]aiva DharmaChapfer 1The Living Enfifies' EfernaI ReIigion and his TransifionaI ReIi-gions DufiesJambudvipa is ilc woiilicsi planci in ilc solai sysicm.llaiai vcisa (India) is ilc cloiccsi land on caiil.Gauda-mandala,oi lcngal is spiiiiually ilc mosi cmincni piovincc in India,and Navadvipadlama is ilc cicsi-jcwcl ol lcngal.In onc coinci ol Navadvipa, on ilc lanls ol llagiiaili Ganga,cicinally slining in a spiiiiual splcndoui piospcis ilc icgion ol Godiuma.Tlc woody bowcis ol Godiuma lad in ilc pasi piovidcd placcs ol spiiiiual iciicais io many clcvaicd and sainily souls.Piadyumna-Kunja,a simplc mcdiiaiion coiiagc,was locaicd in ilc aiboui wlcic Sii suiabli,in ilc loaiy pasi and mcdiiaicd and woislipcd Loid Gau-ianga Sundaia wiilin lci lcaii Loid Gauianga Sundaia.Tlc picscni occupani ol ilis coiiagc,Sii Picmadas Paiamlaimsa labaji Mala-saya,is a silsa-disciplc (a disciplc wlo las icccivcd spiiiiual insiiuciions) ol Sii Piadyumna lialmacaii,wlo is an cicinal associaic ol ilc Supicmc Loid (blagavaia paisada).Paiamlaimsa labaji passcs lis days in ilc ccsiacy ol claniing ilc loly namc coniinuously.labaji Malaiaja is an ciudiic sclolai laving mas-icicd all ilc bianclcs ol plilosoply and ilc dillcicni sciip-iuics.Hc closc Godiuma as lis placc ol mcdiaiion wiil ilc lnowl-cdgc ilai ii is,accoiding io spiiiiual conclusions an cxaci icplica ol Nandagiama (ol Viaja).His daily iouiinc compiiscd ol claniing a minimum ol iwo lundicd ilousand namcs ol God,lumbly ollciing innumciablc piosiiaicd obcisanccs io all ilc Vaisnavas.Hc wcni and bcgging loi lis lood, a liiilc liom cacl lousc ol ilc cowlcid mcn iill lc lad sullicicni loi ilc day.Tlc cxiia iimc lc lad alici ilcsc daily cloics lc cloosc ncvci io wasic in villagc piaiilcs.Hc icad aloudPicma-vivaiia'wiiiicn by Siila Jagadananda Pandiia,an cicinal associaic ol Loid Caiia-nya,lis cycs biimming wiil icais ol cxuliaiion.Daily on ilcsc occasions,ilc sainily dcvoiccs liom ilc nciglbouiing coi iagcs cagcily gailcicd aiound Picmadasa labaji io lcai lim icad.And wly noi ' liisily Picma-Vivaiia' a icxi saiuiaicd wiil spiiiiual mcllows oi iasa, and bcsidcs, labaji Malaiajas mcllilluous voicc was so iousing ii douscd ilc llamcs ol maiciial misciy in ilc lcaiis ol ilc congicgaicd dcvoiccs.Onc alicinoon alici complciing lis picsciibcd numbci ol iounds ol claniing ilc loly namc labaji Malaiaja sai in a small clcaiing in ilc wood,in ilc bowci callcd Sii Madlavi-malaii and bcgan io icciic liom Picma-Vivaiia'.Soon lc lcli spiiiiual cmoiions siii wiilin lis lcaii jusi ilcn a sannyasi,oi a pcison ol ilc icnounccd oidci appioaclcd lim and lcll llai bcloic lim in uiicilumiliiy and icmaincd supinc loi a concidciablc lcngil ol iimc.Ai liisi labaji Malaiaja was noi awaic ol lis picscncc sincc lc was alicady dccp in mcdiiaiion ,bui iigli alici lc camc oui ol lis mcdiiaiion lc noiiccd ilai a sannyasi,lay bcloic lim ollciing lim obcisanccs.labaji Malaiaja was ovcicomc wiil modcsiy-lc considcicd limscll lowci ilan ilc giass and so lcll on lis lands and lnccs in lioni ol ilc sannya-si.Hc ciicd oui -Ol my Loid Caiianya ! Ol Niiyananda ! lindly bc mcicilul io ilis lallcn wicicl !''labaji Malaiaja iuincd io ilc sannyasi and addicsscd lim -sii ! I am vciy low and wiiloui mcans, wly do you cmbaiiass mc so''' Tlc sannyasi siood up and iouclcd labajis lcci inio awcd icspcci and sai down.labaji Malaiaja was quicl io ollci lim a siiaw mai io sii on and limscll sai down in a coinci.Hc bcgan io spcal in a laliciing voicc, cloclcd wiil dcvoiionalscniimcnis ---Dcai Sii !low may ilis lallcn soul bc ol scivicc io you '" Tlc sannyasi pui down lis lamanda (a waici poi impcisonalisi sannyasis caiiy)and addicsscd labaji Malaiaja wiil loldcd lands. "Rcspccicd masici ! I am vciy unloiiunaic ! I lavc iloiouglly siudicd ilc six bianclcs ol plilosoply (Sanllya,paianjala, Vaisc-sila,Nyaya, Uiaia and puiva Himanisa) Vcdas, Vcdania, ilc upani-slads wlilc icsiding in loly placcs ol pilgiimagcs lilc Vaianasi. I lavc spcni a good numbci ol ycais in sciious dcbaics on ilc dillcicni conclusions ol ilc sciipiuics. Ioi ilc lasi iwclvc ycais I acccpicd iniiiaiion inio ilc sannyasi oidci liom Siila Saccidanada Saiasvaii. Alici my iniiiaiion I iiavcllcd widcly io all ilc placcs ol pilgiimagc, always associaiing wiil oilci sannyasis wlo aic in ilc linc ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya. I lavc giadu-aicd ilc liisi ilicc lcvcls ol ilc icnounccd oidci namcly Kuiicala, laludala, Hamsa, I aiiaincd ilc linal siagc ol sannyasi, ilc Paiaamlansa lcvcl, loi somciimc. In Vaianasi I acccpicd ilc vow ol silcncc and dccply conicmplaicd on ilc icacl-ings ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya, wlo compicsscd ilc csscnsc ol lis plilosoply in ilc siaicmcnis ol ilc vcdas calling ilcm malava-lya oi gicai sayings. Tlcsc wcic ---alam bialmasmi, piajnanam bialma, iai ivamasi cic. Onc day a vaisnavaa saini passcd mc by loudly singing ilc gloiious pasiimcs ol Loid Haii. I opcncd my cycs and saw icais cascading down lis clccls soaling lim and lis body ciupicd wiil goosc llcsl.In a iapiuincd voicc lc loudly sang ---Sii Kisna Caiianya piablu Niiyananda ! and danccd wiil loli-ciing sicps, and somciimcs lc iiippcd and lcll io ilc giound. Tlc sigli ol lim and lis song siiiicd up sucl unlnown cmoiions wiilin mc ilai I lind ii impossiblc io dcsciibc ilis cxpciicncc io you. Alilougl cciiain dccp lcclings wcic iouclcd wiilin mc,bui in oidci io mainiain my posiiion ol icspcci as a Paiamlansa I could noi mcci lim. O wlai slamc ! Iic on my posiiion ol icspcci ! slamc on my lucl ! yci a siiangc iling lappcncd :I do ni lnow ilc icason,bui liom ilai momcni my mind bccamc aiiiacicd io Loid Caiianyas loius lcci. Laici I anxionsly scaiclcd loi ilai vais-nava saini, bui wiiloui succcss. I clcaily pciccivcd ilai by sccing ilis vaisnava saini and lcaiing Gods namc clanicd by lim, ilc puic joy I cxpciicnccd, I lavc ncvci cvci lcli bcloic. I would lavc ncvci bclicvcd ilai sucl inicnsc bliss is availablc io ilc luman bcings. I pondcicd on ilis subjcci loi a lcw days and linally concludcd ilai ilc bcsi iling loi mc is io ialc slclici ai ilc lcci ol a Vaisnava. I lcli Vaianasi and wcni io Vindavana-dlama. I saw many vaisnavas ilcic. Tlcy wcic icpcaiing ilc namcs ol Sii Rupa,Sii Sanaiana, Sii Jiva Goswami wiil lccl-ings ol scpciaiion and soiiow. Tlcy wcic absoibcd in mcdiiaiion on ilc pasiimcs ol Sii Radla and lisna. Tlcn ilcy mcniioncd ilc namc ol Navadvipadlam a and immcdiaicly wcni inio ccsiacy and bcgan iolling in ilc dusi. My dcsiic io scc Navadvipa incicascd in gicai mcasuics. I liisi ciicumambulaicd ilc lundicd and sixiy cigli squaic-milc aica ol Viaja dlama and aiiivcd in Mayapuia a lcw days ago. In Mayapuia I lcaid youi piaiscs and so I lavc comc io lind slclici ai youi lcci. Kindly bcsiow youi mcicy on mc and acccpi mc as youi scivani, ilis will malc my lilc woiily and complcic." labaji Malaiaja iool a siiaw bciwccn lis iccil, ilus cxlibiiing gicai lumiliiy and wiil a clocling voicc lc said "My dcai sii ol ilc icnounccd oidci, I am a usclcss soul. I lavc spoilcd my lilc iiying only io lill my bclly, gci cnougl slccp and iall ol iiivialiiics. I lavc ialcn slclici ol ilis land wlcic Loid lisna Caiianya las pciloimcd His many pasiimcs and low so mc passing my days. Unloiiunaicly, I do noi undcisiand by pcicipi-cncc ilc naiuic ol spiiiiual lovc ol Godlcad, lisna. You aic iiuly loiiunaic ! lccausc you wcic bcncdicicd by sccing a ical Vaisnava.Tlis gianicd you, cvcn ilougl ii was loi a momcni only, ilc divinc iclisl ol lisna picma. Indccd you aic a icccpicni ol Sii lisna Caiianyas mcicy. I will icmain cvci giaiclul il in youi momcni ol ccsiacy ol lovc ol Godlcad you can icmcmbci a lallcn wicicl lilc mc wiil londncss." labaji Malaiaja wcni ovci io ilc sannyasi and waimly cmbiaccd lim and slowcicd lim wiil icais ol joy siicaming down lis cycs. Tlc sannyasi Tlaluia cxpc-iicnccd incllablc cxuliaiion liom a Vaisnava's ioucl. Hc bcgan io ciy and dancc. Wlilc dancing lc sang a cloius"(Jai) Sii lisna Caiianya Sii Piablu Niiyananda (Jai) Picmadasa guiu, jai blajan ananda."(All gloiics io Loid lisna Caiianya, Loid Niiyananda piablu, my spiiiiual masici Picmadasa labaji and ilc bliss ol claniing ilc loly namc). Alici a long iimc ol singing and dancing Sannyasi Tlaluia com-poscd limscll and sai down. Sannyasi Tlaluia and labaji Malaiaja siaiicd cxclanging vicws. labaji Malaiaja spolc wiil lumiliiy --"O gicai sagc ! Plcasc spcnd a lcw days lcic in Piadyumna Kunja and puiily mc by youi associaiion."Sannyasi Tlaluia icplicd ---"I suiicndci my lilc and body io you. Wly a lcw days,I piay ilai I may spcnd ilc icsi ol lilc lcic in sciving you."Sannyasi Tlaluia is wcll vciscd in all ilc sciipiuics. Hc lnows only ioo wcll ilai onc musi siay in ilc guius asliam (guiulula) and icccivc spiiii-ual insiiuciion. Hcncc lc siaycd on Piadyumna-lunja, Onc day labaji Malaiaja addicsscd lim ---O gicai onc ! Sii Piadyumna lialmacaii (my spiiiiual masici) las slown gicai compassion iowaids mc and gianicd mc sanciuaiy ai lis lcci. Picscnily lc icsidcs in a icmoic scciion ol Navadvipa in ilc villagc ol Sii Dcvapalli: lc is inicnscly absoibcd in woislipping Loid Nisimla-dcva. Lci us visii lim ioday alici wc lavc complcicd madlulaii, oi maling oui iounds collcciing lood liom dooi io dooi. Tlai alicinoon ilcy ciosscd ilc Ganga and aiiivcd in Sii Dcvapal-li. As ilcy camc down ilc Suiyaiila mound ilcy saw Sii Piadyumna lialmacaii insidc ilc Sii Nisimladcva icmplc. Siill ai a dis-iancc, labaji Malaiaja piosiiaicd limscll on ilc giound ollciing obcisanccs io lis guiu. Sii lialmacaii Tlaluia movcd by icndci allcciion camc oui ol ilc icmplc io giai lim and lilicd lim up wiil boil lands, and lovingly claspcd lim io limscll. Hc cnquiicd aboui labaji Malaiaja's wcll bcing. Tlcy sai down and discusscd spiiiiual iopics ai lcngil. Hc iuincd io Sannyasi Tlaluia and gavc a lull iniioduciion aboui lim io lialmacaii Tlaluia. lialma-caii Tlaluia addicsscd lim allcciionaicly ---My dcai son ! you lavc lound ilc piopci spiiiiual masici. Now iiy io siudy sinccic-ly Picma-viiaiia liom ilc ablc Picmadasa labaji ." Kiba vipia, liba nyasi, sudia lcna naya yci lisna iaiiva- vciia sci guiu laya."