The Path of Love Classes

I met with Roger Christie twice this week and will be going to his worship at 4:20 today. Starting Wednesday, May 24th, 7:00 pm, I'm going to be teaching "The Path of Love" in the Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry Sanctuary. I've networked with others and looked for people to work with and a place to teach. Roger is the most open, welcoming guy I know. He's a real minister to many persons. He's from New Jersey and just three years younger than me so we have a lot in common. I'm from Brooklyn.

It reminds me of the early sevenites when I was in Amsterdam as a sannyasi and went to DeKosmos, a hash club, and taught The Path of Love in the basement. Unfortunately, I was not partiaking in those days. Roger and I agree that it is really too bad Swamiji cut people off from the sacrament. I really believe cannabis, mushrooms and other psychedelics are conducive to development of pure love of God. Heck, even Swamiji went to the Psychedelic Shop on Haight Street to chant and preach in their back room. I lived in a commune on Ashbury Street when I met Swamiji and smoked in the car on the way to the airport when he first arrived there in January, 1967. Many of us hippies enjoyed chanting, hearing Swamiji talk and eating prasadam. We became his disciples. He asked a lot of us and some of us did what he said. However, there comes a time to be an adult, be in charge of your own life, decide what works for you and what doesn't and live your own life.

The Path of Love

An on going series of devotional yoga classes based on the teachings of the 15th century mystic/incarnation, Sri Krishna Chaitanya. They are presented in a post-modern, holistic way with a universalist approach. 19th century, Bengali devotional teacher, Bhaktivinode Thakur’s book, Sri Chaitanya-Shikshamrita, forms the starting point of the teachings. They are offered in a way that is easily understandable, practiced and relevant to our lives here and now. This is a sensible and uplifting means of realizing our relationship with God and entering into the transcendental pastimes of Radha and Krishna, the Divine Couple. The path is simple yet sublime. Love is the answer.

Wednesdays, 7:00 pm (Drop in)
The Sanctuary
94 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 3, Hilo
2nd floor, next door to Cronies

Donations accepted

Subal Das (Steve Bohlert, M.Div.) is a disciple of Lalita Prasad Thakur, the son and disciple of Bhaktivinode Thakur. Subal is a cutting edge devotee of Radha & Krishna, the Divine Couple. He prepares persons to be their transcendental associates by following the Path of Love. Subal draws upon the best of ancient and modern mystical wisdom from various spiritual traditions and presents a devotional mysticism that cuts through externals to the kernel of truth, beauty and love. He was initiated into The Path of Love in 1967 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and was his disciple for eight years. In 1974, he received advanced initiation and instruction from his siddha pranali guru, Lalita Prasad Thakur. Subal spent three years in India living in the holy places and studying with various teachers. He taught The Path of Love extensively throughout India, North America, Europe, Hawaii and Fiji. He now lives in Puna.

For further information: call (808) 965-7028 or see www.stevebohlert.com

Right livelihood

“A householder should comfortably maintain his dependents, either with money that comes of its own accord or with that gathered by the honest execution of one’s duties. Sb. 11.17.51” (p 78)

The question of right livelihood is important for one on the spiritual path. Most of us do not have enough “money that comes of its own accord” to support ourselves, what to speak of our dependents. Therefore, most of us must engage in “the honest execution of one’s duties” and hope to be able to make a decent living doing so. Blessed are the carpenters, doctors, lawyers, business persons, etc. who have marketable skills that earn a good income and are in high demand. Others may not be so fortunate and have to struggle to make a meager living doing things that do not suit their nature.

While we do not have a rigid caste system that we like to acknowledge, we do have a caste system indeed. One’s caste is determined by one’s innate qualities, upbringing, education, social position, wealth, skills and talents. Some are laborers, others farmers and business persons, others warriors and administrators, while others are priests and teachers. All are necessary for the smooth running of society. All should be adequately compensated for their work. Therefore, I have been a strong advocate for the living wage movement and welfare rights for those unable to work. No one should be without necessities in a world as abundant as ours.

As for myself, I became a spiritual teacher at age twenty under the direction of my spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. I taught world-wide for eight years. When I left his organization due to its corruption, I continued to teach independently. I often had to take other jobs to support myself and my family.

When I became a pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ, after much education, testing, over-sight, time and expense, I felt I found the solution to being a spiritual teacher with integrity, stability and a good income. However, after eleven years, I decided the churches I served were too conservative for me. I resigned and began this independent ministry in 2002.

