(You will find the answer in the unique Vedic Philosophy of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj).
Every individual in this universe naturally desires unlimited everlasting happiness because he is a part of the reservoir of Bliss, Shri Krishna.
A number of philosophies are prevalent regarding the means to attain this infinite bliss but all these philosophies can be divided into just two. The first theory is that the ‘I’ is the body, and the second is that the “I” is the entiity called the soul apart from the body. Those that support the first view are called materialists. Those that support the second view are called spiritualists. Although the spiritualist & materialist criticize each other, in my opinion, both are naive. As the body and the soul have a harmonious eternal relationship.
One can practice proper spiritual discipline only by keeping the body healthy, and the existence of the body in turn depends upon the soul.
The infinite divine bliss desired by every individual can only be attained through the grace of Shri Krishna. The grace of Shri Krishna is attained only through complete surrender to Him. Hence the first step is to attain spiritual knowledge from a realized saint, i.e. one who has both theoretical knowledge & practical experience. Then one has to purify the mind through practice of spiritual discipline specified by the GURU. It is only after purification of heart that one can attain Divine Bliss through the grace of the GURU.
For the purification of the heart the only spiritual discipline is selfless nine-fold devotion to Shri Krishna.
By chanting His names, singing about His form, attributes, pastimes, abode, etc., one has to shed tears and create an ever-increasing intense longing for His divine darshan.
Abandoning all desire for the five kinds of liberation (sarshti, samipya, salokya, saroopya, sayujya) one has to practice uninterrupted devotion to Shri Krishna with the desire for selfless service solely to please Him.
It is only the mind that has to surrender or practice devotion (listening to His glories, chanting etc.). Therefore the mind should always be engaged in the remembrance of Shri Krishna. His names, forms, attributes, pastimes, abode and saints. With the body one should perform the required actions necessary for fulfilling the needs of the body. Thus, the mind attached to God and the body to work is the Karmyoga of the Gita and this alone is the Gyanyoga of the Vedanta.
1. Shri Krishn and Bliss are both synonymous terms. Every one in this material world desires Bliss alone, hence he is a servant of Bliss. Thus, unknowingly he is a servant of Lord Krishn.
2. The path of devotion (bhakti yog) is the only means to attain Shri Krishn – (Bliss). This devotion is popularly known as navadha bhakti (Nine fold devotion).
3. Purification of the mind is possible only through devotional practice whereafter one attains perfect devotion, and realises Shri Krishn.
4. It is impossible to acquire divine qualities like truth, non-violence etc. without the purification of the mind.
5. Devotional practice is related to the mind alone. Devotion performed only with the sense organs is not devotion.
6. Love and hate in the material world have the same results. True detachment means neither love nor hate i.e. a state of indifference.
7. Devotional perfection is, seeing Shri Krishn in all beings both movable and immovable.
8. Human birth is invaluable but at the same time it is transitory. So even a moment’s delay in devotional practice may bring about a great loss.
9. Perceiving faults in others is a positive evidence of one’s own faults.
10. Devotional practice is possible only under the guidance of a true Saint.
When an individual soul truly realizes that God and His Names are one and the same with equal powers and attributes, at that very moment he will attain God. Write this in Golden Words.
God is so merciful, He says ‘O dear ones! I am present everywhere but you have no knowledge of this; I reside in my Divine abode Golok where you cannot come; I dwell in your heart but you are unaware of it.
… Therefore I seat Myself in My Names. If someone accepts this completely, then when he chants the name of God, when he just begins to say Radhe, he will be overcome with joy that his voice will be choked with emotions and he will be unable to speak.’
Then what is the delay in attaining God? What is the delay in receiving the Grace of the Guru?
Only have firm faith in this message,
Yours, Kripalu
Overflowing with the sweetest form of transcendental bliss makes Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj’s Shyama Shyam Geet an extraordinary devotional composition. From the pen of this great free-spirited wordsmith comes 1008 melodious couplets that bring to light the most intimate of all loving pastimes of the Divine Couple, Shyama Shyam. Each verse is suffused with an all-enchanting sentiment of divine love. The evocative nature of these depictions simply inundate the heart, while the smattering of doctrinal verses have a deeply soothing effect on the mind.
The highest and most relishable level of divine bliss is brajarasa, the unique bliss of divine love experienced by the great Rasika Saints during the last descension of Shyama Shyam. This is the core content of the text. In a beautiful poetical style we read elaborations on the oneness and simultaneous separateness of Shyama Shyam, due to Shyama being the personified form of the highest stage of divine love that causes Shyam to be completely fascinated for and subservient to Her love. We learn about the exclusive qualities of the love of the gopis, those topmost selfless lovers of Shyam and many other useful things for enriching our devotional practice.