(c.c.Madlya S/127)Iollowing lis guius cxamplc Sannyasi Tlaluia ollcicd Sii lialma-caii Tlaluia, wlo was ilus lis giand spiiiiul masici, oi Paiama-guiu, piosiiaicd obcisanccs and lumbly icplicd. Dcai Masici ! you aic an cicinal associaic (paisada) ol Loid Caiianya, youi compassionaic glancc can puiily many ilousands ol sannyasi lilc mc, so I bcg loi youi lindncss.Sannyasi Tlaluia lad ncvci loimally lcaini ilc ways ol Vaisnava ciiquciic bcloic. Hc lccnly obscivcd ilc dcalings bciwccn lis guiu and lis paiamaguiu and icalising ilai ilis was ilc siandaid bclavioi bcgan io unicsciv-cdly cmulaic ii. labaji Malaiaja and Sannyasi Tlaluia siaycd loi ilc cvcning woislip, oi Sandlya aiaii and iciuincd io Godiuma. Days passcd quiclly : Sannyasi Tlaluia lcli an uigc io asl labaji Malaiaja cciiain plilosoplical qucsiions. Lxccpi loi ilc vaisna-va aiiiic, Sannyasa Tlaluia lad all ilc oilci disiinguisling lcaiuics ol a dcvoicc. Hc lad alicady dcvclopcd qualiiics lilc sama (cquanimiiy), dama (scnsc coniiol) , bialma-nisila (unwavci-ing commiiimcni io ilc absoluic iiuil)cic. Iiom bialma nisila bcgins io spioui ilc aiiaclmcni loi ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiys divinc pasiimcs. Concuiicni io ilis qualiiy dcvclopcd giadually ilc lcclings ol lumiliiy and mcclncss. Onc day ai suniisc, labaji Malaiaja laving complcicd lis monning abluiions sai in ilc calm ol madlavi-mandapa giovc and bcgan io clani ilc loly namc on ilc iulasi mala (iosaiy madc ol iulasi). Hc was dccply mcdiiaiing on ilc dawn pasiimcs ol ilc Divinc Couplc: a iimc wlcn Tlcii amoious cxclangcs in ilc lovc giovcs ol Vindavan aic aboui io cnd. Inccssani icais siicamcd down lis clccls. Hc bccamc iianslixcd in lis spccilic dcvoiional lumoui ilai was immancni ol lis oiiginal spiiiiual idcniiiy. In lis mcdiiaiion lc cxccuicd lis dcsignaicd dcvoiional duiics sclcdulcd loi ilc dawn pasiimcs ol ilc Divinc Couplc in Tlcii iiansccndcn-ial abodc. Awaicncss ol lis body and ilc suiiounding pl cnopmcnal woild bcgan io ladc away. Sannyasi Tlaluia,ai liisi waicling liom a poliic disiancc, camc ncaici io labaji Malaiaja and bcgan closcly obsciving wiil awcsiiucl wondci ilc ccsiaiic sympioms mainlcsi on labajis pcison. Siill in dccp mcdiiaiion labaji Malaiaja callcd oui---"Ol: salli! quiclly quicicn ilai lag monlcy Kalllal, slc will disiuib my dcai Siimaii Radlaiani and Sii Govindas blisslul slccp. Il Tlcy walc up Laliia salli will bc vciy upsci and slc will suicly clasiisc mc.Lool ovci ilcic ! Ananga-manjaii is maling signs io ilai cllcci. You aic Ramana-manjaii, and you lavc bccn givcn ilis duiy, you slould cxccuic ii consciniiously." labaji Malaiaja spolc ilcsc woids and lcll down in an ccsiaiic swoon. Sannyasi Tlaluia icaliscd ilai ilc woids wcic addicsscd io lim. Iiom ilai momcni lc undcisiood wlai was lis oiiginal spiiiiual idcniiiy (siddla-dcla) and lis spccilic dcvoiional scivicc. Hc picpaicd limscll loi lis ncw dcvoiional assignmcnis. Dawn was spicading acioss ilc casicin loiizon.Tlc sun pccpcd oui bailcd in moining gloiy. liids cliipcd ilcii gicciings and a ligli bicczc caiiicd ilcii songs lai. Tlc sunligli diapcd ilc bcauiilul bowci ol Madlavi mandapa in iis llaming glow. Naiuic bluslcd wiil piisiivc pulcliiiudc. labaji Malaiaja, siiiing on a siiaw mai was slowly coming bacl io ilc picscni liom lis mcdiia-iion. Hc bcgan io quicily clani on lis mala. Taling ilis oppoi-iunc momcni Sannyasi Tlaluia piosiiaicd bcloic lim and ollcicd obcisanccs. Wiil lands loldcd in lumblc submission Sannyasi Tlaluia sai up and addicsscd labaji Malaiaja ---" Dcai Masici ! Youi pooi sciviioi would lilc io asl a qucsiion. Kindly cmbalm lis iaging mind wiil ilc answci. Lci youi woids inlusc ilc divinc lunou ol Viaja wiilin my lcaii iciiibly scaicd by llamcs ol monism and impcisonal lialman. " labaji Malaiaja -- You aic a lii candidaic. I will iiy my bcsi io answci any qucsiion you lavc.Sannyasi Tlaluia -- Dcai Masici! I lavc always lcaid woids in piaisc ol icligion wlcicvci. I wcni and cvciywlcic, I aslcd pcoplc wlai is icligion Tlc sad iiuil is ilai all ilc answcis vaiicd,wcic dillcicni and conllicicd wiil inio ilc icsi. Tlcic-loic I would lilc io lnow liom you - "Wlai is man's icligious duiy' Wly do ilc dillcicni icligious icaclcis picacl ilcii vci-sion as bcing ilc iiuc icligion' Il ilcic is onc icligion ilcn wly aic ilc numcious icligious sialwanis noi lollowing ilai singlc spiiiiual pail ' labaji Malaiaja quicily woislippcd Loid Caiianyas loius lcci in lis mind and bcgan lis dissciiaiion. ---"O loiiunaic onc ! lisicn aiicniivcly, I will cxplain io you wlai is iiuc icligion. Tlc inlcicni and pcimancni naiuic, oi claiaciciisiic ol any Subsiancc is iis cicinal icligion, oi dlaima. Tlc claiaciciisiics ol a subsiancc is dcsigncd accoiding io iis siiuciuic, oi malc up. ly ilc mcicy ol Loid lisna wlcn a subsiancc is biougli inio cxisi-cncc, a pcimancni claiaciciisiic always accompanics ii. Tlai naiuic, oi claiaciciisiic is ilc subsianccs cicinal icligion, oi dlaima. Duc io cciiain ciicumsianccs oi duc io coniaci wiil anoilci subsiancc, ilc oiiginal subsianccs claiacici bccomcs iiansloimcd, oi clangcd. Wiil iimc wlcn ilis iiansloimcd claiac-iciisiic bccomcs liim ii assumcs ilc posiiion ol a pcimancni companion io ilc associaic subsiancc, mucl lilc iis own cicinal and immancni naiuic. lui ilis ncw claiaciciic is noi iis inlci-cni naiuic --ii is dclincd as nisaiga, oi a condiiion wlicl sccms naiuial. Nisaiga usuips ilc posiiion ol ilc inlcicni naiuic and aiiogaics as bcing cicinal. Lci us ialc ilc subsiancc waici as cxamplc. Liquidiiy is iis inlcicni naiuic. Wlcn waici licczcs io icc solidiiy bccomcs iis assumcd naiuic oi nisaiga ! Nisaiga is a icmpoiaiy condiiion. lccausc ii is biougli aboui by a caialysi oi agcni and wlcn ilc agcni is icmovcd ii also disap-pcais. lui inlcicni naiuic is cicinal---cvcn wlcn ilc subsiancc gocs iliougl clangcs ii icmains inscpaiably iogcilci, olicn laicni wiilin ilc clangcd subsiancc and in iimc and by ilc lc loicc ol ciicumsianccs is ablc io icasscii iiscll. Tlc subsianccs inlcicni naiuic is iis cicinal icligion oi niiyadlaima ! Tlc subsianccs nisaiga, oi assumcd naiuic is iis icmpoiaiy lunciioning. Onc wlo lnows wlai is vasiu, oi ilc absoluic icaliiy, is ablc io disciiminaic bciwccn cicinal spiiii-ual aciiviiy and impcimancni icligious pciloimanccs. Wiiloui ilis lnowlcdgc a pcison will conlusc ilc cicinal wiil ilc icmpoiaiy. Sannyasi Tlaluia: -wlai is ilc mcaning ol vasiu',and wlai is ilc dcliniiion ol svablava ! 'labaji Malaiaja: -Tlc sansliiia woidvasiu' is a dciivaiivc ol ilc iooi woid vas,'conjugaicd wiil ilc sullixiu'.Tlis mcans anyiling ilai cxisis oi can bc pcicicvcd is callcd Vasiu'.Vasiu'is ol iwo linds -vasiava-vasiu'and avasiava-vasiu'.Vasiava-vasiu'is iianscndcnial iiuil, oi ical subsiancc. Avasiava-vasiu is a maiciial objcci posscssing incii qualiiics. Vasiava-vasius cxisicncc is a icaliiy. Avasiava-vasius cxisi-cncc is a maiici ol pciccpiion.Tlis pciccpiion is ai iimcs accu-iaic and ai oilci iimcs a lallucinaiion : Tlc siaicmcni ol Siimad llagavaiam, 1:1:2---vcdyam vasiavamaiia vasiu sivadam asscivci-aics ilai vasiava vasiu dccisivcly dcnoics spiiiiual, oi iian-sccndcnial iiuil.Tlc Supicmc pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad alonc is ilai vasiava vasiu. Jiva is a liaciional paii ol ilai vasiu, and maya is lis cncigy. Tlcicloic vasiu mcans ilc Supicmc Loid, His cncigy and jiva all ilicc piinciplcs iogcilci. Piopci compiclcnsion ol ilcii iclaiionslip wiil cacl oilci is iiuc lnowlcdgc. Tlcic aic many dillcicni conccpiions aboui ilcsc ilicc piinciplcs bui all ol ilcm aic mundanc. In Vaiscsila sclool ol ilougli aigumcnis on subsiancc and numciicals aic bascd cniiicly on avasiava vasiu. Tlc spccilic aiiiibuics ol vasiava-vasiu:loims iis iniiinsic na-iuic. Jiva is a vasiava vasiu, lis naiuic ilcicloic is lis pcimancni, inlcicni claiaciciisiic. Sannyasa Tlaluia --Masici ! I would lilc io lavc a bciici giasp on ilis subjcci. labaji Malaiaja--- Siila Kisnadas Kaviiaja is a vciy clcvaicd saini wlo las icccivcd ilc diicci mcicy ol Loid Niiyananda.Hc oncc slowcd mc a landwiiiicn manusciipi.Tlc bool's namc was Sii Caiianya caiiamiia' and in ii appcais Loid Caiianya's dclibcia-iions on ilis iopic--- Jivcia svaiupa laya lisncia niiya dasaKi-sncia iaiasila salii blcda blcda pialasa/ lisna bluli sci/jiva anadi/baliimulla / aiacva maya iaic dcya samsaia-dullla. (C.C.Madlya 20/10S,117).(Ii is ilc living cniiiics consiiiuiional posiiion io bc an cicinal scivani ol Kisna bccausc lc is ilc maiginal cncigy ol Kisna and a manilcsiaiion simuliancously onc and dillcicni liom ilc Loid. Ioigciiing Kisna,ilc living cniiiy las bccn aiiiacicd by ilc cxicinal lcaiuic liom iimc immcmoiial. Tlcicloic ilc illusoiy cncigy maya] givcs lim all linds ol misciy in lis maiciial cxisicncc.)Loid Kisna is wlolly and absoluicly spiiiiual.To dcsciibc Him ,many pcisons usc ilc analogy wlcic lc icpicscnis ilc only sun ol ilc spiiiiual woild,Jiva is mcicly a paiiiclc ol His iays and innumciablc.To usc ilccompaiison ol a iocl,wlicl is a minuic paii ol a giganiic mouniain,as a paiallcl io dcsciibc Jiva wlo is an in liniicssimal paii and paiccl ol Loid Kisna,will bc inaccuiaic.lccausc ilc counilcss millions ol Jiva wlo cmii oui ol ilc Supicmc Loid lisna docs noi in anyway allcci oi diminisl ilc absoluic wlolcncss ol ilc Loid.Tlcicloic ilc vcdas lavc pui loiwaid ilc analogy ol ilc liic io icpicscni ilc Supicmc Loid and iis iiny spails aic ilc Jivas.Tlc ical laci is ilai no compaiison is iiuly appiopiiaic.Wlcilci jiva isdcsciibcd as ilc iiny spail liom a conllagaiaiion,a minuic paiiiclc ol iay ol ilc sun, oi a spccl ol gold liom ilc minc-nonc ol ilcsc compaiisons aic siiil-ing oi iound all pcilcci.lui il onc can ovcilool ilc mundanc conccpis in ilcsc analogics ilcn ilc aciual iiuil aboui jiva will laciliiy ciysiallisc.Loid Kisna is ilc inliniic spiiiiual sub-siancc wlilc jiva is His inliniicsimal paii-also a spiiiiual subsiancc.loil Loid lisna and jiva aic qualiiaiivcly samc ---bcing ol ilc samc spiiiiual naiuic, bui in sizc ilc Supicmc Loid is ilc complcic wlolc wlilc jiva is His paii only, ilcicloic dispaiiiy bciwccn ilcm is a pcimancni lcaiuic ol ilcii naiuic. Supicmc Loid lisna is jiva's cicinal masici and jiva is His cicinal scivani ---ilis ilcn is ilcii claiaciciic iclaiionslip. Loid lisna is ilc all aiiiaciivc pcison diawing ilc jivas io Him. Kisna is ilc Supicmc Coniiollci and jiva is cicinally coniollcd by Him. Kisna is ilc Scci wlilc jiva is bcing sccn. Loid lisna is absoluic, jiva is incomplcic and iiny.Kisna is omnipoicni and jiva is impoicni. Tlcicloic ii is naiuial loi jiva io bc cicinal-ly subscivicni io lisna, and ilis is also lis iniiinsic naiuic---lis dlaima'. Loid lisna is ilc posscssoi ol unlimiicd cncigics; in ilc maiici ol manilcsiing ilc spiiiiual woild ilc Loid displays His lull blown inicinal poicncy similaily in cicaiing ilc jivas Hc cxlib-iis anoilci ol His cncigics, namcly ilc maiginal cncigy, oi iaiasila salii. Tlc woil ol oiganising ilis impcilcci maiciial cosmos is caiiicd oui by a spccilic cncigy ol ilc Loid ---ilis cncigy is lnown as iaiasila salii, oi maiginal poicncy. Tlc mcilod in wlicl iailasia salii acis is ilai ii cicaics a sub-siancc wlicl can iniciaci wiil boil ilc maiciial and ilc spiiiiu-al naiuics. ly naiuic, maiciial cncigy is diamciiically opposiic io spiiiiual cncigy and ilcicloic ilcy aic incompaiiblc. Jiva is a spiiiiual spail---a pioduci ol ilc spiiiiual naiuic, yci bui ilc inllucncc ol divinc cncigy lc is ablc io iclaic io ilis mundanc cncigy. Tlai divinc cncigy is callcd iaiasila salii.Taiaiclla, oi ilc maigin linc lics bciwccn ilc iivci waici and ilc banl, lcncc ii is boil waici and land,bcing siiuaicd wlcic ilc iwo mcci. Sincc ilc divinc cncigy is siiuaicd on ilc maigin ii ialcs on ilc claiaciciisiics ol boil ilc land and ilc waici ---onc icccpiaclc bui wiil iwo naiuics. As mcniioncd cailici, jiva is ol ilc spiiiiual naiuic, bui consiiiuiionally lc is madc in a way ilai malcs lim pionc io always comc undci ilc away ol ilc maiciial cncigy. Tlus jiva cannoi bc lilcncd io ilc puic spiiiiual naiuic wlicl is iiansccndcnial io, and bcyond ilc icacl ol maiciial naiuics inllucncc. Yci jiva, wlo is spiiiiual cannoi bc caicgoiiscd as maiciil. lccausc jiva is a dillcicni conccpi liom boil maiici and spiiii lc is dcsignaicd as ilc jiva piinci-plc. In ilis icspcci onc musi acccpi ilc cxisiing cicinal dispai-iiy