Since then, I brought my Radha Krishna devotion to the forefront again. Rather than adopting the role of a traditional Indian guru, I used the model of a Catholic spiritual director, a spiritual guide or a holistic, spiritual teacher and practitioner. I am an experienced religious professional who has been trained, tested and approved for spiritual leadership in Hinduism and Christianity. I maintain high ethical standards.

There must be a reciprocal give and take relationship between a teacher and disciple. Some gurus ask their disciples to give up everything else and follow them, to follow their orders strictly and do everything they say, to serve and worship them, and to provide money. I paid a high price in terms of time, self-sacrifice, effort and money to get the spiritual wisdom I accumulated over a lifetime.

I try to make the path as easy as possible for my followers. I provide free teachings on my website and also set up a fee for service schedule and posted there. This enables a clean, professional relationship between student and teacher without a lot of entanglements. Of course, for those who wish and are qualified, a more traditional teacher-disciple relationship is available. I do not want to exclude anyone who wishes to sincerely learn from me because my fees are too high. I am willing to negotiate a sliding scale fee for those who cannot pay what I ask. I am open to barter. I put a couple of donation buttons on my website for those who wish to do so, and in this way, money can come “of its own accord.”

What type of relationship is best for you? I would just as soon be able to teach freely, without charge, yet I have to earn a living. How can we work together?

By chanting you can be free

“Taking shelter of Krishna-nam is the ultimate practice for the real devotee.” (p 61)

There are many devotional practices one may perform. Some are more effective than others. The most important for followers of Chaitanya is the chanting of Radha & Krishna’s names which are non-different from the Divine Couple themselves. One should call upon them like a child calling for its mother-father. They are our only shelter. We are completely dependent upon their grace and mercy to save us.

We are unqualified, but by calling out in love, they hear us and respond due to the natural, innate love that exists between Radha Krishna and the living entities. They are present in the sound vibration of their names which are unlimited and contain their full potency. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting these holy names, but the more feeling we can put into it, the greater the response will be. Our yearning, longing, loving calls to them cannot help but attract them to us.

“They will constantly chant the maha-mantra of sixteen names of Krishna while counting their chanting on beads.” (p 62)

This is the traditional way of doing it. When I was a renunciate and able to remain free of administrative duties, I was able to regularly chant the Hare Krishna mantra 64 rounds of beads daily. This practice is very good for focusing the mind on Radha Krishna. Even when one is not chanting on beads, the mantra may still go on mentally.

When I left the renounced order of life, of course, my lifestyle and devotional practices changed. “Devotees will maintain body, house and society as long as they are favorable for cultivating the name and will offer them all in the service of Krishna. They will not labor in any other direction, and even in this devotional direction, they will not over-endeavor.” (p 62)

I felt I had been over-endeavoring. Our efforts are not as important as the grace of Radha Krishna. All our endeavors will not bring us to them without their grace. I felt there had to be an easier, more natural way to practice devotion that would lead to the supreme goal of pure love.

I began to make the mental chanting of Om my constant practice. Om is another name of the Divine Couple and the living entities in love. I find it is just sort of there as I go about the activities of the day. It is my center. From this center, I can relate to others, the world about me and Radha Krishna in a natural way that is more in tune with being present in the moment as well as being able to respond fluidly to the flow of life.

Another way of putting it is that I become more incarnate and experienced the immanence of God rather than just seeking a transcendental relationship to the exclusion of this life. Christians call this “practicing the presence of God.” I find it to be a very effective spiritual practice which also allows me to maintain body, house and society in a way consistent with my life situation, which has varied greatly over the years.

“Not being overly ambitious in their plans, they will reside in a solitary place. Staying in association with those who can nurture devotion, they carefully progress. The purpose of all these activities is to attain fixed chanting of the name, with no anxieties.” (pp 62-63)

A year ago, my wife/disciple and I moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan to the tropical rainforest of Hawai’i. We live a pretty simple, solitary life of devotion. Our home is a temple. We chant the maha-mantra and other mantras to Radha & Krishna on our beads as well as singing with instruments. Still, I continue to Om. We study the sacred writings, encourage one another and consider our abode to be transcendental. Our love is a reflection of the love of Radha & Krishna. Our chanting is becoming fixed and our anxieties lessened as we detach from material life and become more attached to Radha & Krishna.

