Post by madanmohandas on Nov 24, 2020 18:13:14 GMT -6
Here is a sample of the next scribbling. A fictional dialogue on the gradations of devotees. I have devised three personae for the dialogue; the main speaker Shantilal, and the interlocutors, Naren and Premdas. In a garden, recumbent on soft cushions under a shady canopy; a gentle rill bubbling over the pebbles and the occasional warbling of the Kokla bird.
Shantilal - Ah, there you are, Say Sri Hari! where is the other of your party?
Naren - Sri Hari! O still asleep, Shantilal, but a message has been conveyed and I have no doubt he will be here straight, being so eager to continue our lively discussion of last night.
Sh. - Well, let us see, shall we wait a little while, or perhaps in the meantime we may sum up the arguments that we have dealt with already?
Premdas - Greetings, Hail Sri Hari! sorry I'm late all, have I missed anything? I hope not, you promised Naren that you would wait.
Nar. - True, and so we have; come sit you down at ease. Now learned Shantilal has determined that we sum up the arguments that we have dealt with so far, what do...
Pre. - O yes, do, I was about to ask the same myself. hahaha
Sh.. Very well, now where were we? Where to begin?
Pr. - Why, at the beginning. hahahaha
Nar. O peace, Premdas, you will undermine the solemnity of our discourse with you ill timed quips.
Pr - O very well, I will refrain and be sober hereafter. Hehe
Nar - Now, O learned and wise Shantilal, if you would be pleased to sum up the contents of yesterday's discussion on the various grades of devotees in respect of superior, middling and inferior, and then pick up from where we left off.
Sh. - Very well, we will examine the subtle distinctions again, and if it seemeth contrary to opinion, as you suggested yesterday, we shall also scrutinise the prime sources.
Pr. - Yes, proceed.
Nar - Yes, indeed, do.
Sh. - Very well. First let us send up a prayer for grace,
Hail to the preceptor and saints divine!
Expounders of the mystery sublime;
To Nitai and Chaitanya and their train,
To Radha-Krishna hail! all hail again!
Well, as we were discussing yesterday the three general gradations of devotees, we made the nice distinction between the 'adhikari' and the 'bhagavat', in terms of superior, middling, and inferior; and you Naren were taken aback and somewhat surprised to learn of the subtle distinction, since you and others before you, have conflated the similar, yet distinct classification.
Yesterday we examined statements in the discourse of the nine yogendras in Book XI. synoptically with the verses from divine Rupa's Bhakti Rasamrta sindhu. And we noted how the authors who have treated this subject and discussed these articles invariably cite these verses together, which has given the impression to posterity that the two gradations of 'adhikari' and 'bhagavat' are synonymous.
Pr - That is indeed how I have hitherto understood it.
Sh - Exactly, but on deeper analysis and scrutiny, one finds a difference, albeit certain overlapping considerations may be observed, but that is more in respect of the gradations of superior, middling or intermediary if you prefer, and inferior.
Let us suppose then that the term 'adhikari', which signifies a worthy and eligible candidate, over against the term 'bhagavat', simply a devotee of the Almighty one are quite distinct.
Nar - But if I may interrupt you, are not the 'bhagavats' worthy? I mean, what do you mean?
Sh - hahaha, why of course, but what do we understand by worthy and eligible candidate?
Pr - Well, eligible candidate would suggest someone with the necessary aptitude to perform or accomplish any given task or undertaking to it's desired end, I suppose. But let us better understand how this is relevant to the superior, middling and inferior devotee with, if you please, some references.
Sh- Very well. Yes, let us resort to authoritative sources; that is indeed what we proposed. So let us examine first the statements of divine Rupa in his Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu which I have here before me.
Now, let me see, where is that verse, ‘whoever is’....., ‘whoever is’, ah here it is. So here divine Rupa treats on the subject of devotion by rule of discipline, viz. vaidhi bhakti. Now, yes, elaborating on the topic of the eligible candidate, the adhikari, or worthy, if I may use the expression, makes the general proposition thus,
Whoever is extremely fortunate,
With quickened faith, bhakti may cultivate;
Who is not too fond or detached, but free,
Such an one may become my devotee.