bciwccn ilc Supicmc Loid and jiva. Tlc Supicmc Loid is ilc masici and coniiollci ol maya': mcaning maya' is lully subscivicni io ilc will ol ilc Supicmc Loid. Jiva is coniiol pionc io maya's inllucncc: ai any iimc lc can bc loiccd io submii io maya's diciaics. Tlcicloic ilc Supicmc Loid,jiva and maya, all ilcsc ilicc piinciplcs aic spiiiiual icaliiics and aic cicinal. Amongsi ilcm ilc Supicmc Loid, wlo is dcsciibcd in ilc vcdas as ----niiyo niiyonam', is dcclaicd as ilc uliimaic cicinal causc ol all ilicc piinciplcs. Consiiiui- ionally jiva is lisnas cicinal scivani and ilc cmblcm ol ilc Loids maiginal poicncy. Iiom ilis analysis ol lacis wc can concludc ilai jiva is simuliancously onc wiil, and dillcicni liom ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Jiva is subscivicni io maya', wlilc ilc Supicmc Loid is ilc coniiollci olmaya'in ilis icspcci ilcic cxisis an cicinal dillcicncc bciwccn jiva and God.Jiva's oiiginal naiuic is spiiiiual, Jusi as ilc Supicmc Godlcad is iniiinsically spiiiiual.Jiva is onc ol ilc Supicmc Loid's divinc cncigics. Ii is loi ilis icason ilai jiva and ilc Supicmc Loid aic considcicd non-dillcicni. Tlc laci is ilai jiva and ilc Supicmc Loid aic simulianously samc and dillcicni.In sucl cascs ilc conccpi ol cicinal dispaiiiy is picpondciani. Sciviioislip io lisna is jiva's cicinal icligion. Wlcn jiva loigcis ilis iiuil lc is cnslavcd by maya', liom ilai momcni on jiva iuins away liom lisna--- lc icjccis Him. Iiom ilc iimc jiva comcs inio ilis maiciial woild lc las alicady icjccicd lisna, and so ilcic aic no lisioiical siaicmcnis iccoiding lis lall down. Tlis iiuil jusii-lics ilc usc ol ilc pliasc ---anadi baliimulla'(cicinally iuincd away liom ilc spiiiiual icalm).Tlc insiani jiva icjccis lisna and cmbiaccs maiciial cxisicncc lis cicinal icligion bccomcs pcivciicd. In coniaci wiil maya'lc dcvclops a mundanc naiuic (nisaiga) wlicl pavcs ilc way loi naimiiiila dlaima',oi impcimancni icligious pciloimanccs.Niiya dlaima,oicicinal icligious duiics is only onc ol iis lind-- ii cannoi bc iniciiupicd and ii is llawlcss.Naimiiiila dlaima'is dcsciibcd in vaiious ways by pcoplc as appcaiing in many dillci-cni loims and condiiions.Abiupily Paiamlamsa labaji Malaiaja lcll silcni and bcgan io clani on lis bcads.Sannyasi Tlaluia was lccnly lisicning iliougloui ilc discussion and now laving ollcicd lis piosiiaicd obcisanccs io labaji Malaiaja said-Masici ! Today I will mcdiiaic on youi csoiciic icaclings and iciuin iomoiiow wiil wlaicvci quciics I lavc and picscni ilcm ai youi loius lcci'.Chapfer 2]iva's EfernaI ReIigion is pure and Ever-Exisfing Ncxi moining Sannyasi Tlaluia lound labaji Malaiaja absoibcd in iclisling ilc spiiiiual lumoui ol Viaja Vindavana and so lc did noi appioacl lim wiil lis quciics.Laici ilai alicinoon laving linislcd ilcii mcal consisiing ol lood collccicd liom bcggings (madlulaii)ilcy wcic siiiing in ilc slady bowcis ol Sii Madlavi-Malaii.labaji Malaiaja in lis bcnign mannci bcgan io spcal-O my good dcvoicc ! Wlai conclusion did you aiiivc ai alici lcaiing ilc dclibciaiions on icligion'.Sannyasi Tlaluia was insianily joylul and wiiloui luiilci vaccilaiion lc cnquiicd -Dcai Masici ! il,as you said ilai Jiva is inliniicsimal in siaiuic,ilcn low can lis cicinal icligious duiics bc absoluic and puic ' Il jiva's icligion is complimcniaiy io lis sizc ilcn low can ilai icligion bc cvci cxiani-impciislablc '''labaji Malaiaja lcaid ilcsc qucsiions quicily.Hc mcdiiaicd on Loid Caiianya's loius lcci and wiil a gcnilc smilc on lis lips lc bcgan io spcal -Dcai sii ! Lvcn ilougl jiva is inliniicsimal lis icligion is absoluic,puic and cvci cxisicni.His iiny siaiuic is mcicly a claiaciciisiic ol jiva.Tlc only inliniic cniiiy is ilc Supicmc lialman,oi Loid Kisna.Tlc counilcss jivasaic His minuic paii and paiccl.Jusi as small spails ciacllc oui ol ilc big llamc similaily ilc jivas lavc cmanaicd liom ilc absoluic indivisiblc Supicmc Loid, Kisna.Lacl spail posscsscs ilc samc liciy aiiiibuics ol ilc llamc,in lilc mannci cvciy jiva is capa-blc ol manilcsiing ilc samc absoluic cxccllcnccs ol ilc Supicmc lialman.A singlc spail in coniaci wiil an inllamniblc objcci can igniic inio a iaging conllagaiaiion wlicl can consumc ilc cniiic woild, giving piool ol iis awcsomc poicniial;similaily wlcn jiva aiiains ilc uliimaic objcciivc-- ol divinc lovc ol-Loid Sii Kisna,lc can inundaic ilc cniiic univcisc wiil lovc ol Godlcad.As long as jiva is unablc io inici-iclaic wiil ilc iiuc objcc-iivc ol lis oiiginal spiiiiual naiuic,oi lis iiuc icligion, ilc inliniicsimal jiva appcais incapciiaicd.Tlc iiuil is ilai ical icligion comcs io ligli only by coniaci wiil ii's uliimaic souicc.Tiy io iloiouglly icscaicl inio ilc iiuil aboui jiva's cicinal icligion.Dcvoiion,oi divinc lovc is jiva's cicinal icli-gion.Jiva is nonmaiciial,-mcaning lc is ol iiansccndcnial sub-siancc.Hc is madc up ol spiiiiual consciousncss and loving dcvo-iion is lis iniiinsic aiiiibuic.Unalloycd sciviioislip io Kisna is ilc puicsi manilcsiaiion ol divinc lovc.Tlcicloic ilc oiiginal and cicinal icligion ol jiva is loving dcvoiional suiicndci io Loid Kisna.Jiva cxpciicnccs iwo dillcicni condiiions-ilc siaic ol puic consciousncss and ilc siaic ol maiciial consciousncss (oi bcing impiisoncd bymaya' ).In ilc siaic ol puic consciousncss (suddlavasila)jiva is wlolly spiiiiual ;lc is ilcn licc liom all maiciial aiiaclmcnis and coniaci.lui cvcn in lis puic siaic jiva icmains inliniicsimal.Ii is solcly bccausc ol lis minuic siaiuic ilai ii is possiblc loi lim io clangc lis siaiion. Tlc inliniic and absoluic Supicmc Pcison, lisna, by His vciy naiuic, ncvci clangcs His divinc posiiion, oi siaiion. Indccd Hc is Inliniic, absoluicly wlolc, puic and loicvci cxiani.Wnilc jiva by lis consiiiuiion is inliniicsimal, paiiial, is capablc ol bccoming coniamninaicd and is an incxpciicnccd upsiaii. Yci jiva's inlci-cni naiuic and qualiiy is ilc samc as ilai ol ilc Supicmc, namcly ----inli-niic,complcic, puic and cicinal. Il jiva icmains uncom-ianinaicd lc mainiains, and pcilccily mainlcsis lis iniiinsic qualiiics, oi oiiginal naiuic. lui wlcn lc colabiis wiil ilc illusoiy cncigy, oi maya lis oiiginal naiuic bccomcs disioiicd inio bcing coniaminaicd, upiooicd and a pailciic iaigci inviiing ilc wiail ol ilc dualiiics ol maiciial naiuic. Jiva bccomcs cnianglcd in maiciial lilc as soon as lc loigcis lis posiiion as a scivani ol lisna.As long as jiva is undclilcd lc can ialc piidc in lis oiiginal idcniiiy ---as an cicinal scivani ol Loid lisna. Wlcn maya's coniaci coniaminaics lim ilis piidc, oi scll lnowlcdgc coniiacis and ialcs on dillcicni manilcsiaiions, lis oiiginal idcniiiy bccomcs slioudcd by a gioss and a subilc body. His subilc body now acccpis a scpciaic idcniiiy. Tlis ncw idcniiiy ilcn amalga-maics wiil ilc gioss body and iiansloims inio a iliid idcniiiy. Tlc jiva in lis puic siaic posscsscs a singulai idcniiiy--- scivani ol lisna. lui in lis subilc body jiva aiiogaics as ilc cnjoyci ol ilc icsulis ol lis aciions. Ai ilis junciuic jiva's oiiginal puic cgo as lisna's scivani bccomcs covcicd ovci by lis subilc body's lalsc cgo.Iuiilci, wlcn jiva acquiics lis gioss body lc is illusioncd inio idcniilying wiil lis many maiciial condiiions:--- a bialmana, a ling, iicl, pooi, sicl, lcalily, sullciing, a wilc, a lusband cic.Tlcsc lalsc idcniiiics givc a abciiaicd impicssion ol jiva's oiiginal consciousncss. Unalloycd spiiiiual lovc ol God is ilc puic jiva's iiuc and oiiginal icligion. Wlcn pcivciicd, ilis spiiiiual lovc mainlcsi in ilc subilc body as mundanc cmoiions ol lappincss and soiiow, lovc and laic cic. Again in ilc gioss body ilc pcivcision inicnsilics and displays iiscll in ilc slapc ol maiciial scnsc giaiilicaiion and oilci aciiviiics loi scll pics-civaiion sucl as caiing diinling cic. Jiva's cicinal icligion linds cxpicssion only in lis puic siaic ol consciousncss. Tlc icligion,oi naiuic ilai asscii ilcmsclvcs in lis conianinaicd siaic is a quasi pcimancni icligion, oi naimiiiila dlaima'.Wc lnow ilai niiya-dlaima' oi cicinal icligion is absoluic, puic and cvci-cxisicni. I will cxplain naimiiiila dlaima' anoilci day in dciail. Tlc piinciplcs ol vaisnava icligion mcniioncd in ilc sciipiuic, Siimad llagavaiam is lnown as niiya dlaima'. All ilc collcciivc icligions ol ilc woild can bc bioadly gioupcd inio ilicc caicgo-iics:---niiya-dlaima', naimiiiila dlaima, and aniiya dlaima, oi impcimancni icligion.A icligion ilai dcnics ilc cxisicncc ol God clusing io discuss aboui Him and docs noi acccpi ilai ilc soul is cicinal is callcd aniiya-dlaima' (impcimancni icligion). Tlc icligion wlicl bclicvcs in ilc cicinaliiy ol boil God and ilc soul bui picsciibcs mundanc and iiansicni mcilods loi aiiaining ilc giacc ol God is dcsciibcd as naimiiiila dlaima:Niiya-dlaima,' oi cicinal icligion piomulgaics ilc applicaiion ol puic dcvoiional scivicc on ilc plailoim ol lovc ol Godlcad io aclicvc ilc uliimaic dcsiinaiion ol bccoming an cicinal scivani ol Loid lisna. Niiya dlaima' is givcn vaiious appcllaiivcs accoiding io dillcicni couniiics, iaccs,languagcs,yci ii is onc and supci cxccllcni. Tlc bcsi cxamplc ol Niiya-dlaima' is Vais-navism wlicl is widcly piaciicccd in India. Tlc spiiiiual icacl-ings piopagaicd by oui bclovcd Loid Sii Caiianya io ilc cniiic woild is indccd ilc puicsi siaic ol Vaisnavism, ilcicloic ilc puic dcvoiccs wlo divinc in spiiiiual iclislcs, wlolc lcaiicdly cmbiacc His insiiuciions". Ai ilis junciuic Sannyasa Tlaluia, spolc wiil loldcd palms---Dcai masici, I am ablc io icalisc ai cvciy momcni ilc incompaiablc cxccllcncc ol ilc puic Vaisnavism picaclcd by Loid Sii Caiianya.I am also pcicciving ilc inadcquacy in ilc pliloso-ply ol monism piopoundcd by Sii Sanlaiacaiya.Yci a qucsiion lccps nagging mc wlicl I cannoi lccp bacl liom asling you. ---Loid Sii Caiianya cmbodicd and cxlibiicd ilc pinnaclc ol spiiiiual lovc, is ilis condiiion any dillcicni liom ilc siagc ol libciaiion aiiaincd in monism ''Paiamlamsa labaji piosiiaicd limscll icspccilully ai ilc mcniion ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya's namc. Hc said---my dcai sii always icmcm-bci ilis vcisc : sanlaialsanlaial salsad." (Sii Sanlaiacaiya is Loid Siva limscll) Sii Sanlaia is ilc spiiiiual picccpioi ol ilc Vaisnavas and so Loid Caiianya acclaimcd lim as an acaiya', Sii Sanlaiacaiya is an clcvaicd vaisnava. India, ai ilc iimc ol lis appcaiancc, giavcly icquiicd a guna-avaiaia (an cmpowcicd incai-naiion ol Godlcad cmbodying onc ol ilc ilicc gunas, oi maiciial modcs) ol lis siaiuic.India ai ilc iimc lad piaciically givcn up ilc culiivaiion and siudics ol ilc Vcdas,ilc piaciicc ol vaina-asiama dlaima' all duc io ilc spicad ol luddlism and ilc plilosoply ol voidism. Voidism is anoilci appcllaiivc loi ailcism. luddlism docs cvci so sliglily acquicscc ilc piinciplc ol ilc cicinal spiiii soul bui siill ilc icligion icmains an impcimancni icligion oi aniiya dlaima'. Tlosc days ilc bialmana's lad all bui loisalcn ilc vcdic icligion and convciicd io luddlism. Aimcd wiil supci luman powcis Sii Sanlaiacaiya appcaicd ai ilis lisioiic momcni and icinsiaicd ilc piisiinc gloiy ol ilc Vcdas and modilicd voidism io bialman-ism, oi monism. Tlis was a spcciaculai aclicvcmcni, and India will icmain always indcbicd io Sii Sanlaiacaiya.Woils in ilc woild can bc judgcd by iwo