“In Lord Chaitanya’s teachings, there are only two concepts: taste for the name and mercy to the living entities. A person is a devotee to the extent that these two qualities are present. It is not necessary to labor for any other qualities. The qualities of the devotee spontaneously appear, and the devotee naturally relishes acting for the benefit of all.” (p 64)

A taste for the name has sustained me my whole adult life. It is my life-line in the ocean of material existence. I have shown mercy to others by teaching them love of God. This is the greatest mercy one may show. It is what is most lacking and most needed in this world to solve all our problems. When we love God, we can also love one another as well as God’s creation.

In this way, I have worked for peace, justice and the environment over the years. Under the current U.S. administration, I lost all hope that significant reform in those areas is possible. The administration is powerful and hell bent on its own agenda which seems to entail destroying peace, justice and the environment. They are not open to outside views or the will of the people. Therefore, my focus is on the spiritual solution—one person at a time.

“’Always chant the holy name of Lord Krishna and within your mind render service to Radha and Krishna in Vrindaban...’ Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya 6. In these instructions, the Lord also hinted in a covered way about the internal worship of Radha Krishna through the eight time-periods of the day known as astakaliya-lila-bhajan.” (p 65)

Bhaktivinode introduces this important subject here and will take it up again later in the book. As one chants, one should remember the pastimes of Radha Krishna through the day and serve them in one’s spiritual body. Thus, one must know one’s relationship to the Divine Couple, their pastimes and how they like to be served following the examples of the eternal residents of Vrindaban and the disciplic succession. This is revealed by the siddha-pranali guru to the disciple. In this way, our relationship with Radha Krishna becomes very real and personal and our mutual attraction increases. Jai Radhe!

How to live a balanced life

After explaining the futility of false renunciation, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur says, “Alternatively, if they place the Lord in the centre of their life while caring for body and house, while eating and sleeping, they then gradually increase their devotion to the Lord through their devotional practice. Finally and definitely, prema (pure love) will be achieved.” (p 60)

One of my mottos is: “Realize your full potential, live life abundantly and love extravagantly.” What is our full potential? We are children of God. We are loved. We are created good, in God’s image. God & Goddess have given us all that we need to live a happy, healthy and enlightened life. Most of all we have the potential to actualize our selves spiritually—developing an eternal spiritual body through our pure love of Radha Krishna or whatever form of God we may be attracted to. This is the highest goal of life.

Too much emphasis is placed on renunciation by many teachers of devotional yoga and other yogas. When we place Radha Krishna at the center of our life, everything becomes spiritual seen in light of their service. Everything can be used in their service. Everything is simply a manifestation of their energy. They created us and this world we live in with all its wonders. Why would they not want us to enjoy it in their service?

Speaking as a Westerner to primarily Westerners, what do we need to care for body and house? I would say we need a basic middle class standard of living. We should have adequate food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medical care and other necessities. Then we may need a little extra for entertainment and vacation. Some money to save for emergencies and old age is also desirable. Some money to give in charity should be there too.

Most of us also desire the pleasures, companionship and support of married life. This often leads to having children. Supporting a family in this manner usually requires one or two good paying jobs with benefits. All of this should not be seen as obstacles to devotional practice but rather as part of our devotional practice.

Of course, we do not want to fall into the trap of materialistic consumerism, selfishness and greed. Rather, a life of voluntary simplicity and moderation is desirable. This is actually more enjoyable too. We should have the necessities, but not over endeavor for material gain. Learn to be happy with what you have, provided you have the necessities. Simply dedicate everything to Radha & Krishna.

Radha & Krishna’s abode is described as being wonderfully opulent and abundant in supplying all the good things of life. Persons there live free of anxiety due to the hard struggle for existence in the material world. Yet even in this world, we can live that way if we learn to trust in the Divine Couple’s goodness and benevolence towards their devotees.

Of course, we still need to work, but when we see that they have provided us with everything, we can open ourselves up to the divine energy and not have to struggle so much. We can learn to work with detachment knowing that we are only here temporarily and that we are destined for much higher things. When we come from abundance rather than scarcity we tend to attract abundance to our lives.

And when we love extravagantly, we tend to attract extravagant love. Radha & Krishna are the epitome of extravagant love. If we are to be their devotees, we have to become like them. We can become channels of their love and spread it to all we meet. This is what the world need most—extravagant love. I and others have said, “Love is the answer.” When we learn to love one another, all the world’s problems will be solved. God & Goddess are love. Their presence is invoked whenever we love. As the love spreads, the whole world becomes spiritualized. As we focus our life on pure love of the Divine Couple, that love grows and will carry us to them.

