“Suffering results from actions that contradict one's true nature.”

Part 4 of 12 from "Essence of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu Sar)"

Uttama Bhakti, "activity intended to please Krishna, done as the main pursuit of one without ulterior motive," has six hallmarks (1.1.17):

klesha-ghnI shubhadA mokSa-laghutA-kRt sudurlabhA |
sAndrAnanda-visheSAtmA shrI-kRSNAkarSiNI ca sA ||

1. She eradicates all suffering 2. She bestows auspiciousness 3. She trivializes all other achievements, even liberation 4. She is very difficult to obtain 5. She has the quality of uniquely condensed bliss 6. She attracts Shree Krishna

 1) She Eradicates All Suffering

Suffering results from actions that contradict one's true nature. What causes such actions? Desires that are not in harmony with ones true nature cause such actions. What then causes such desires? These desires result from ignorance of ones true nature.

Actions contradictory to ones true nature cause (1) a manifest reaction, which one feels as suffering, and (2) an unmanifest reaction, which intensifies ones ignorance of his or her true identity and thus in turn intensifies desire, action, etc., in a perpetual cycle that produces suffering at each turn.

There are many ways eradicate suffering, ranging from intoxication to reformation of bad habits, to religiosity, to liberation. But Uttama Bhakti is unique because only she can fully eradicate all the stages of suffering, including the root stage: ignorance of ones true nature.

 2) She Bestows Auspiciousness

To be "auspicious" means to (1) attract and (2) benefit everyone, (3) be conducive to development of saintly qualities, and (4) bestow happiness. Happiness can be derived from (a) objects, (b) the soul, or (c) God.

Being the inherent, unmanifest nature of every soul, Uttama Bhakti can attract and benefit everyone, and can bestow qualities consonant with ones true spiritual nature. Uttama Bhakti also bestows all three types of happiness in unique depth and imperishability.

 3) She Trivializes All Other Achievements, Even Liberation

Achieving realization of Uttama Bhakti is an achievement that trivializes all other achievements, such as kama - pleasure, artha - wealth, dharma - religiosity and attainment of heaven, and even moksha - liberation from all suffering. In fact, one automatically and effortlessly attains these four goals as a trivial by-product of attaining Uttama Bhakti.

 4) She is Very Difficult to Obtain

Realization of Uttama Bhakti can be obtained either by practice (sadhana-siddhi) or as a gift (kripa-siddhi). However, one can practice for thousands of years and still not attain realization of Uttama Bhakti unless and until ones practice is infused with extremely deep and sincere attachment to Krishna (aasakti) - and such attachment is very rare. To realize Uttama Bhakti as the result of a gift from Krishna is also very rare because Krishna is extremely cautious about bestowing a gift that has the power to eventually control him.

 5) She Has the Quality of Uniquely Condensed Bliss

In its mature state Uttama Bhakti is characterized by a spiritual bliss so condensed that even the infinite bliss of brahmananda seems infinitesimal in comparison, like the water in a calves hoof-print compared to the water in the oceans. All other sources of bliss therefore become worthless to one with fully mature Uttama Bhakti.

 6) She Attracts Shree Krishna

In its mature state, Uttama Bhakti attracts Shree Krishna to the devotee. God, being perfectly complete, in no way lacks anything and is therefore not attached or attracted to anything. But one cannot truly enjoy love, which is the supremely relishable emotion, unless one has a sense of attachment and attraction. Being Supremely Complete and being the Supreme Enjoyer therefore presents a paradox resolved only by God investing the power of love (hladini-shakti) with the ability to create a sense of attachment and attraction even in God. Krishna therefore becomes attached and attracted to a person in whom pure love (uttama bhakti) resides.

 Development of the Hallmarks As will be explained in the next article, Uttama Bhakti has three stages of development, sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti, and prema-bhakti. The first two hallmarks, Eradication of Suffering and Bestowal of Auspiciousness, are hallmarks of sadhana-bhakti. The next two, Trivialization of other Achievements and being very Difficult to Obtain, are hallmarks of bhava-bhakti. The final two, Uniquely Condensed Bliss and the ability to Attract Shree Krishna, are hallmarks of prema-bhakti.

We'll have a closer look at these three stages, and the first one, sadhana, in particular, in our next article. The remaining articles in this series are:

Part Five - Sadhana Bhakti 
Part Six - Vaidhi Sadhana Bhakti 
Part Seven - Raganuga Sadhana Bhakti 
Part Eight - Bhava Bhakti 
Part Nine - Prema Bhakti 
Part Ten - An Overview of Rasa 
Part Eleven - The Primary Rasas 
Part Twelve - The Associated Rasas

© CHAKRA 19-Mar-2000

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