siandaids. Somc woils aic spccilic io a paiiiculai iimc (iailalila) and oilcis aic loi all iimcs (saivalalila) Siipad Sanlaiacaiya's aclicvcmcni bclong io ilc liisi caicgoiy ol woils i.c.iailalila'. A gicai dcal ol good icsulicd liom ii. Sii Sanlaia laid a liim loundaiion on wlicl laici Sii Ramanujacaiya and Madlvacaiya consiiucicd ilc spiawling cdilicc ol puic vaisnava plilosoply. Tlcicloic Sii Sanlaiacaiya is onc ol ilc gicaicsi wcll wislcis and pasi ioicl bcaici ol ilc Vaisnava icligion.Tlc spiiiiual guidclincs Sii Sanlaia las givcn ilc vaisnavas aci as bcacons on ilcii pail io piogicss. Sambandlajnana'(lnowlcdgc ol ilc cicinal iclaiionslip bciwccn jiva, pialiii and blagavan) is absoluicly csscniial loi ilc condiiioncd jivas. ilc Vaisnavas and Sii Sanlaiacaiya unanimously bclicvc ilai spiiiiual subsiancc is dillcicni and iiansccndcnial io boil ilc body and gioss bodics ol ilis maiciial naiuic. loil ilc paiiics aic ol ilc samc opinion icgaiding ilc piinciplc ol jiva. Tlcy also agicc ilai libciaiion mcans io givc up onc's aiiaclmcnis ol ilc maiciial woild Upio ilc siagc ol mulii, oi libciaiion, ilc Vaisnavas concui wiil Sii Sanlaiacaiya on many plilosoplical poinis Sii Sanlaiacaiya also iaugli ilai onc's consciousncss is puiilicd by woislipping ilc Supicmc Loid Haii alici wlicl mulii', oi libcia-iion is aiiaincd.Wlcic Sii Sanlaia icmains silcni is iclusing io commcni on ilc wondcilul spiiiiual icalisaiions ol ilc jiva alici lc acquiics mulii'. Sii Sanlaiacaiya was conlidcni, lnowing wcll ilai oncc ilc jivas wcic sci on ilc pail ol libciaiion wlicl was aiiainablc by woislipping Supicmc Haii, ilcy would giadually dcvclop iasic and aiiaclmcni loi dcvoiional scivicc and uliimaicly bccomc puic dcvoiccs ol ilc Loid. Hcncc, Sii Sanlaiacaiya alici plainly indicaiing ilc piopci way did noi luiilci dclvc on ilc csoiciic aspccis ol Vaisnava plilosoply. Tlosc wlo lavc sciuiinizingly siudicd ilc commcniaiics ol Sii Sanlaiacaiya can compiclcnd ilcii undcilying bui piolound quinicsscncc. Wlilc ilosc wlo dclibciaic only on ilc cxicinal and supcilicial aspccis ol lis icaclings aic divciicd liom ilc vaisnava pail.Vciwcd liom a spccilic siancc monisiic libciaiion and unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc (picma) osicnsibly lavc somcilings in common. A compicsscd cxplanaiion aboui monisiic libciaiion will only compound in ligl ligliing ilc dillcicnccs bciwccn picma and iiscll. Iiisi onc musi piopcily analysc ilc subjcci ol picma. Picma can bc simply dclincd as ilc piinciplc, oi cmoiional lumoui ilai involcs naiuial aiiiaciion bciwccn iwo spiiiiual subsianccs loi cacl oilci. Ii is lowcvci impciaiivcin picma ilai ilc iwo spiiiiual subsianccs mainiain scpciaic, individual idcniiiics. Tlai lumoui wlicl cicinally diaws all ilc spiiiiual objccis io lisna is callcd lisna picma'.Loid lisna is cicinally siiuaicd in His singulaily uniquc posi-iion and ilc jiva's individual idcniiiy in an cicinally sciving mood iowaids Him is ilc absoluic axiomaiic piinciplc, oi ilc cicinally scll-pcilccicd piinciplc in ilc plilosoply ol picma. Tlicc siaiuscs, oi modaliiics namcly: asvadala (iclislci),asvadya (ilc objcci ol iclisl) and asvadana (ilc aci ol iclisling) aic inlcicni in picma. In ilc cxclangcs ol picma', oi divinc lovc, il ilc asvadala (ilc iclislci) and asvadya (ilc objcci ol iclisl) wcic io mcigc ilcn picma' cannoi bc niiya siddla', oi cicinally scll-pcilccicd iiuil. Il ilc puic siaic ol a spiiiiual subsiancc wlicl is uniainicd by any maiciial coniaci bc dcsciibcd as monis-iic libciaiion, oi advaiia siddli (pcilcciion in nonduclism) ilcn picma and monisiic pcilcciion aic ilc samc. lui ilc conicmpoiaiy sclolais ol ilc Sanlaiacaiya sclool ol ilougli aic noi conicni wiil jusi acccpiing advaiia siddli oi pcilcciion in monisiic ilougli io bc a spccilic siagc in ilc gamui ol spiiiiual pcilcc-iions. On ilc coniiaiy ilcy vociloiously aiiogaic ilai advaiia siddli' is ilc uliimaic goal ol spiiiiual icalisaiion, ilus ilcy misconsiiuc ilc vcdic iiuil. Tlis abciiaiion ol lacis undcimincs ilc qualiiy ol cicinaliiy ol picma' lcncc ilc vaisnavas lavc concludcd ilai ilis plilosoply is unvcdic. Siipad Sanlaiacaiya dcsciibcd ilc conccpi ol advai-ia' oi nondualism as a spccilic condiiion ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil wlcn Ii is in a siaic ol puic iiansccndcncc. Unloiiunaicly lis loolisl lollowcis aic unablc io giasp ilc csoiciic impoii ol ilis plilosoply and in ilc pioccss ilcy aic dcnigiaiing lis icpuia-iion. Dcsciibing ilai ilc iiansccndcnial condiiions ol puic divinc lovc (picma) aic illusoiy oi maya' ilcy aic picacling a mosi dcgiacicd plilosoply in ilc woild wlicl gocs by ilc namc ol mayavada plilosoply'. Tlc lollowcis ol ilis plilosoply ---ilc mayavadis'caicgoiically dcny ilc cxisicncc ol moic ilan onc spiiiiual subsiancc. Tlcy cvcn iclusc io acccpi ilai ilc spiiiiual clcmcni ol picma'is in-iiinsic io ilc spiiiiual subsiancc. Tlcii ilcoiy is ilai as long as lialman (ilc nondual iiansccndcnial iiuil) icmains singlc lc is iiansccndcnial io maya', oi maiciial naiuic. Wlcn lc acccpis a loim and bccomcs a jiva, lc acquiics divcisc slapcs and is alllicicd by maya. Tlcicloic ilcy considci ilc cicinal, puic and absoluicly spiiiiual body (oi diciy) as maya, oi illusoiy. Tlcy cvcn insisi ilai ilc jiva's scpciaic and individual idcniiiy is illusoiy, and so picma' and ilc iiansccndcnial iiansloimaiions ol picma appcai illusoiy. Tlc obvious lollow up on ilis is ilai wiil lclp ol ilis logic ilcy csiablisl ilai advaiia jnana' oi monism is licc ol illusion. Tlcii misinicipicicd vcision ol advaiia siddli and picma' aic plilosoplically polcs a paii. Loid Caiianya's insiiuciions on ilc pioccss ol iclisling picma', oi loving dcvoiional scivicc and His icaclings in gcncial cxcm-plilicd by His own claiacici and pasiimcs aic all absoluic and iiansccndcnial ---ilcy cmbody ilc acmc ol pcilcciion, ilc liglcsi siagc ol advaiia siddli. Malablava' oi ilc pinnaclc ol blava (loving spiiiiual cmoiions) is an ccsiaiic iiansloimaiion ol unalloycd picma. Onc cxpciicnccs cxiicmc, divinc cxuliaiion in loving lisna. Tlcicloic ilc scpciaic and iniiinsic siiiiings ol sublimc cmoiious in cacl iclislci and ilc objcci ol iclisl, and ilc iniimaic iclaiionslip bciwccn ilcm acquiics an cxiiaoidinaiy and wondcilul picscnsc.Tlc inconscqucniial mayavada plilosoply is ilcicloic incpi io coniiibuic anyiling ai any siagc ol picma'. Sannyasa Tlaluia (vciy icspccilully) --Dcai masici ! now I am lully convinccd ilai ilis mayavadi' plilosoply is indccd loosc and lccblc. ly youi mcicy all my doubis lavc bccn dissipaicd. I am lccling a siiong uigc io insianily discaid my mayavadi Sannya-si appaicl. labaji Malaiaja Dcai sii ! My advicc in ilis icgaid is onc musi bc dispassionaic aboui ilc ouici dicss--- no aiiaclmcni, no laic. Wlcn ilc lcaii and consciousncss insidc bccomcs puiilicd ilc ouici gaimcni is auiomaiically clcanscd. Wlcn mucl siicss is laid on giooming ilc cxicinal lools and dicss ilc disciplining ol consciousncss wiilin is ncglccicd. My opinion is ilai alici on is clcanscd liom wiilin and is ilcn inspiicd io conduci limscll compiising ol ilc oilci sainily dcvoiccs, lis cxicinal appcaiancc lilc dicss and so on, aic icmovcd ol blcmislcs. Jusi wlolly suiicndci youiscll io ilc idcals ol Loid Caiianya and ilcn wlai-cvci cxicinal aciiviiics inspiic you, youcan cxccuic ilcm wiil ilc piopci consciousncss. Always icmcmbci ilc lollowing insiiuc-iion ol Sii Caiianya Malapiablu."Mailaia-vaiiagya na laia lola dcllaiyna/ yailayogya visaya blunja anasalia laiyna/ aniaic nisila laia,balyc lola-Vyavalaia aciiai lisna iomaya laiibc uddlaia."(C.C.Madlya cl.16.Tcxi 23S-9)"You slould noi malc youiscll a slowboiilc dcvoicc and bccomc a lalsc icnunciani. Ioi ilc iimc bcing cnjoy ilc maiciial woild in a bcliiiing way and do noi bccomc aiiaclcd io ii. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu coniinucd:--wiilin youi lcaii you slould lccp youi-scll vciy laiillul, bui cxicinally you may bclavc lilc an oidi-naiy man. Tlus lisna will soon bc vciy plcascd and dclivci you liom ilc cluiclcs ol maya".Sannyasi Tlaluia undcisiood ilc impoii ol wlai labaji Malaiaja said and icliaincd liom luiilci mcniioning ilc subjcci ol clang-ing ilc dicss. Wiil loldcd lands lc addicsscd labaji Malaia-ja---"Dcai masici, I lavc suiicndcicd myscll ai youi lcci as youi disciplc, ilcicloic wlaicvci insiiuciions you givc mc I will acccpi ilcm wiiloui aigumcni. Alici lisicning io youi icaclings I lavc icaliscd ilai /puic lovc ol Godlcad alonc lovc is Vaisnava icligion. Tlis indccd is jiva's cicinal icligious piinciplc. lui ilc laci is ilai dillcicni couniiics piaciicc dillcicni icli-gions, lcncc low slould I ilinl aboui ilcm'labaji Malaiaja---" My dcai sii, icligion is onc and noi many.Jiva las only onc icligion and ilai is lnown as ilc Vaisnava icligion. Rcligion may appcai io bc dillcicni accoiding io ilc vaiious languagcs, couniiics and iaccs ! Tlis onc icligion ol ilc jiva is iclciicd io wiil many namcs by pcoplc, bui no onc can cicaic anoilci ncw icligion. Tlc unblcmislcd piisiinc lovc ilc minuic paiiiclc ol spiiiiual subsiancc las loi ilc Supicmc abso-luic wlolc is dclincd as jiva's icligion. Tlc jivas posscss a vaiiciy ol labiis and naiuial iiaiis wlicl lcm lis icligious piaciiccs wiil cciiain maiciial conloimiiics ilus maling icli-gion appcai icliacicd. Tlcicloic io dillcicniiaic ii liom a siaic ol abciiaiion and biing inio locus ii's piisiinc siandaids jiva's iiuc icligion las bccn namcd Vaisnava dlaima. To ilc dcgicc vaisnava dlaima' piaciiccs aic picscni in oilci icligions, io ilai dcgicc, ilai icligion is considcicd puic.A lcw days ago in Vindavan I lad lumbly placcd a qucsiion io Siila Sanaiana Gosvami, wlo is an cicinal and conlidcniial asso-ciaic ol ilc Supicmc Loid. My quciy was : is ilc conccpi olaisl an aiabic woid in Islam icligion, ilc samc as picma'----oi is ilcic any dillcicncc ' Siila Gosvami is an ciudiic sclolai wcll vciscd in all sciipiuics and cspccially lis piolicicncy in aiabic is asiounding. Many oilci accomplislcd savanis lilc Siila Rupa Gosvami, Siila Jiva Gosvami wcic also picscni in ilai asscmbly. I icpioducc Siila Sanaiana Gosvami woids.