“To Raghunath Das, Chaitanya said, ‘Be patient and return home. Don’t be a crazy fellow. By and by, you will be able to cross the ocean of material existence. You should not make yourself a show-bottle devotee and become a false renunciate. For the time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way but do not become attached to it. Within your heart, you should keep yourself very faithful, but externally you may behave like an ordinary person. Thus, Krishna will soon be very pleased and deliver you from the clutches of illusion.’ Chaitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 126.237-239” (pp 60-61)

I consider this to be one of the most important scriptural passages for guiding our devotional life. Our spiritual practices are primarily an internal process we perform with our spiritual body. It is a process of adopting the mood, form, love and service of the residents of Vrindaban. This must be done in all circumstances.

However, our external circumstances may vary greatly according to our nature, occupation, place of residence, social standing, etc. We can act according to the standards of society. We don’t have to be in people’s faces with our beliefs. We don’t have to be different. Others may not even know we are a devotee, but hopefully they sense that we seem to be kinder, more loving, more compassionate, more giving than others. Thus, we are able to enjoy a normal life in society and cultivate pure love at the same time. This is a healthy, holistic approach to life.

“All that is necessary is the internal steadiness of the devotee in order to achieve success. A mere external show of steadiness is only a false display for others to see. However, if there is a real internal devotion and steadiness, very quickly the bondage of the material world will disappear. Pure knowledge and pure detachment will certainly increase as that genuine devotion increases.” (p 61)

This is an internal process. One need not adopt all the external signs and practices of Indian devotees. The goal is not to become an Indian, but to become an associate of Radha & Krishna. Therefore, the cultural externals may be given up as long as one maintains the internal practices. Therefore, spontaneous devotional service may be practiced by anyone, anywhere. Gradually, one will see one’s life transformed into the spiritual world.

Ecumenical Relations

Very good relations exist among the various cannabis ministries here. We went to The 1st Sunday Reggae Church in Glenwood. It’s organized by Jesse Dawn and his band Jah Kine. He gave out free copies of their new CD, “Jah Kine Uprising.” There was another band there too. Not many people were in the audience due to thunder storms, but those who were there seemed very open and welcoming. My wife and I enjoyed dancing during breaks in the rain including a circle dance. It was good talking with a local brah around my age who was very welcoming and accepted us as kama’ainas, children of the land. He invited me to join him and his friends in communion and to visit his ranch whenever I like. That is the true aloha spirit.

Tuesday, Rev. Dan from the Church of Cognizance, a Neo-Zoroastrian cannabis sacrament ministry a couple of blocks away, visited me at my home, sanctuary-temple. We communed and he explained his beliefs and ministry to me. I am not very familiar with Zoroastrianism, so it was interesting to hear his beliefs and practices. We agreed to stay in touch and he said he would refer persons to me.

Wednesday, I again visited Roger at the Hawai’i Cannabis Ministry office. We watched great waves in the bay and long boarders riding them as we talked. He went through the Sanctuary Kit and explained it to me. We also talked of how we could collaborate in ministry. I feel very at home and comfortable with this ministry.

On the way home, I met a neighbor and his friend walking up the hill and gave them a ride to his house. He invited me and my wife to a big birthday party last night at the home of a Rasta neighbor I have gotten to know a little. It was a wonderful gathering with lots of community and love.

I find that the cannabis sacrament definitely helps build community (communion) among many of the diverse persons who live in this area. It is truly the healing herb and balm of the nations. May its spiritual blessing spread.

Radha, the Supreme Goddess

“A fully surrendered devotee always hopes that Lord Krishna will be kind to him. This hope is very firm in him. Eagerness is chiefly characterized by an ardent desire to associate with the Lord.” (p 58)

This is one of the key elements of my faith—the constant hope that although I am unworthy and fallen, Radha Krishna will be merciful to me. As I said earlier, we cannot earn pure love of Radha Krishna. It is a gift that is given by them and the gurus. Causeless mercy flows down to a surrendered soul because such a person has no other refuge and Radha Krishna will not abandon their surrendered devotees.

