Bitter-Sweet Separation from Vrindavana

I am writing this on our last day in Vrindavana. We depart in one hour for Mumbai and Pune. Here in Vrindavana I have been tasting the sweetest nectar regularly meditating every day on Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, their holy dhama, their associates, and the places of their transcendental pastimes. There will be a bitterness to departing from this sweet wonderland. But the feelings of separation from Sri Vrindavana will give us increased remembrance of Krishna and in this way bestow upon us ever-increasing happiness.

Here during our stay in Vrindavana I have taken advantage of a wonderful devotional song introduced to us by Srila Prabhupada by singing it every morning trying to go as deeply as possible into the meditation on the persons and places described in the song. To give you a little bit of the flavor of it yesterday afternoon I made a recording of it singing along with a harmonium. It's rough and not studio perfect. But I hope that you will find it inspiring for your Krishna consciousness. The lyrics and translation for the song are here:

http://www.backtohome.com/Song_Lyrics/nectarean_glories_of_vrajadhama.htm

And you can listen to or download the recording from here:

http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/Songs/Glories_of_Vrindavana.MP3

So now praying for the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Govinda we resume traveling and preaching all over the world in our humble, feeble attempt to introduce the entire planet to the sublime glories of Krishna consciousness and Sri Vrindavana Dhama. May they all now awaken to the Supreme Reality of Lord Sri Krishna and become fully engaged in His service.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: What are the Steps to Perfection?

Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

How to be solidly situated on the pathway back to Godhead? What are the step by step processes?

Vishal

Answer: Faith, Devotee Association, Initiation, etc.

The steps on the bhakti path are as follows:

First comes faith in the process. Then comes devotee association. Then one adopts the principles of sadhana bhakti and accepts initiation from a bona fide spiritual master. From there by the grace of the spiritual master the dirt of lust, anger, greed, madness, illusion and envy is removed from the heart and one becomes solidly situated in bhakti. At this point taste for Krishna's holy name develops and then matures into addiction for the name. Finally volcanic eruptions of spiritual emotion within the heart manifest and one then attains pure love of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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