--- "Ycs ilc woid aisl' is indccd mcaning picma'. Tlc muslims usc ilis icim cvcn in woislipping God, lui gcncially ii implics mundanc lovc allaiis. Dcsciipiion ol aisl' and ilc cmoiions ii convcys in ilc sioiy ol Laila Majnu' and in ilc loly Halcz givcs us ilc impicssion ilai ilc muslim icligious sclolais wcic unablc io giasp wlai is puic iiansccndcncc. Tlcy lavc iclcicd io plysi-cal aiiiaciion as wcll as plaionic lovc as aisl' oi picma. Tlcy lavc lailcd io pciccivc noi only ilc puic spiiiiual subsiancc bui also ilc iiuil aboui jiva's sponiancous and spoilcss lovc loi Kisna. I lavc ncvci comc acioss in any ol ilcii icligious icxis, discussions on divinc lovc. Tlc spiiiiual cmoiion ol picma' is conspicuously picscni in ilc Vaisnava icligion alonc.Tlc muslim conccpi ol iu' is noi ilc samc as ilc puic spiiii soul,inlaci I gci ilc impicssion ilai iu' moic closcly dcsciibcs ilc condiiioncd soul. Knowlcdgc ol puic lovc ol Godlcad,Kisna is missing in all ilc oilci icligious liiciaiuics. Tlc Vaisnava icligious icxi Siimad llagavaiam dclincaics in dciail ilis puic, sublimc lovc ol Kisna --- a lovc, sloin ol all dcccii and ca-piicc. I am vciy suic ilai piioi io Loid Caiianya no onc las cvci iaugli ilc scicncc ol puic lovc ol Godlcad,Kisna, as cxlausiivcly as Hc las donc. Il my woids inspiic laiil and dcvoiion in you ilcn wlolclcaiicdly subsciibc io ilis plilosoply." Alici I lcaid Siila Sanaiana Gosvami's insiiuciions I lad ollcicd lim my ic-pcaicd obcisanccs. Sannyasi Tlaluia was iiuly movcd by ilcsc insiiuciions, lc immcdiaicly lcll ai lis lcci and ollcicd obci-sanccs io labaji Malaiaja.Paiamlamsa labaji ---My dcai dcvoicc, I am aboui io icply youi sccond qucsiion. Plcasc lcai aiicniivcly. Sansliiia icims lilc jivasisii'(cicaiion oi biiil ol jiva), jivagailam'(jiva's maiciial loim, oi ilc loiming ol lis body) cic. aic uscd in a mundanc scnsc. Maiciial woids cling io mundanc lccling and im-picssions. Maiciial iimc, wiilin ilis illusoiy cncigy, las ilicc condiiions: -- pasi,picscni and luiuic. Timc in ilc spiiiiual woild las a singulai aspcci -- ii is always in ilc picscni; pasi and luiuic aic ioially abscni. Tlc jiva and ilc Supicmc Loid Kisna cxisi in ilai spiiiiual iimc.Hcncc jiva is cicinal and indcsiiuciablc and lis icligion ----Kisna picma,oi lovc ol Kisna is also cvci picscni. Tlc mundanc condiiions ol biiil, giowil,dccay cic inllucnccd by maiciial iimc lavc bccn impuicd on jiva alici lis impiisonmcni in ilis maiciial woild.Jiva's minia-iuic sizc docs noi divcsi lim ol lis iniiinsic naiuic ol bcing iiansccndcnial and indcsiiuciiblc.Jiva's maiciial loim is alicady dcicimincd cvcn bcloic lc cnicis ilis maiciial cncigy. Wlaicvci cxisis in ilc spiiiiual woild icmains always ilc samc bccausc divisions ol pasi and luiuic aic abscni.Jiva and lis icligion aic boil cicinally picscni and indcsiiucii-blc. Alilougl I am clucidaiing ilcsc iopics bui you can lailom ilcii mcanings only io ilc cxicni ol youi icalisaiion ol ilc spiiiiual naiuic. I am jusi giving indicaiions,you musi pciccivc ilcii puipoii in dccp mcdiiaiion. Mundanc logic and aigumcnis will noi cnablc you io piopcily compiclcnd ilcsc subjccis. As mucl as onc can cxiiicaic lis powci ol pciccpicncc liom pciplcx-iiics ol maiciial cniliallmcni io ilai dcgicc lc is cnliglicncd aboui ilc spiiiiual woild. Iiisi onc musi icpcaicdly cndcavoui io pciccivc lis oiiginal spiiiiual idcniiiy and clani Kisna's namc puicly ilcn lis iiuc naiuic will bcgin io piomincnily asscii iiscll.Onc's spiiiiual pciccpicncc cannoi bc loncd by ilc pioccsscs ol ciilci mysiic yoga oi cmpiiical lnowlcdgc.Diicci dcvoiional scivicc io Kisna alonc can icawalcn ilc pcilcciion ol icligion inlcicni wiilin onc. Simply clani lisna's loly namc wiil lull cnilusiasm. Clani-ing alonc is io bc considcicd puic dcvoiional scivicc. Alici-claniing icgulaily loi a pciiod ol iimc you will cxpciicncc a wondcilul aiiiaciion loi ilc Loid's namc. As a concomiiani io ilis aiiiaciion comcs ilc giadual icalisaiion ol onc's spiiiiual naiuic. Ol all ilc limbs ol dcvoiion, claniing is ilc clicl and ollcis quicl icsulis. Siila lisna dasa Kaviiaja las wiiiicn a wondcilul bool wlcic lc las iccoidcd Loid Caiianya's insiiuc-iions---llajancia madlyc sicsila nava-vidla blaliilisna-picma', lisna diic dlaic mala-salii iaia madlyc saivasicsila nama samliiiana niiapaiadlc nama lailc paya picmadlana' (C.C.Aniya cl.+.Tcxi 70-71)O lcaincd onc ! (Among ilc ways ol cxccuiing dcvoiional scivicc, ilc ninc picsciibcd mcilods aic bcsi,loi ilcsc pioccsscs lavc gicai poicncy io dclivci Kisna and ccsiaiic lovc loi Him. Ol ilc ninc pioccsscs ol dcvoiional scivicc, ilc mosi impoiiani is io always clani ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid. Il onc docs so avoiding ilc icn linds ol ollcnccs,onc vciy casily obiains ilc mosi valu-ablc lovc ol Godlcad) il you slould asl mc---wlo is a Vaisnava' my answci is simply--- onc wlo clanis lisna's namcs puicly is a vaisnava. Vaisnavas aic ol ilicc iypcs, namcly: lanisila (nco-plyic), madl yama (inicimcdiaic), and uiiama (mosi advanccd). Onc wlo occasionally clani's lisna's namcs is a lanisila vaisnava. Oncwlo consianily clanis lisna's namcs is a madlyama vaisnava. An uiiam vaisnava is lc wlo by lis vciy appcaiancc inspiics oilcis wlo scc lim io sponiancously clani lisna's namcs. Accoid-ing io ilc icaclings ol Loid Caiianya onc musi siiicily go by ilcsc sympioms io dcsciibc a Vaisnava's lcvcl. Incibiiaicd by labaji's ncciaican insiiuciions Sannyasi Tlaluia bcgan io sing---laic lisna laic lisna lisna lisna laic laic: laic iama laic iama iama iama laic laic' and gcnily awaycd io and lio in a siaicly dancc. Hc immcdiaicly icaliscd ilai lc was acquiiing a sublimc iasic loi claniing ilc loly namc. Hc lcll ai lis guiu's loius lcci and piaycd ---"O divinc masici ! plcasc bc mcicilul unio ilis lowly wicicl."

Chapfer 3TransifionaI reIigious dufies are IncompIefe, Pedesfrian, Impure and EvanescenfIi was onc o'clocl in ilc nigli and Sannyasi Tlaluia was in dccp mcdiiaiion claniing ilc loly namc. Hc suddcnly wallcd oui inio ilc silly nigli and slowly climbcd io ilc iop ol an clcvaiion siiuaicd wlcic ilc woods ol Godiuma cnds. Hc bcgan pcciing io-waids ilc noiil. Tlc lullmoon ai ilc zcniil was waving iis magic wand wiil iis iay's.All aiound ilc giounds and Navadvipa glowcd in silvci gloiy.Ncsilcd noi so lai away, Mayapuia aiicsicd lis aiicniion. Sannyasi Tlaluia cxpcllcd lis bicail and cxclaimcd ---Aloy! ilcic, I can scc a wondious and blisslul dlama.'Laigc mansions, icmplcs and aiclways, all consiiucicd wiil piccious gcms coiioscuiaiing wiil magniliccncc las sci a glow ilc sloics ol ilc pcacclully llowing jalnavi, Ganga. Tlc icsounding swcll ol congicgaiional singing ol ilc loly namc liom scvcial quaicis iosc up io ilc saiin sly and liciccly piciccd ii. Tlousands ol dcvo-iccs wcic playing on ilc Vccna lilc Sii Naiada and swiiling aboui in a siaicly dancc. Oll io onc sidc ilc clicl ol ilc dcmigods Sii Maladcva, wliic as a lily, was playing on lis dumbuiu, dancing wildly and singing ---O my dcai Visvamblaia (Caiianya) ! bc mcicylul io mc'! Hc lcpi lalling io ilc giound in ccsiacy. In anoilci coinci Loid lialma was addicssing an augusi asscmbly ol Vcdic sagcs and cxplaining io ilcm ilc puipoii ol ilis vcdic vcisc.---Malan-piablui-vai puiusal saiivasyaisal piavaiialal suniimalami-mam piapiimisano jyoiiivyayal". (Svci. Up. 3:12)(Tlis Pcisonaliiy musi bc ilc Supicmc Coniiollci, lcncc ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Caiianya Malapiablu. Hc is ilc oiigin ol all inspiiaiion and iniclligcncc wiilin man. Unal-loycd pcacc can bc aiiaincd by lis mcicy alonc. Hc is immcasuia-bly cllulgcni, glowing wiila goldcn luc: Hc is inliniic, incx-lausiiblc and ilc cmbodimcni ol divinc lovc'.Anoilci aica was lclici slclici wiil aciiviiics ol jubilani and dancing dcmigods lcadcd by India, ilc King ol lcavcn. Tlcy sang-ing in loud cloius ---"Jai piablu Gauiacandia, jai niiyananda." Tlc biids siiiing on iiccs coocd in unicsiiaincd mc Clody---gauia niiai'. lumblc bccs siumblcd along amongsi ilc llowci gaidcins incibiiaicd wiil ilc ambiosia ol Loid Gauiacan-dia's swcci namc. Moilci Naiuic, cnmaddcncd by ilc dclicious ncciai ol Loid Gauiacandia's namc was bicaling oui in ilc splcn-doui ol lusl piolusion. Alas ! wlcic lidcs ilis goigcousncss wlcn I lool iowaids Mayapu-iadlam duiing ilc dayiimc' And wlai cxacily is inspiiing mc io bclold ilis sigli now '"All ilis momcni Sannyasi Tlaluia icmcmbcicd lis guiudcva and spcalcd oui aloud--O my masici !ioday I icalisc ilai you lavc blcsscd mc io picccivc ilc iiansccndcnial icalm ol Mayapuia.Today onwaids I will siiivc io picscni myscll as a dcvoicc ol Loid Caiianya.I can sccilai cvciyonc in ilc spiiiiual land ol Navadvi-pa is dccoiaicd wiil iulasi nccl-bcads,iilala mailings,and laii-nama claddais I will also lollow ilcm.As lc madc lis dccision Sannyasi Tlaluia wcni inio a blisslul iiancc.Sannyasi Tlaluia giadually calmcd limscll. Tiuc ilai lc icgaincd lis cquilibiium bui in ilc baigain ilc miiaculous vision vanislcd liom sigli Sannyasi Tlaluia biolc down ciying saying --Ol low loiiunaic I am, ilai I was ablc io scc,cvcn il loi a lcw momcnis,ilc spiiiiual abodc ol Navadvipa.'Ncxi moining Sannyasi Tlaluia lasicncd io ilc iivci and sci alloai lis mayavadi sannyasi siall down ilc siicam.Hc ilcn pui aiound lis nccl ilicc siiands ol iulsi nccl-bcads and applicd ilcuidlapundia'Vaisnava iilala mail on lis loiclcad and bcgan io dancc,singingHaii ! Haii !.Tlc Vaisnavas ol Godiumadvipa wlo saw ilc wondcilul iiansloimaiion in lis appcaiancc and dcmcanoui blcsscd lim and ilcn lcll io ilc giound io ollci lim ilcii obci-sanccs.Sccing ilis Sannyasi Tlaluia bccomc basllul and said io ilc asscmbly--How cxiia oidinaiy ! I acccpicd ilc vaisnava dicss codc solcly io aiiiaci ilc blcssings ol ilc vaisnavas,bui now I am conlionicd wiil ilis dilcma.I lavc lcaid my guin olicn icpcai ilis insiiuciion----iinad-api suniccna iaioi api salisnunaamani-na manadcna liiianiyal sada laiil.'"Onc wlo ilinls limscll lowci ilan ilc giass,wlo is moic iolciani ilan a iicc,and wlo docs noi cxpcci pcisonal lonoui bui is always picpaicd io givc all icspcci io oilcis,can vciy casily always clani ilc loly namc ol ilc Loid.''(C.C.Aniya 20/21).Sannyasi Tlaluia sciiously considcicd in lis mind : I icgaid all ilcsc Vaisnavas as my guius.Yci ilcy aic ollciing obcisanccs io mc,wlai luiuic docs my spiiiiual lilc lavc ' ' Wciglcd down wiil sucl cogiiaiion lis looisicps lcavily iicad bacl io lis guiu . Hc posiiaicd limscll bcloic Paiamlamsa labaji.labaji Malaiaja lad comc io ilc woody iciicai ol Madlavi -Mandapa io clani ilc loly namc.Hc saw wondcilul iiansloimaiions in Sanny-asi Tlaluia,boil in lis aiiiic and scniimcni.Hc siood up and cmbiaccd lis disciplc , slowciing lim wiil cascading icais and said --O my dcai Vaisnava dasa(scivani ol ilc vaisnavas) I am lccling gicai spiiiiual cxlilaiaiion by ioucling youi blcsscd body.'labaji's pionounccmcni gavc Sannyasi Tlaluia lis ncw namc . Vaisnavadasa'icplaccd lis picvious appcllaiion.Ioi Sannyasi Tlaluia ilis day uslcicd in a novcl and wondious lilc . Ii lclpcd lim io discaid ilc siigmas ol ilc mayavadi's lalsc-cgo duc io lis dcsignaiion as a Sannyasi,ii's sallion-iobcs and ilc piidc ol posscssing vasi lnowlcdgc.Laici ilai alicinoon Vaisnavas liom Navadvipadlama and Sii Godiu-ma asscmblcd in ilc Piadyumnalunja bowci io icccivc spiiiiual insiiuciions and blcssings liom Paiamlamsa labaji.Tlcy wcic paiicnily scaicd all aiound lim solily claniing ilc loly namc on ilcii iulasi-bcads.Claniing and sainily associaiion wcic laving wondcilul allcci on ilcm and spiiiiual cmoiions siaiicd wclling up insidc ilcm ilcii cycs biimmcd wiil icais and ilcy callcd oui --O my Loid Ganianga Niiyananda --Al my Loid,lusband ol Moilci Siia', --all gloiics io Sacinandana , son ol Moilci Saci'.Tlcy discusscd wiil cacl oilci Kisna conscious iopics.Somc ol ilcm ciicumambulaicd iulusi dcvi and giccicd cacl oilci wiil piosiiai-cd obcisanccs.Jusi ilcn Vaisnava dasa aiiivcd on ilc sccnc. Hc liisi ciicumambulaicd iulusi dcvi,and ilcn lcll io ilc giound iolling in ilc dusi iicad by ilc lallowcd lcci ol ilc Vaisnava sainis.Somc ol ilc scnioi Vaisnavas wlispcicd -Is lc noi ilc Sannyasi Tlaluia ! lool ai lim,wlai a miiaculous clangc !'Wlilc siill iolling on ilc giound Vaisnavadasa pciiiioncd : ioday,I am indccd cxiicmcly giaiclul io lavc icccivcd ilc Vaisna-va's loius lcci dusi. ly my guiudcva's mcicy I lavc comc io lnow