What is the kindness that we hope for? Simply that our love may increase and that we may become eternal associates of the Divine Couple so that we may serve them more fully. So many times I have prayed for them to reveal themselves to me so that I may see their true forms. So many times I have prayed, “Take me now.” Yet, I am still here, serving in separation. When, oh when will that day be mine?

As for myself, I have more of an ardent desire to be with Radha than with Krishna. That is the mood of the manjaris (maidservants). They are more interested in serving and being with Radha than Krishna. They do not desire to enjoy Krishna directly, but enjoy many times more by bringing Radha and Krishna together and sharing in their love.

“’A devotee absorbed in ecstatic emotion for Krishna always resides in a place where Krishna’s pastimes were performed.’ Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya 23.39”

I had the good fortune to live in Vrindaban and visit the holy places of Braja such as Radha Kunda in the early 1970s before many Westerners went there. Gauranga Das, a great devotee I met there, recommended, "Never leave Vrindaban. In Vrindaban, you will gain energy for developing your Krishna consciousness. Everywhere else you will be drained. Here people are chanting Hare Krishna twenty-four hours a day. They are always remembering Krishna's pastimes."

Swamiji sent me away from Vrindaban against my wishes on certain missions he wanted me to carry out. Over the years, my path took me to many places far from Vrindaban. I always have gopi chandan and clay from Radha Kunda, a leaf from the tree Krishna would embrace in separation from Radha and a picture of Radha Kunda. In my heart, I am always a resident of Vrindaban/Radha Kunda.

Last year I moved to the rainforest of Hawai’i. It is so easy to remember Vrindaban here because this place is so beautiful. My home in the forest here is non-different from my abode in the grove of the eternal Vrindaban. Through Radha Krishna’s unlimited potencies, their pastimes are going on here also. We can turn any place into Vrindaban.

Yet what a blessing it is to live in Vrindaban or Radha Kunda, India. However, that is not my fate, and even in Vrindaban, I was sometimes given the task of building a temple there which diminished my ability to experience the transcendental mood of Vrindaban I so relished.

“Mahaprabhu has spoken of Radha, the topmost devotee in this way, ‘Srimati Radharani has unlimited transcendental qualities of which twenty-five qualities are principal. Sri Krishna is controlled by these transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani.’ Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya 23.86” (p 59)

This is why I am so much more attracted to Radha than Krishna—she has Krishna under her control. Radha is Supreme. Radha rules! She is so beautiful and so loving that Krishna is wrapped around her little finger. He will do anything to please her. What to speak of a person like me, how can I resist her attraction.

The supreme controller is controlled by the love of Radha. She is the supreme goal of all spiritual processes. She is the Supreme Goddess of my heart. Jai Radhe!

Spontaneous devotion

“The original inhabitants of Vrindaban are attached to Krishna spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called ragatmika-bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vrindaban, his devotional service is called raganuga-bhakti.” (p 53)

Following in the footsteps of the devotees of Vrindaban by conceiving oneself to be one of them engaged in the pastimes of Radha Krishna is the essence of raganuga-bhakti. This is what Prabhuji taught me to do when he gave me siddha pranali and ekadas bhav (eleven moods of a cowherd girl in Vrindaban). These eleven moods or aspects of me in my perfect spiritual body are my eternal identity in relation to Radha Krishna.

This style of meditation is widely practiced by followers of Sri Krishna Chaitanya. It came down to me through the siddha pranali or perfect line of gurus coming from Sri Jahnava Thakurani. In this way there is a connection with those who have gone before me to the eternal Goloka Vrindaban and will be there waiting to welcome me when I arrive. This is all relational. The disciple is related through the guru to the whole line who are all cowherd girls in Vrindaban engaged in the service of Sri Radha. Again, this is pure grace which is passed on from guru to disciple.

By studying the writings of those who came before me in this line and related lines, I can learn the different ways in which they interact with the Divine Couple and adapt their moods as my own. In this way, the spiritual identity of the practitioner is developed gradually until we identify more with our spiritual self than our outward self.

“The primary characteristic of spontaneous love is deep attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Absorption in thought of Him is a marginal characteristic.” (p 54)

Deep attachment to Radha Krishna has kept me going all these years since I first fell in love with them. After leaving Swamiji, I gave up most formal devotional practices. I wanted to see what is real and would stick no matter what. I abandoned the external, devotional practices that no longer seemed to fit. I adapted those that were still beneficial and continue those practices. All along, that deep attachment, especially to Radha, remained. That can not be given up.

