Tridandiswami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja extols the glories of Srila Lokanath Dasa Gosvami - part 5
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura continues, "Prema-bhakti jaha haite, avidya vinasa jate. Lokanatha lokera jivana." If guru is very exalted, then all the symptoms of guru that are mentioned in sastra reside in him, as they reside in Srila Lokanatha dasa Gosvami.
Suppose you are serving and obeying such a guru and he tells something that is apparently not in sastra; this is only apparent. We should follow that pure, bona fide guru. An advanced guru may appear to tell something opposite to the sastric conclusion, but it is not actually opposite. You will have to reconcile his statements. He is telling a very deep meaning of sastra.
If you are serving and obeying a guru like that, like Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, then sadhana-bhakti will manifest in your heart, after which bhava-bhakti, and then prema-bhakti will manifest – and after that all kinds of avidya (the ignorance of forgetting Krsna) will be destroyed. At that time you will attain the service of Krsna in Goloka Vrndavana.
First prema-bhakti comes, and then ignorance goes. Guru first gives the seed of the desire to serve Krsna; this is called sraddha. That sraddha develops, and when anarthas somewhat leave, then nistha (steadiness), ruci (taste), asakti (spontaneous attachment), bhava or rati (spiritual sentiments), and then prema (pure love) comes. With the appearance of prema, this physical body will be totally gone. Thus, prema will come, and you will be free from all ignorance.
If there is no bhakti, or even a part of bhakti, ignorance cannot go. To the degree that bhakti manifests, in the same proportion, ignorance, unwanted desires, and anarthas disappear; otherwise they can never go. It is absurd to think, "First I should purify my heart, and then I will chant and remember Krsna." First the sun should come, and then darkness will go. Without the appearance of the sun, how will the darkness dissipate? Narottama dasa Thakura is praying to his gurudeva, "Please be merciful. Sprinkle a drop of your mercy, and then I will be able to serve Radha-Krsna Conjugal."
An Explanation of the Song, "Sri Guru Carana Padma"
August 3, 2000
First Prema Bhakti Comes, then Ignorance Goes
If there is no bhakti, or even a part of bhakti, ignorance cannot go. To the degree that bhakti manifests, in the same proportion, ignorance, unwanted desires, and anarthas disappear; otherwise they can never go.…