lull wcll ilai loi ilc jiva, vaisnava's loius_lcci dusi is ilc only mcans io pcilcciion. Tlc puic Vaisnava's loius -lcci dusi, ilc sanciilicd waici ol lis looi-bail- lnown as caianamiia, and icmananis liom lis caiing plaic lnown as adlaiamiia aic ilc ilicc ingicdicnis ilai consiiiuics ilc docioi's picsciipiion againsi maiciial discasc (blava-ioga)as wcll as ilc picsciibcd paiicni's dici loi ii. Tlcii poicncy is noi mcicly icsiiicicd io aci duiing ailings liom ilc maiciial discasc, oi ncsciccncc bui icinloiccs cvcn onc wlo is cuicd ol ilc maiciial discasc icwaiding lim wiil ilc liglcsi bliss. My dcai Vaisnava sainis! piay do noi ilinl ilai I am maling an osicniacious cxlibiiion ol my ciudiiion, in laci my lcaii ol laic las disgoigcd ilc dcmon ol lalsc piidc. I was boin inio a bialmana lamily, siudicd all ilc dillcicni sciipiuics, linally I cnicicd ilc icnounccd oidci ol lilc. My lalsc cgo lncw no bounds. lui sincc I bccomc aiiiacicd io ilc Vaisnava plilosoply ilc sccd ol lumiliiy bccamc inplanicd in my lcaii. Now, giadually by youi giacc, I lavc cxoiciscd ilc aiio-gancc boin ol ligl lincagc, ilc picsiigc ol maiciial cducaiion and ilc vain-gloiy ilai accompanics ilc supicmc posiiion ol ilc icnounccd oidci. Tlcicloic I lavc concludcd ilai I am simply a slclicilcss inliniicsimal soul. My lilc is mcaninglcss wiiloui linding ilc sanciuaiy ol ilc Vaisnava's loius-lcci. My biiil as a bialmana,my sclolaislip and ilc icnounccd icligious oidci wcic incxloiably diagging mc inio ilc dail voiicx ol illusion. I lavc opcncd up my mind io you Vaisnavas wiiloui any capiicc,so now you aic licc io dcal wiil mc, youi scivani, in any way you dccm lii. Many ol ilc Vaisnavas alici lcaiing Vaisnavadasa's caincsi con-lcssions addicsscd lim ---O sainily soul ! Wc aic always avaii-ciously awaiiing io icccivc ilc lcci-dusi liom Vaisnavas ol youi siaiuic, lindly ollci ii io us and malc oui livcs woiilwlilc. You aic ilc icccpiaclc ol labaji Malaiaja's divinc giacc, ilus sanc-iily us by youi associaiion. Ii is siaicd in ilc lilan-naiadiya puiana----blaliisiu blagavad-blalia-sangcna paiijayaic sai-sangal piapyaic pumblil suliiail puivasanciiail."Dcvoiional scniimcnis aic cvolcd by ilc puiilying associaiion ol advanccd dcvoiccs. Tlc jiva can comc inio closc coniaci wiil a puic dcvoicc only by accuiing ilc pious icsulis ol many picvious biiils."Wc wcic ablc io aiiain youi loly associaiion only duc io oui pasi livcs accumulaicd piciy wlicl losicicd dcvoiion. And now on ilc siicngil ol youi associaiion wc aic lopclul io aclicvc puic dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Loid." Oncc ilcsc lumblc vaisnava cxclangcs amongsi cacl oilci wcic concludcd Vaisnavadasa iool lis placc io onc sidc ol ilc scaicd asscmbly and cnlanccd ii's digniiy. Tlc ncw claniing bcads and bcad-bag lc caiiicd in lis land acquiicd an auspicious auia. Tlis augusi asscmbly ilai day accounicd loi anoilci vciy loiiunaic soul in ilcii midsi. Iiom clildlood ilis pcison lad siudicd Aiabic wlicl madc lim adopi ilc mannciisms ol ilc iuling muslim nobiliiy.Tlis biougli lim posiiion and picsiigc in ilc land. A icsidcni ol Navadiipa lc bclongcd io a liglci siocl ol bialmanas inlciiiing vasi landcd piopciiy: lc lad bccomc an cxpcii in ilc aii ol diplomancy and poliiics. Ioi many ycais lc lad cxploiicd io lis own advaniagc lis posiiion ol powci and cnjoycd ii's bcncliis, bui lappincss siill cludcd lim.As a lasi icsoii lc bcgan io clani ilc loly namc. Laily in lilc, wlcn siill a young boy lc was iaugli Indian classical music by cxpcii cxponcnis liom Dclli. Tlis lc ilougli qualilicd lim io ialc lcad in liiiana' singing scssions. Alilougl ilc vaisnavas wcic noi lond ol ilc iypical palacc - couii classical ioucl in lis singing ol Kiiianas', oblivious ol ilis lc inicipolaicd ilcsc classical iuncs in liiiana in an aiicmpi io paiadc lis muscs . Hc would siaic ai ilcii laccs io iccoid ilcii icsponscs. Hc coniinucd in ilis mannci loi somc days . Quiic suddcnly onc day lc siaiicd a lccling plcasuic in singing ilc loly namc. Iinally lc iool up icsidcncc in a Vaisnavas lousc in Sii Godiuma io cnablc lim io paiiicipaic in liiiana wiil ilc vaisnavas ol Sii Navadiipa dlama.Today , lc accompanicd by lis landloid, lc io joincd ilc oilci vaisnavas in ilc woody bowcis ol Piadyumna lunja: Siiiing ilcic lc was lccnly obsciving low ilc vaisnava's bclavcd wiil lumiliiy wiil cacl oilci. Hc also aiicniivcly lisicncd io Vaisnavadasa's iall. Cciiain doubis lad wcllcd up in lis mind. Hc was alicady an cloqucni spcalci so wiiloui lcsiiaiion lc boldly addicsscd ilc asscmbly. Hc cnquiicd---"Tlc icligious sciipis ol Manu and oilci smiiis lavc dcsciibcd ilc bialmanas as ilc liglcsi class ol mcn in ilc social oidci. Tlcy lavc picsciibcd ilc claniing ol gayaiii maniia and oilci piaycis ai lcasi iliicc a day (iii-sandlya and vandana) as ilc bialmana's daily , as wcll as cicinal icligious duiics. Il ilai bc so ilcn wly aic ilc aciiviiics ol ilc Vaisna-vas opposcd io ilcsc icligious duiics'Vaisnavas aic noi lond ol dialcciics. Had ilis qucsiion bccn iaiscd by casic bialmanas wlo aic lnown io bc aigumcniaiivc, ilcy would lavc dcclincd io answci and avoid conlioniaiion. lui in ilis casc sincc ilc cnquiici was dcvoiionally inclincd and a singci ol liiiana's cvciyonc conccdcd ilai il Sii Paiamlamsa labaji an-swcicd ilc qucsiion ii would vciy mucl saiisly ilc asscmbly. labaji Malaiaja icspccilully lcaid ilc unanimous dccision ol ilc Vaisnavas. Hc liisi ollcicd piosiiaicd obcisanccs io ilc asscmbly and bcgan io spcal---dcai cxalicd vaisnavas, il you lavc no objcciions ilan lci ilc sialwaii Vaisnavadasa, iacllc ilis qucs-iion, cxlausiivcly" . Lvciyonc appiovcd ol ilis suggcsiion. Vaisnavadasa lcli vciy claicd lisicning io lis guiu's insiiuc-iions and wiil duc lumiliiy lc bcgan io dclibciaic ---I am an cxiicmcly lallcn soul in diic condiiions. Ii would bc piccocious ol mc io spcal anyiling in ilis lcaincd and augusi asscmbly, yci I cannoi couiiavcnc my guiu's command. I lavc dccidcd ilai wlai-cvci lnowlcdgc I lavc icccivcd by way ol ncciaican insiiuciions liom my guiu's loius lips I slall sinccicly siiivc io iccapuiu-laic liom mcmoiy'. Hc ilcn wallcd up io Paiamlamsa labaji and smcaicd ilc dusi liom lis loius lcci all ovci lis body and lcad. Sianding cicci lc coniinucd lis dissciiaiion ---Lci ilc Supicmc Pcisonliiy ol Godlcad Sii Kisna Caiianya wlo is ilc cmbodimcni ol divinc bliss: wlosc bodily cllulgcncc is bialman and paiamaima' oi Supcisoul . His paiiial manilcsiaiion: wlo is ilc uliimaic souisc ol all paiiial and lull blown cxpansions ol ilc absoluic Loid inspiic us wiil supciioi iniclligcncc. Rcligious bools ol Manu and sucl oilcis aic coiollaiics ol ilc Vcdas and aic lcld in ligl csiccm as ilc law bools loi ilc luman sociciy ilai dclinc auiloiiscd and unaniloiiscd aciions. Human naiuic is dividcd inio iwo siaics icgulaicd and sponiancous (vaidli and iaganuga). As long as man's consciousncss is undci ilc inllucncc ol maya', ii will indccd icmain in ilc vaidli siagc. Oncc ilc consciousncss slalcs oll ilc slallcs ol maya' ii passcs oui ol vaidli' and manilccis iis iaganuga ' naiuic . Tlc iaganuga' siaic ol consciousncss is man's oiiginal and puic condiiion---ii is in-naic, iiansccndcnial and licc liom all maiciial incibiiciics. Tlc puic spiiii soul's involvcmcni wiil maiici is dissolvcd only by Loid lisna's dcsiic: bui iill as sucl iimc Loid Kisna docs noi dcsiic ii, jiva's maiciial cnianglcmcni is mcicly in ilc pioccss ol giadually mciamosplosing iowaids cmancipaiion. In ilis condi-iion ilc jiva, wlo is alilougli by naiuic libciaicd las laciually las noi lully aiiaincd libciaiion. Wlcn jiva is aciually libciai-cd lis iagaimila'naiuic , oi puic sponiancous spiiiiual scnii-mcnis bccomc scll manilcsi as a iangiblc iiuil.Tlc icsidcnis ol ilc spiiiiual icalm ol Viaja aic by naiuic iagaimila'.Jivas wlo aic giadually siiiving iowaids cmancipaiion ialc slclici ol ilc iagaimila'naiuic and bccomc iaganugas'.Ioi ilc jiva ilis is a covcicd and cxccllcni posiiion.lccausc as long as ilis posiiion cludcs ilc jiva lis consciousncss icmains cn-giosscd in ilc illusoiy maiciial cnianglcmcni.Tlc ignoiani condi-iioncd jiva inicipicis lis maiciial aiiaclmcni wlicl is duc io closc and labiiual coniaci wiil ii as lis innaic, oiiginal pio-cliviiy. Ai ilis siagc lc las noi yci dcvclopcd sponiancous spiiiiual aiiiaciion loi ilc supia-mundansiaic. His consciousncss bccomcs dccply inplicaicd in ilc aiiiudcs ol mc' and minc in iclaiing wiil maiici. In a siaic ol consciousncss ilai diciaics---ilis is my body and I am ilis body , allcciion iowaids pcisons and objccis ilai laciliiaics luxuiy and comloii io ilis body and laic iowaids pci-sons and objccis ilai lindcis ilcsc luxuiics aic noimal icac-iions. Suclcd inio ilis wliiipool ol dualiiy ilc loolisl jiva cxpicsscs lovc oi laic on ilc plysical, social and icgulaiivc plancs. Hc disciimaics bciwccn liicnd and loc--- iiillcs ovci maiici. Unncccssaiily lc giooms allcciion loi wcalil and womcn, ilus claining lim io ilc scc-saw iouiinc ol lappcncss and dis-iicss.Tlis is lnown as samsaia, oi maiciial lilc. Aiiaclmcni io ilis wlccl ol samsaia'malcs ilc jiva iiansii iliougl dillcicni plascs ol biiil, dcail, cxpciicning ilc icsulis ol aciions, succcss and lailuic.Tlus ilc condiiioncd jiva linds spiiiiual involvcmcni a noisomc buidcn. Hc cannoi icalisc wlai in iiuil is spiiiiual lilc. Alas ! lc loigcis ilai spiiiiual aciiviiics aic lis inlcicni picoccupa-iions and cicinal naiuic. Hc bccomcs so mcismciiscd by mundanc aiiiaciion ilai alilougl lc is an inliniicsimal paaii ol ilc Supicmc Absoluic lc wiincsscs lis own disgiacc. Mosi pcoplc caugli in ilc wlccl ol samsaia' do noi considci ilis misciy an alliciion. Ioi ilc cniliallcd jiva ; wlai io spcal ol aiiaining ilc iagaimila' naiuic cvcn ilc iaganuga' naiuic is ioially alicn io lim. Somciimcs by ilc powci ol ilc sainis mcicy iaganu-ga' naiuic appcais in ilc jiva's lcaii. Tlcicloic iaganuga' naiuic is vciy iaic and almosi impossiblc io aiiain. Samsaia,oi maiciial lilc is dcpiivcd ol ilis iaic siaic ol cxisicncc. Tlc Supicmc Loid is omniscicni and Unlimiicdly bcncvolcni. Hc saw ilai ilc jiva's impiisoncd in ilc cluiclcs ol maya' wcic bcing dcpiivcd ol a diicci pciccpiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial naiuic. Tlcicloic lc considcicd ilc possiblc mcans loi ilcii uliimaic good. How can ilc jiva's mcismciiscd by maya' bcsi iccollcci ilcii losi Kisna consciousncss. Associaiion ol sainily souls cnliglicns ilc jiva's aboui ilcii ical idcniiiy ilai ol bcing Loid lisna's cicinal scivani. lui ilcic aic no spccilic iulcs loi associaiing wiil sainis, lcncc low can ii bc cxpccicd ilai ii can auiomaiically lappcn oi loi ilai maiici bc cvcn bcnclicial io oilcis il ii slould lappcn. Tlcicloic loi ilc gicaici good ol ilc pcoplc in gcncial ilc iniioduciion ol a icgulaiivc spiiiiual disciplinc (vidlimaig) bccamc impciaiivc. Tlus by ilc Supicmc Loid's bcnign giacc ilc scipiuics appcaicd: ilc biilliani sun ol sciipiuic, lailcicd by ilc Supicmc Loid limscll, las a Ciiscn in ilc cxpansivc sly lilc lcaii ol culiuic io disscminaic icligious iulcs and insiiuciions amongsi all living cniiiics. Ai ilc vciy liisi camc ilc Vcdas. Tlc Vcdas wcic oidaincd io bc dividcd in ilicc scciions : laima, oi liuiiivc aciiviiics,jnana, oi cmpiiical lnowlcdgc and