“If one follows in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrindaban out of…transcendental covetousness, he does not care for the injunctions or logical reasoning of the shastra (scripture). That is the nature of raganuga.” (p 54)

When one realizes the highest goal in life, everything else pales in comparison. All that has been said and heard and all the rules and regulations no longer matter much. One becomes fixed in who one is and spontaneously acts in love, both on the external and spiritual levels. Everything becomes spiritual when seen in relationship to Radha Krishna. We can live in Vrindaban wherever we are and everything we do can be devotional service. Duality can be transcended when we realize all is Krishna and Krishna’s energies. The eternal is now.

“Krishna has many types of devotees—some are servants, some are friends, some are parents and some are conjugal lovers. Devotees who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of raga-marga, spontaneous loving service.” (p 55)

By following the path of regulative devotion, I came to realize my love for Krishna in a conjugal mood like that of the cowherd girls. I longed to deepen this relationship. Swamiji wanted his disciples to stick with regulative devotional service. It is a much safer, slower path of devotion than spontaneous love (also more effective for building an organization).

My heart was bursting to delve deeper into the esoteric pastimes of Radha Krishna. I went to see Prabhuji against the orders of Swamiji. Nothing could hold me back. He had the nectar and I wanted nothing more than to drink it. He watered the devotional creeper that had sprouted in my heart and allowed it to grow unhindered. When one longs for God/Goddess as the most dearly beloved, how can one be held back by injunctions which are detrimental to the growth of love?

“However, it is simply a cheating notion to think that the goal of life is for clerks, farmers, business people and kshatriyas, etc., to elevate themselves gradually to higher positions in varna and ashrama and then finally to the positions of brahmana and sannyasi. Such a conception of occupational duties is in terms of material advancement alone and cannot produce any real progress for the soul.” (p 56)

Unfortunately, one of Swamiji’s endeavors was to introduce varnashram dharma to the West. I quickly rose to the position of brahmin and sannyasi. I functioned quite well in those positions in Swamiji’s organization and in India. However, when I returned to the West and left Swamiji and his organization, I could not maintain such strict standards without a support system, and one did not exist for me in the West. I became a casteless devotee and married.

Swamiji was very ambitious and wanted to change the world to his version of Krishna consciousness which included varnasharam dharma, the Indian system of four castes and orders of life. He believed his teachings were the best religious system in the world for everyone. However, the results were disastrous for many of his disciples. They were uprooted from their culture and thrust into an artificial “Vedic” culture. When they left that way of life, they were faced with putting their lives back together so that they could function in Western society again.

I have been doing that for 31 years. I feel good about where I am at now. However, I still struggle with how to present the teachings of Bhaktivinode Thakur in a way that will be widely acceptable to Westerners and not cause major disruption to their lives. This is my latest attempt. I hope you find it helpful.

I have been a spiritual teacher for the past 39 years, and it is about all I have any interest in doing. I had a successful career as a Christian pastor and teacher for eleven years. However, there were too many compromises. For the last three years, presenting my own understandings of spiritual life without compromise has been my ministry. It is spiritually fulfilling if not financially lucrative. This is the task I feel called to.

Swamiji had most of his disciples live in communal temples and developed a large world wide organization. Prabhuji, had thousands of disciples, but most of them lived at home with their families. He had no institutional organization that he created. I believe a more decentralized, loosely structured association of disciples living “normal” lives is much more desirable. Organized religion is not conducive to spontaneous devotional service. Institutional preservation becomes too important.

Rather than trying to gradually elevate ourselves through the varnashram system, it is better to simply take to devotional service from whatever position in life a person happens to be in. That is most beneficial spiritually.

Obtaining God's Mercy

“All of Me, namely my actual eternal form and My transcendental existence, color, qualities and activities—let all be awakened within you by factual realization, out of My causeless mercy.” Sb. 2.9.31 (p 44)

This is really the only way to attain God realization—through God’s causeless mercy. God’s mercy is given through the guru, through the scriptures, through holy persons and directly within our heart. All of our strivings, all of our practices lead to nothing without the mercy of God.

Of course they are also the means of grace. They open us up to God’s mercy. God’s mercy is there equally for all. It is causeless. However, some persons are more anxious to receive God’s mercy than others. They actively seek it out. Thus, they receive a larger share. It is our yearning, our longing, our strongest innermost desire that brings God’s mercy upon us. When we become surrendered souls and desire nothing more than the loving service of Sri Sri Radha Krishna, how can they not respond when we are completely dependent upon them?

