha is given in the Caitanya- caritamrta: "Faith is the firm conviction that by serving Krsna, all other purposes are automatically served." No risk, no gain. Greatest risk, greatest gain. Krsna reassures us, "I am everywhere. There is no need to be afraid at all. Just realize that I am your friend. I am all in all, and you are Mine. To believe this is your only fare for the journey to the land of faith."


''Faith comes from faith, from sraddha. Bhakti from bhakti.
Bhakti ahaituki. Ahaituki apratihata. Bhaktya sanjataya bhaktya.
Bhakti is the cause of bhakti. Nothing can produce bhakti. Nothing can produce faith. Just as from one candle another candle is lit. A candle is lit from another candle, is it not? So faith from the heart of a devotee can be transferred into another. Guru, sadhu, from the upper plane it extends.''

Development of Divine Faith:

adau sraddha tatah sadhu sango 'tha bhajana kriya
tato 'nartha nivritih syat tato nistha rucis tatah
atha saktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati
sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah

(Srila Rupa Goswami Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15)

In the beginning there must be faith, born of good fortune (sukriti). Then one becomes interested in associating with pure devotees. Thereafter, one is initiated by the spiritual master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service. Thereafter one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sadhana-bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually, emotions intensify, and finally, there is an awakening of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Krsna consciousness (Cc. M 9.14-15).


Sridhar Maharaj: ''First is sukrti, ajnata-sukrti. Then jnata-sukrti. Then sraddha, then sadhu-sanga, then bhajan, anartha nivritti, ruci, bhava-bhakti, prema-bhakti, sneha. In this way, by gradation. First ajnata- sukrti, the energy spent for Krsna consciousness unknowingly—that will be the first foundation. Next, somewhat knowingly, some contribution may come for Krsna consciousness. Then that will raise me to the plane of sraddha, (faith). I shall search for the Krsna conscious people and mix with them and help them and have association of them. And then next, I shall find a Guru in Krsna consciousness. And then I shall continue my bhajana, my sadhana (spiritual practice), under his guidance. And then the anartha (faults, separate interest), will disappear and I shall get proper attraction, real pure attraction for Krsna consciousness. And gradually I shall go up. These are the stages, from the lowest to be traced. The sastra (scriptures) have given in this way.''