blalii', oi loving dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Loid. Jivas, dcludcd by maya', aic in vaiying dcgiccs ol condiiioning. Somc aic in dccp ignoiancc, oilcis sliglily lnowl-cdgcablc, siill oilcis laiily wcll cducaicd aboui a widc iangc ol subjccis , and so on.Commcnsuiaic io ilc pcison's lcvcl ol inicl-ligcncc ilc sciipiuics lavc ollcicd lim spccilic insiiuciions. Tlis is dclincd as ilc jiva's iigli , oi cligibiliiy ( adlilaia ) . Tlis adlilaia is as numcious as ilc jivas ilcmsclvcs.Yci on ilc considciaiion ol ilcii salicni sympians ilcsc iiglis aic gioupcd in ilicc caicgoiics: laima-adlilaia, jnana-adlilaia, picma-adlilaia. Tlcsc caicgoiics aic also spccilicd in ilc Vcdas. Tlc Vcdas lavc consiiucicd ilc vaiious iulcs and icgulaiions, oi vidli, and lavc ascciiaincd ilc do's and don'i's dclining ilc paiamcicis ol ilc jiva's ilicc iiglis .Tlis vidli ii is dcsciibcd as vaidla-dlaima: oi icgulaiivc icligious piinciplcs. Tlc aiii-iudc ilai uigcs ilc jiva io cmbiacc vaidla-dlaima' is lis vaidli'naiuic, oi lovc ol disciplinc. Onc wlo is bcicli ol ilis claiaciciisiic is an uniuly, unculiuicd bcing. Tlcii lind is always plcdgcd io illicii, sinlul aciiviiics. Tlcy aic osiiaciscd by ilc Vcdas and condcmncd as mlccclas'. Tlc ilicc caicgoiics ol iiglis dcsciibcd in ilc vcdas las bccn claboiaicd upon by ilc wisc sagcs and landcd down io us as ilcsamliia 'sciipiuncs. Tlcy loim ilc vcdic coiollaiy liicia-iuics.Gicai vcdic pundiis lilc Manu las dclincaicd ilc laima-adlilaia'in iwcniy icligious iicaiisc.Tlc plilosoplcis lavc cxplaincd jnana-adlilaia'in bools dcaling wiil logic and cmpiii-cal analysis.Tlc gicai sagcs --auilois ol ilc puianas and ol ilc saiivil ianiiic iicaiisc lavc conclusivcly dclvcd on ilc piici-plcs ol blalii'and ii's piaciical applicaiion.All ilcsc liicia-iuics aic vciy mucl a paii ol ilc vcdas.Tlc young and incxpcii-cnccd plilosoplcis wlo aic siudcnis ol ilc vcdic sciipiuics olicn iuin a blind cyc io ilc vciy quinicsscncc ol all ilc vcdic sciip-iuics and insicad gci caiiicd away by a small scgmcni ol ilc vcdas . Tlcy piaisc ii in a mannci wlicl placcs ii io occupy ilc liglcsi podcsi in vcdic conclusions ilcic by luiiing many an unwaiy icscaiclci down io ilc pii ol polcmics and doubis.Tlc llagavad Giia loimulaics ilc maivcllous conclusion ol all ilcsc sciipiuics.A icscaicl inio ii icvcals ilai illaima',oi liuiiivc woil docs noi aim ai jnana',oi cmpiiical lnowlcdgc laima'is icndcicd impoicni, lii only io bc icjccicd.Similaily il boil laima'and jnana'do noi culminaic in blalii yoga',oi ilcy musi also bc discaidcd on ilc giounds ol bccoming lciciical piaciiccs.Tlcicloic ilc Vaisnava conclusion bascd on ilc vcdic icaclings is ilai laima-yoga',jnana-yoga'andblalii-yoga'aic in iiuil consiiiuic ilc samc pail olyoga;oi pioccss olspiiiiual clcvaiion.Ioi ilc condiiioncd soul ilc iniiial sicp iowaids scll-icalisaiion bcgins wiil lim ialing uplaima',oi liuiiivc woil.Laici lc is piomoicd io laima-yoga',oi ilc icnunciaiion ol liuiiivc icsulis,ilcn io jnana-yoga'and linally io dcvoiional scivicc,oi blaliiyoga !Unlcss ilc dcludcd jiva is noi poinicd oui and piopcily cxplaincd any onc ol ilcsc lcvcls lc is unablc io icacl ilc liglcsi plailoim ol ilai ol blalii-yoga'.Lxacily wlai is laima''Any cndcavoui,bc ii plysical oi mcnial,caiiicd oui io susiain lilc is laima'.Kaima'is ol iwo linds : auspicious and inauspicious.Auspiciouslaima'bcgcis auspicious icsulis.Wlilc inauspiciouslaima'biings inauspicious icsulis io ilc jiva.Anoilci namc loi inauspicious laima'is papa',(sin),oiviliama'(pcivciicd unsciipiuial aciiviiics).Absianing liom auspicious woil is alaima'.loilvilaima'and alaima'aic bad.Only auspicious woil is good.Auspicious woil is ol ilicc soiis : niiya(daily,cicinal),naimiiiila(pciiodic)andlamya'(dcsiiablc). Kamya-laima'is slamclully scllisl lcncc is considcicd plcbian.Wlcic as ilc viiiucs ol boil niiya-laima'and aic nainii-iila laima piaiscd in ilc sciipiuics.Tlc sciipiuics, alici dclib-ciaiing on wlai ilc good and bad aspccis aic , lavc concludcd ilai only niiya',naimiiiila and lamya aic in iiuil malc up laima'and indccd , noi alaima'oi vilaima'. And sincc lamya laima'las bccn icjccicd, ii bcing dispcnsiblc,ilcn only niiya-'and naimiiiila laima ically lii ilc dcsciipiions ol laima.Tlc dcliniiion ol niiya-laima'is , aciiviiics wlicl aic bcncli-cial loi ilc body,mind,communiiy and lilc-alici aic lnown as niiya-laima.Ii is cvciyonc's duiy io cxccuic ii.Wlcn an aciiviiy bcgins as a moiivaicd aciion and giadually bccomcs a icgulaicd icsponsibiliiy ii is icimcd naimiiiila-laima'.Daily iiics lilc sandlya',(claniing gayaiii iliicc a daily)vandana'(claniing ol vcdic piaycis);using iiglicous mcans io pioicci sociciy and plysical lcalil,lollowing ilc pail ol iiuil lulncss aic all considcicd niiya-laima'.Ollciing ol oblaiions and pciloiming oilcis iiics loi ilc saiislaciion ol ilc dcpaiicd souls a pu-icnis;cxccuiing pcnanccs io couniciaci sinlul icaciions and so on aic naimiiiila-laima'.To cnsuic ilai niiya and naimiiiila laima aic piopcily pciloimcd ilc compilcis ol sciipiuics lavc closcly siudicd ilc claiaciciis-iics and naiuial piopcnsiiics ol luman bcimgs,and so iowaids icaclings ilis objcciivc ilcy lavc loimulaicd a sysicm ol lilc lnown as ilc vainasiama dlaima'.Tlc csscncc ol ilis sysicm is ilai sincc ilc luman bcings aic cndowcd wiil voliiion ilcy aic gioupcd in loui caicgoiics as pci ilcii naiuic as :bialmana,lsaiiiya,vaisya,sudia.Tlc maiciial condiiions and social siaius ilcy opi loi io go iliougl lilc , aic also ol loui linds lnown as asiama;ilcy aic--bialmacaii,gialasila, vanapias-ila and sannyasa . Tlosc wlo aic addicicd io alaima and viliama aic ilc oui casics osiiaciscd liom ilc loui icligious and social oidcis ol vainasiama'sysicm. Tlc icligious oidcis oi casics aic dcicimincd by a pcison's naiuic, biiil, aciions and qualilicaiions. Wlcn ilc oidci is dccidcd by biiil alonc ilcn ilc puipoii and puiposc is dclcaicd.Tlc asiamas',oi social siaiuscs aic ascciiaincd by ilc laci wlcilci a pcison is : singlc oi unmaiiicd,maiiicd,icjccicd ilc maiiial aiiangcmcnis and siaying away liom wilc and scvcicd all woildly iics wiil lamily and liicnds.A bialmacaii is unmai-iicd;a gilasila is maiiicd and living wiil lis wilc;a vanapiasila is disinicicsicd in lamily allaiis,and a sannyasi is disgusicd wiil maiciial lilc.Tlc sannyasi asiama is cciiainly ilc mosi clcvaicd ol ilc loui.Tlc bialmana on ilc oilci land is ilc bcsi amongsi ilc loui icligious oidcis.Tlc cicsi jcwcl ol all sciipiuics--ilc Siimad llagavaiam las dcsciibcd----vainanamasiamanamca janma-blumi-anusaiinilasana pialiiayo ninam nicainii-ca-uiiamoiiamalsamo damasiapal saucal saniosal lsaniii-aijjavammad-blaliis ca daya saiyam bialma-pialiiaya-sivimal icjo balam dliiil sauiyyam iiiilsaudaiyyam-udyamal silaiiyyam bialman-yam aisvaiyam lsaiia pialiiaya-sivimal asiilyam dana-nisila ca adamblo bialma-scvanam aiusiliiaiilopacayaivaisya pialiiaya sivimal susiusanam dvijagavam dcvanam ca apy mayaya iaiia labdlc-na saniosal sudia-pialiiaya sivimal asaucamaniiam sicyam nasiil-yam susla-vigialal lamal liodlas ca iaisas ca svablavo'niyava-sayinam alimsa saiyamasicyama-lama-liodla-loblaia bluia-piiya-liicla ca dlaimo'yam saivavainilal. (S.l.Canio 11 Cl.17.icxi 15-21)Coiicsponding io ilc spccilic paii ol ilc social anaiomy ol vaina and asiama a man appcais in,lis ligl oi low piopcnsiiics aic loimcd.Tlc loins and lcgs aic ilc lowci anoiomy,ilc sudia vaina and gilasila-asiama aic pioduccd liom lcic,lcncc ilc sudia vaina and gilasila-asiama aic alllicicd wiil a lowly naiuic. Tlc bialminical claiaciciisiics aic :--iianquiliiy,scll-coniiol, ausiciiiy,puiiiy,always saiislicd,loigiving,simpliciiy,dcvoicd io God,paincd ai oilcis sullciing,iiuillul.Tlc lsaiiiya's naiuic is: ---valouious, siiong, paiicni, undauni-cd, iolciani, noblc, cnilusiasiic, siablc, wcalily.Tlc vaisya's sympioms aic:-laiil in God,claiiiablc,siiaigli loiwaidncss, sciving ilc bialmanas, acumcn in landling maiici and moncy.Tlc sudia's qualiiics aic:-io scivc wiiloui dcccii ilc dcmigods bialmanas,and cows;io bc saiislicd liom ilc incomc obiaincd liom sucl scivicc.Tlc claiaciciisiics ol ilosc wlo aic ouicasics aic as lollows : impuic,uniiuillul,disloncsi,agnosiic,quaiiclsomc,lusiy,angiy,giccdy loi maiciial ilings.Tlc piinciplcs ilai musi bc cmulaicd by all icligious and social oidcis aic ol non-violcncc,iiuillulncss,loncsiy ; liccdom liom lusi, angci and gicc; cndcaiing all living cniilics and bcncvo-lcni io cvciyonc."I icliain liom iianslaiing ilcsc slolas sincc I am in an augusi asscmbly ol dcvoiccs and all ol you aic ablc io compiclcnd iis impoiis. I simply wani io gci onc poini acioss ilai ilc sysicm ol vaina and asiama is ilc loundaiion on wlicl a civilizcd sociciy can siand.To ilc dcgicc ilc vainasiama sysicm is noi in piaciicc in a paiiiculai couniiy iiicligiosiiy is piomincni ilcic io ilai cxicni. Lci us now analysc ilc iwo icims --niiya-laima' and naimiiiila-laima'. A dccp piobc inio ilc csscncc ol ilc sciip-iuics icvcal ilai ilcsc iwo icims iclaiing io laima' aic ncvci iclciicd io in a puicly spiiiiual scnsc bui only as a piop oi a sccondaiy mcans. Lxpicssions lilc ---niiya-dlaima', (cicinal icligion) niiya-laima'(cicinal unmoiivaicd spiiiiual duiics), niiya-iaiiva' (cicinal spiiiiual piinciplc) niiya-saiya' (cicinal iiuil) aic uscd only io dcsciibc jivas puic and iian-sccndcnial siaic ol consciousncss and cannoi bc uscd loi anyoilci puiposc . Tlc usc ol ilc icim niiya' picviously was io dcnoic a iypc ol liuiiivc aciiviiy .Ii bccamc ncccssaiy so as io givc somconc in maiciial lilc an incling inio ilc cndlcssncss ol ciciniiy and ilc absoluic. Kaima, oi liuiiivc aciion , can ncvci bc cicinal. Only wlcn laima', by ilc pioccss ol laima-yoga'(icnunciaiion ol icsulis) , sccls oui jnana (cmpiiical icscaicl loi ilc iiuil) and jnana' in iuin sublimaics io blalii' (dcvoiional scivicc) can laima' and jnana' bc dcsciibcd as niiya', bui solcly in a liguiaiivc mannci. Tlc bialmana's sandlya-vandana' las ilcicloic bccn icimcd niiya-laima' only bccausc ilcsc plysical and psycli-cal aciiviiics diiccis onc liom a baclwaid posiiion iowaids puic dcvoiion, oi blalii, Sincc blalii' is ilc cicinal icligion and any pail, siaiiing liom wlaicvci baclwaid poini lclps io idcniily ii , may also bc callcd niiya' oi cicinal .Tlougl in iiuil ii is noi cicinal. Tlis is lnown as ilc upacaia ', oi bcing insiiumcn-ial. Puiposclul icvciwing will icvcal ilai as lai as ilc jiva is conccincd culiivaiing unalloycd lovc loi Loid Kisna is ilc only niiya-laima, oi cicinal aciiviiy. Tlc appiopiiaic icim loi ilis is cid-anusilana', oi icscacling inio ilc Absoluic Spiiiiual bcing . Any piaciicc ilai can bc picsscd inio usc in oidci io aclicvc ilis objcciivc is an inicimcdiaiy ol niiya-laima' (cicinal spiiiiual duiics). Hcncc il loi ilis icason ii was givcn ilc appcllaiion niiya' ii is noi a misialc. In a pcdaniic scnsc ii is bciici io dcsciibc ii as naimiiiila' iailci ilan niiya'. Kaima' oi liuiiivc aciiviiy including ii's iwo divisions--niiya', and naimiiiila' is mcicly a mcans and noi an absoluic piinciplc. Tlc analysis ol iiuil asscivciaics ilai scaicling loi ilc abso-luic iiansccndcnial icaliiy is ilc only cicinal icligion (niiyad-laima) ol ilc jiva, all oilci icligious aic naimiiiila'(pciiodic oi icmpoiaiy). Vainasiamadlaima', asianga-yoga (pail ol cigli lold mysiic yoga) sanllya (spcculaiivc and dcduciivc lnowlcdgc) iapasya (ansiciiiy) aic all naimiiiila'. Hypoilciically il jiva was noi in a condiiioncd siaic, cncagcd in maiici , ilcn all ilcsc icligious piaciiccs would lavc bccn icndcicd icdundani . In laci jivas condiiioncd siaic is causal. Ii is ilc causc ilai cicaicd all ilcsc icligious duiics and lcni cicdcncc io ilcm . Iaciually ilcy aic naimiiiila' dlaima, oi icmpoiaiy icligious piaciiccs.Tlc bialmanas supciioi siaius in sociciy, ilc sandlya and vandana iiics and lis linal gcsiuic ol supciannuaiion liom liuiiivc woil in iandcm wiil lis acccpiancc ol ilc icnounccd oidci ol sannyasa aic all naimiiiila dlaima'. Tlcsc icligious iiiuals lavc bccn vciy cloqucnily culogiscd in ilc sciipiuics as lolding a ligl podcsi in ilc laddci ol spiiiiual clcvaiion. Yci in compaiision io niiya laima' (cicinal spiiiiual duiics) ilcy aic ollcicd a lumblc siaiion. As ilis vcisc liom Siimad llagavaiam will slow:--vipiad-dvi-sad guna-yuiad-aiavinda-nablapadaiavinda-vimullai svapacam vaiisilam manyc iad-aipiia -mano- vacanc-liiaiila pia-nampunaii sa lulam na iu bluiimanal'. (Sl 7/9/10)Tlc iwclvc qualilicaiions ol a bialmana aic as lollows: iiuillul-ncss, scll-coniiol, ausiciiiy, unmaliciousncss, modcsiy, iolci-ancc, non-cnviousncss, cxpcii in conduciing saciiliccs, claiiia-blc, paiicni, siudics ilc Vcda, obscivcs icligious vows . A bialmana ol ilis calibic is indccd woislipablc anywlcic in ilc woild, bui inspiic ol posscssing sucl aiiiibuics il lc is bcicli ol dcvoiion io ilc Supicmc Godlcad , Kisna ilcn a candala dcvoicc ---an ouicasic, lowboin dcvoicc is cciiainly supciioi io lim.Tlc puipoii ol ilis vcisc is ilai il a lowboin candala liisi puiilics limscll by associaiing wiil sainily souls and cmbiaccs ilc iiansccndcnial pail ol dcvoiional scivicc (io lisna) wlicl is jiva's niiyalaima (cicinal spiiiiual duiy) ilcn lc is lai supcii-oi io a bialmana (by biiil) wlo las icjccicd ilc scaicl loi ilc Absoluic Tiuil (lisna), oi niiya laima', and insicad las busicd limscll wiil naimiiiila-laima'.Wc lind iwo vaiiciics ol luman bcings in ilis woild-: udiia-vivcla (awalcncd consciousncss) and anudiia-vivcla (slumbciing consciousncss). Tlc sccond vaiiciy ol lumans aic in gicai majoii-iy in ilc woild. Tlc liisi iypc (udiia-vivcla) aic a iaiiiy. Amongsi ilc sccond vaiiciy (anudiia-vivcla) ol lumans ilc bialma-nas aic cciiainly ilc mosi advanccd and ilc picsciibcd icligious piaciiccs loi ilis casic lilc sandlya-vandana cic (niiya-laima) aic loicmosi among all oilci icligious piaciiccs .Anoilci appcllaiion loi udiia-vivcla is vaisnava'. Tlc vaisna-va's' dcmcanoui ilcicloic is naiuially quiic dillcicni liom ilai ol pcisons wlo aic wiil anudiia-vivcla. Alilougl dillcicni ilc vaisnava's bclavioi docs noi allioni ilc icligious icncis ol pcisons wiil anudiia-vivcla lnowing ilai ilcsc laws aic mcani io disciplinc ilcm. Tlc csscncc ol all ilc sciipiuics aic ilc samc. Pcisons posscssing slumbciingconsciousncss lind ilcmsclvcs iigid-ly obcdicni io ilc simplc, cxiiancous and liaciional insiiuciions ol ilc sciipiuics. Pcisons ol awalcncd consciousncss cmbiacc ilc dccpci sciipiuial puipoiis as ilcii bcnign liicnd. Tlc iiiuals and cxccuiions may dillci bui ilc puipoiis icmain ilc samc. To ilc incxpciicnccd cyc ol a layman ilc aciiviiics ol a pcison in awalcncd consciousncss may sccm coniiaiy io ilc social noims bui in csscncc ilcy aic noi. Tlc vicw liom ilc posiiion ol bcing in awalcncd consciousncss is dillcicni, ilcy considci ilai ilc insiiuciions icgaiding naimii-iila-dlaima' aic api loi ilc gcncial populacc, bui in ilc laci is naimiiiila-dlaima' is incomplcic, plcbian, diluicd and cvancs-ccni. Naimiiiila-dlaima in piaciicc is dcvoid ol diicci , iiansccndcn-ial aciiviiics. On ilc suilacc ii lools as il onc is aciing on ilc iiansccndcnial planc , bui laciually ii malcs onc ialc up mundanc duiics wlicl aic in puisuancc ol iiansccndcnial aciivi-iics, and ii mcicly piovidcs ilc mcans io appioacl ilc iiansccn-dcnial goal. Oncc ilc mcans dclivcis ilc goal ii siiivcs loi, ii bccomcs obsolcic. Hcncc ilc mcans is noi a complcic paiadigm in iiscll , ---bui simply a liaciion ol ilc way iowaids icacling ilc goal. Lilcwisc naimiiiila-dlaima can ncvci bc ilc complcic way . Ioi cxamplc ilc bialmana's sandlya, vandana iiiuals aic lilc lis oilci icligious duiics . Tlcy aic icmpoiaiy and diciaicd by siiingcni siipulaiions. Ii is impossiblc io conduci ilcsc duiics cuisoiily and wiiloui iigidiiy.Ai a laici siagc alici long sicady adlcicncc io iulcs and icgula-iions , wlcn onc comcs in ilc ciiclc ol sainily associaiion and is ilus puiilicd , lc dcvclops spiiiiual iasic loi ilc iiansccn-dcnial aciiviiy ol claniing ilc loly namc. Ai ilis junciuic lis duiics ol sandlya-vandana aic supciccdcd. Tlc claniing ol ilc loly namc is a ccni pciccni and absoluic iiansccndcnial aciiviiy. Sandlya vandana aic jusi ilc mcans ilai lclps clcvaic onc io acccpi lis piimc duiy ol ilai ol claniing , ii can ncvci bccomc an absoluic spiiiiual dlaima . Alilouglnaimiiiila dlaima' is appicciaicd bccausc ii slows onc ilc way io spiiiiual clcvaiion ncvciilclcss ii is in iiscll, incl-lcciual and aduliciaicd. Only ilc absoluic spiiiiual piinciplc is dcsiiablc and piogicssivc. loil maiici and colabiiing wiil maiici is undcsiiablc loi ilc jivas. Naimiiiila-dlaima' is suppoiicd by a plciloia ol mundanc piinciplcs and piaciiccs. In laci ilcy aic capablc ol giving only sucl cxiiancous bcncliis as io lccp ilc pcoplc simply cniliallcd in ilc mundanc naiuic , maling ilcm bclicvc ilai ilcy cannoi cxisi wiiloui sucl liingc pciquisiics. Ioi cxamplc a bialmanas woislip ol ilc Supicmc Loid is cciiainly vciy bcnclicial bui ilc laci ilai lc aiiogaics as bcing supciioi io all oilci jivas , dcpiccaics lis aci ol woislip and ollcis lim insignilicani icli-gious bcncliis. Tlc piaciiccs in ilc cigli lold yoga sysicm cndows ilc yogi wiil vibluii oi mysiic powci . Ii is a iailci inlciioi icsuli and is vciy inauspicious loi ilc jivas. loil blulii (scnsc cnjoymcni) and mulii (salvaiion) aic inscpciablc liom naimiiiila dlaima'. Il onc can cscapc ilcii cluiclcs ilcn lc can lacilcly appioacl ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc, namcly ilc iiansccndcnial pail ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlcicloic loi ilc jivas , naimiiiila-dlaima' coniains a majoi poiiion ol iiiclavani aciiviiics and ilcii concomiiani icsulis. Naimiiiila-dlaima is impcimancni. Ii cannoi bc piaciiccd as an cicinal icligion undci all ilc dillcicni condiiions jiva las io go iliougl.Tlc bialminical icligious duiics ol a bialmana,oi ilc Vcdic duiics ol siaicciali slip ol ilc Ksaiiiya and so on aic discaidcd wiil ilc iciminaiion ol ilc body wlicl is considcicd as ilc immcdiaic causc and icason loi caiilly duiics. Alici bcing boin as a bialmana a living cniiiy may icccivc a vciy low biiil in lis ncxi lilc as a candala' oi dog-caici.Tlcicloic,ilc nai-miiiila-dlaima picsciibcd loi ilc bialmana,is noi applicablc io ilc low class candala as lis svadlaima', oi spccilic innaic icligion. Tlc usc ol ilc icim svadlaima' in ilis insiancc is mcicly liguiaiivc. In cvciy ncw biiil ilc living soul clangcs lis svadlaima' bui ncvci lis niiya-dlaima', oi cicinal spiiiiual duiics wlicl icmains consiani. Il I was io bc qucsiioncd as io wlai is Vaisnava-dlaima my icisc icply is:-- ii is jiva's cicinal icligion, oi niiya-dlaima. In a libciaicd siaic ilc Vaisnava dcvoicc cngagcs in ilc iiansccndcn-ial aciiviiy ol unalloycd dcvoiional scivicc, oi lovc ol God in puic Kisna consciousncss. Wlcn siill in a condiiioncd siaic and undci ilc inllucncc ol maiciial naiuic ilc vaisnava dcvoicc mainiaining an awalcncd consciousncss (udiia-vivcla), puisucs iiansccndcnial dcvoiional scivicc. Hc acccpis liom ilc maiciial woild cvciyiling wlicl is condusivc io spiiiiual aciiviiy and icjccis cvciyiling ilai is dciiimcnial. His aciions aic noi siuliilicd by an ovci icgaid loi sciipiuial slipulaiions ol docs and donis. Hc appicciaics and cxccuics any sciipiuial icgulaiion ilai cnlanccs lis Kisna consciousncss.lui il ilcy aic dciciicnis ilcn lc discaids ilcm. Tlc Vaisnava dcvo-iccs aic ilc jcwcls ol ilc caiil. Tlcy aic cvciyonc's wcll- wisling liicnd. Tlcy biing good loiiunc io ilis woild. I bcg lumbly io ollci ilcsc poinis loi considciaiion io ilis augusi asscmbly ol vaisnavas.Also lindly cxonciaic mc liom my misialcs.Vaisnavadasa ollcicd lis piosiiaicd obcisanccs io ilc gailciing ol dcvoiccs and sai down dcmuicly io onc sidc. His dissciiaiion lad an amaging impaci on ilc gailciing: Tlcy wcic movcd io pio-lusc icais and sponiancous piaisc loi Vaisnavadasa. Tlc wlolc villagc icvcbciaicd wiil sounds in ol lis cnlogy.Tlc inquisiiivc bialmana singci iaciily aclnowlcdgcd ilc csoiciic iiuils coniaincd in Vaisnavadasa's iall. Ol couisc, somc ol ilc aigumcnis pioduccd doubis in lis mind. Howcvci, ilc sccd ol laiil loi ilc Vaisnava dlaima bccomc lodgcd dccpci inio lis lcaii. Hc siood up and wiil loldcd palms spolc oui aloud---dcai icspccicd audicncc, I do noi claim bc a vaisnava, yci by consianily lcaiing ilc loly namc I lavc bccomc a vaisnava. Il all ol you could lindly cnliglicn mc wiil somc valuablc insiiuciions ilcn I can dissipaic many doubis clouding my mind.Sii Picmadasa labaji Malaiaja lccling compassion loi ilc bialmana icplicd---plcasc iiy io associaic wiil Vaisnavadasa as olicn as possiblc. Hc is ciudiic in all ilc bianclcs ol sciipiuics. Hc las siudicd in dcpil ilc Vcdic liiciaiuics and alici cmbiacing ilc icnounccd oidci ol Sannyasa lc was icsiding in Vaianasi. Oui mosi bclovcd Loid Sii Kisna Caiianya, oui ol His causclcss mcicy, las aiiiacicd lim io comc io Navadvipa dlam. Hc las diligcnily iu-ioicd limscll in ilc Vaisnava plilosoply and is now lully convci-sani in ii. Hc las dcvclopcd dccp aiiaclmcni and lovc loi clani-ing." Tlc bialmana cnquiici was Sii Kalidasa Laliii. On lcaiing labaji Malaiaja's insiiuciions lc dccidcd in lis mind io acccpi Vaisna-vadasa as lis guiu. Hc pondcicd---lc is a bialmana by biiil and lc lad ialcn up ilc icnounccd oidci ol lilc lcncc lc is cciiainly cligiblc io insiiuci anoilci bialmana. Iuiilci moic, lc las piovcn limscll io bc lnowlcdgcablc in Vaisnava plilosoplical con-clusions.Tlcicloic I can lcain a loi aboui Vaisnavism liom lim. Hc ilus appioaclcd Vaisnavadasa and piosiiaicd limscll ai lis lcci and said---my dcai icspccicd sii, lindly slowci youi giacc upon mc." Vaisnavadasa iccipiocaicd by ollciing piosiiaicd obci-sancc io Lalaii Malasaya and icplicd ---I will icmain always giaiclul io you il you lool upon mc wiil compassion.'Tlc spicad-ing puiplc lazc in ilc loiizon announccd ilc cnd ol day. Tlc asscmbly siood up and dispciscd io ilcii individual dwcllings.Laliii Malasaya also livcd in a lui suiioundcd by giccnciics bui ii was in a icsidcniial localiiy and a liiilc liddcn liom inquis-iiivc cycs. Tlc small couiiyaid in lioni ol ilc lui was ialcn up by a small bowci ol Madlavi llowci-ciccpcis and a iiny plailoim loi ilc iulasi plani.On ciilci sidc ol ilc couiiyaid siood iwo iooms. Tlc wlolc aica was lcnccd-oll by siiong bamboo siiips. A nccmiicc sapling, a lcalily lcdgc ol mogia llowcis and oilci liuii and llowci iiccs lcni unassuming splcndoui io ilis quici niclc. Madlavadasa labaji was iis ownci. Iniiially ilis labaji was vciy