(BRS 1.2.14)
to be continued.
Shantilal - Ah, there you are, Say Sri Hari! where is the other of your party?
Naren - Sri Hari! O still asleep, Shantilal, but a message has been conveyed and I have no doubt he will be here straight, being so eager to continue our lively discussion of last night.
Sh. - Well, let us see, shall we wait a little while, or perhaps in the meantime we may sum up the arguments that we have dealt with already?
Premdas - Greetings, Hail Sri Hari! sorry I'm late all, have I missed anything? I hope not, you promised Naren that you would wait.
Nar. - True, and so we have; come sit you down at ease. Now learned Shantilal has determined that we sum up the arguments that we have dealt with so far, what do...
Pre. - O yes, do, I was about to ask the same myself. hahaha
Sh.. Very well, now where were we? Where to begin?
Pr. - Why, at the beginning. hahahaha
Nar. O peace, Premdas, you will undermine the solemnity of our discourse with you ill timed quips.
Pr - O very well, I will refrain and be sober hereafter. Hehe
Nar - Now, O learned and wise Shantilal, if you would be pleased to sum up the contents of yesterday's discussion on the various grades of devotees in respect of superior, middling and inferior, and then pick up from where we left off.
Sh. - Very well, we will examine the subtle distinctions again, and if it seemeth contrary to opinion, as you suggested yesterday, we shall also scrutinise the prime sources.
Pr. - Yes, proceed.
Nar - Yes, indeed, do.
Sh. - Very well. First let us send up a prayer for grace,
Hail to the preceptor and saints divine!
Expounders of the mystery sublime;
To Nitai and Chaitanya and their train,
To Radha-Krishna hail! all hail again!
Well, as we were discussing yesterday the three general gradations of devotees, we made the nice distinction between the 'adhikari' and the 'bhagavat', in terms of superior, middling, and inferior; and you Naren were taken aback and somewhat surprised to learn of the subtle distinction, since you and others before you, have conflated the similar, yet distinct classification.
Yesterday we examined statements in the discourse of the nine yogendras in Book XI. synoptically with the verses from divine Rupa's Bhakti Rasamrta sindhu. And we noted how the authors who have treated this subject and discussed these articles invariably cite these verses together, which has given the impression to posterity that the two gradations of 'adhikari' and 'bhagavat' are synonymous.
Pr - That is indeed how I have hitherto understood it.
Sh - Exactly, but on deeper analysis and scrutiny, one finds a difference, albeit certain overlapping considerations may be observed, but that is more in respect of the gradations of superior, middling or intermediary if you prefer, and inferior.
Let us suppose then that the term 'adhikari', which signifies a worthy and eligible candidate, over against the term 'bhagavat', simply a devotee of the Almighty one are quite distinct.
Nar - But if I may interrupt you, are not the 'bhagavats' worthy? I mean, what do you mean?
Sh - hahaha, why of course, but what do we understand by worthy and eligible candidate?
Pr - Well, eligible candidate would suggest someone with the necessary aptitude to perform or accomplish any given task or undertaking to it's desired end, I suppose. But let us better understand how this is relevant to the superior, middling and inferior devotee with, if you please, some references.
Sh- Very well. Yes, let us resort to authoritative sources; that is indeed what we proposed. So let us examine first the statements of divine Rupa in his Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu which I have here before me.
Now, let me see, where is that verse, ‘whoever is’....., ‘whoever is’, ah here it is. So here divine Rupa treats on the subject of devotion by rule of discipline, viz. vaidhi bhakti. Now, yes, elaborating on the topic of the eligible candidate, the adhikari, or worthy, if I may use the expression, makes the general proposition thus,
Whoever is extremely fortunate,
With quickened faith, bhakti may cultivate;
Who is not too fond or detached, but free,
Such an one may become my devotee.
(BRS 1.2.14)
to be continued.