The subjects presented in Shyama Shyam Geet are in complete agreement with the teachings of the Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures, as well as the writings of various Saints.
Radha Govind Geet is an encyclopedia of divine knowledge. These 11,111 devotional couplets revealed by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj overflow with the essence of the philosophy of the Vedas and other authoritative texts, presented in a very clear and comprehensible style.
The nature of the individual soul, maya and God and the differences between the three, the nature of Brahm, Paramatma and Bhagavan, the importance of the human body, the ultimate goal of the living being, the methods of attaining that goal, elaborate explanations of the paths of karma, jnana and bhakti, the characteristic traits of a genuine Saint, the nature of this world, the nature of God’s grace, the secret behind the process of surrender to God, the means of practicing devotion to Shri Radha Krishna and the nature of the goal – divine love, the practical form of devotional practice, insights into the divine entities know as Shri Radha and Shri Krishna, the ornamentation of Shri Radha Krishna, the importance of the holy name of God, the infant, childhood and adolescent pastimes of the Divine Couple, and various other topics have been clearly elaborated upon.
The principles enunciated in these poetic verses are eternal, and their relevance and validity will always remain. The true value of Radha Govind Geet as a devotional archive is therefore incalculable, ensuring it remains a splendid source of philosophy, devotion and grace for generations to come.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj encapsulates the entire ocean of Vedic knowledge in a very succinct lyrical manner in Bhakti Shatak. Describing the principles of the path of bhakti, these one hundred devotional couplets are gems of wisdom for any aspirant who desires to progress along the path of love and devotion. The inclusion of Shri Maharaj Ji’s own written explanations gives tremendous insight into the profundity of these well-articulated verses.
The text begins by establishing Shri Radha as the Supreme Entity and the very Soul of the Supreme Soul, Shri Krishna. All aspects of God are delineated, including His innumerable energies and attributes, in such a masterly way that even a newcomer to spiritual concepts will find himself interested in loving the Lord. The text culminates to reveal that the Supreme Lord is bound by love, and it is through love alone that He can be attained. The only path to know Him – the path of bhakti – is beautifully described in the simplest possible manner.
The Vedas and all other scriptures unanimously declare that the ultimate aim of every living being is the attainment of infinite, everlasting bliss. This infinite and eternal bliss is the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, as established by scriptural statements such as raso vai sah, “He alone is bliss”. And yet that same Shri Krishna, the very abode of infinite bliss, is bound by His own most intimate power, a divine entity known as prema or divine love. Prema Rasa Madira has therefore been written from the perspective of attaining divine love, the supreme goal of every living being.
The extraordinary range of unique divine pastimes that took place during Shri Krishna’s last descension 5000 years ago form the basis of these 1008 devotional songs. The emotive depictions of the sweetness permeating the sacred abode of God, divine love, devotional humility, love in separation, love in union and the child and adolescent pastimes of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna, etc. are in accordance with the narrations of the Vedas, other scriptures and the writings of the Rasika Saints.
Sumptuously presented over two volumes, Prema Rasa Madira – Volume 1-2 includes explanations intended to assist readers to deepen their understanding of the sentiments expressed.
Every living being desires and seeks happiness. But what is true happiness and how can it be attained? There have been many authorities on Hinduism who have written various books in an attempt to answer these questions. Writing from their own experience, these different books appear to contradict each other. Reading them, no one is able to arrive at any decisive conclusion. In fact, most people become even more confused than they were to begin with. One of the remarkabilities of Prema Rasa Siddhanta is that it reconciles all these seemingly contradictory philosophies with such clarity that the profoundest spiritual wisdom becomes accessible to everyone.
Even though knowledge of the divine science is limitless, in this little book Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has revealed the subtlest aspects of subjects such as The Aim of Human Life, The Nature of God, The Grace of God, The Soul, Material World and Detachment and The Paths to Attain God, etc. with such simplicity that even a newcomer to spiritual philosophy can understand them. His lucid exposition of the Impersonal, Personal God and the Secret of Descension is most unique, and he has laid special emphasis upon the science of karmayoga, because every individual soul has to pursue his goal of attaining divine bliss while performing all his worldly duties.
The subject matter is so comprehensive that all fundamental spiritual questions are answered and all doubts are dispelled. Besides quoting extensively from the Vedas and other scriptures, Shri Maharaj Ji uses practical everyday examples in order to benefit people from all walks of life. The resulting ease with which his directions are applicable to daily life is amazing.