God is unknowable in this conditioned state of material existence unless God reveals her/his divine self to us within the heart. Our cries and calls of love will not go unanswered.

“The main characteristics of sadhana-bhakti are chanting, hearing and remembering Krishna’s name, forms, qualities and pastimes. By performing this sadhana, gradually prema (pure love) appears in a marginal form, like a hidden fire. When the jivas (living entities) finally cast off their subtle body and attain spiritual bodies, prema appears in its pure swarupa (form). This, Krishna prema is a perfect object, which is not born from practice, but rather it appears in the pure heart by hearing and other devotional activities. Please note that sadhana (practice) is very necessary for this prema to manifest.” (p48)

These are the means of grace. By chanting, hearing and remembering, we are able to open our heart to love Radha Krishna and receive their love in return. Love is the answer. The more we love, the more we are open to love. If love does not flow from our heart spontaneously, we need to practice loving Radha Krishna. The more we practice, the more we become love, the more Radha Krishna are able to reveal themselves to us.

Unless we are extremely blessed, it is very difficult to fully experience prema in this conditioned state. We may manifest it to a degree, but its full realization will occur when we give up this material body and enter the spiritual realm in our perfect spiritual body. It may take many lifetimes to attain, but once we begin the process seriously, it is possible to attain at the end of this life by the causeless mercy of Radha Krishna.

“The practitioners realize that Krishna alone is the object of remembrance, and that He should never be forgotten. They understand that all rules—positive or negative—follow this principle of always remembering and never forgetting the Lord. Thus, at this stage, the devotees reject a rigid, fanatical adherence to the injunctions and prohibitions and according to their individual qualification give up some of the injunctions and begin to practice some items of devotional activity that were prohibitions previously.” (p 49)

My initiator guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, was a very strong advocate of following regulative principles, rules and regulations. I led a very strict, austere life under his guidance for eight years. This regulative devotional service gradually opened my heart and developed my love of Radha Krishna. Living in Vrindaban, associating with more advanced devotees there, I realized there was a lot more, a whole other level of devotional service that Swamiji was not teaching.

Through the grace of devotees, I was able to find my siddha pranali guru, Lalita Prasad Thakur, who initiated me into the path of spontaneous love. This was a big infusion of grace. Within the year (1974), I stopped following Swamiji, his rules and regulations. I am free. I live freely. I follow my heart which has led me down a wonderful path, ever closer to Radha Krishna.

I don’t do all the spiritual practices I used to do. I follow the ones that work best for me—hearing, chanting, remembering. I do things that were previously prohibited. I see them as gifts of God and am able to live more fully on both the material and spiritual planes without impediments to the development of pure love.

I help persons discover what works for them. I help them become free of guilt, shame, driven-ness, never feeling good enough, etc., because they are not able to follow all the rules and regulations some think it is necessary to follow. If this path of love is to become indigenous to the West, its followers must be able to lead a more normal Western lifestyle. I am paving the way for that to happen. God’s grace can even flow through a person such as me.

“The Lord has said, ‘When one is firmly fixed in devotional service, whether one executes just one or many of the processes of devotional service, the waves of love of Godhead will awaken.’ Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya 22.134” (p 52)

It is not necessary to do everything. It is necessary to do something. Find a way to remember Radha Krishna and remember them constantly. Chant, read, write, preach, paint, do whatever you have a passion for. It is our passionate desire that opens us to grace and helps us progress. Paths without heart lead us nowhere.

“’Therefore, for a devotee engaged in my loving service, with mind fixed on Me, the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation is generally not the means of achieving the highest perfection within this world.’ Sb. 11.20.31” (p 53)

Swamiji placed a high premium on knowledge and renunciation. He wrote many books and strongly encouraged his disciples to publish and distribute them as widely as possible. He also encouraged his disciples to practice renunciation so that they could fully devote themselves to spreading his mission.

Many of his disciples became very austere only to find out that such a lifestyle was not sustainable. Some openly adopted healthier, holistic, sustainable lifestyles of moderation. This is not an obstacle to devotion. Others expressed themselves in unhealthy ways which destroyed their devotion and hurt others. If we do not make friends with our shadow, the body, the senses, and see them as God given gifts for our enjoyment and God’s, they become our enemy and seek to undermine our true self good. False renunciation is never desirable.