Rati is there in the shape of sraddha, and ruci is there in the shape of sraddha, but gradually it develops. Ruci first appears in sraddha and ultimately it comes towards the istadeva. A person who has such thick ruci has no taste for worldly desires and worldly things. He does not commit any aparadha (offenses).
I know that you cannot understand fully. However, by doing bhajana—doing, doing, doing—you can come to that stage. Don’t try to understand through your intelligence. Try to understand through our Guru-varga (disciplic succession). We should try to realize what our line of acaryas have written. I cannot be different from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. What I am telling is his remnants.
You should try to do more bhajana. Don’t try to understand by mental speculation. Try to do bhajana and pray that you can advance. Try to chant Hare Krsna—the transcendental names. Have strong faith in the name and then everything will come.
April 17, 2000 Mathurā