Priya Kunj Ras

The relationship between a jivatma and Sri Bhagwan is eternal. Due to the illusory powers of Maya, the jivatma has forgotten this relationship. To free oneself from the cycle of birth and death, the jivatma must realize that he is a part and parcel of Sri Bhagwan and that he will find the eternal bliss he seeks constantly only by serving the lotus feet of Sri Bhagwan with loving devotion. Realizing this “Sambandha” (relationship) with Sri Bhagwan is the prime goal of a sadhak. “Sambandha loiya bhaje, taare Krishna nahi tyaje, aar sab more akaran”   (Prem Bhakti Chandrika) Meaning: Whoever worships Krishna by developing a loving relationship with him, Krishna does not leave him in any situation. All other kinds of worshippers die for nothing. (They don’t achieve anything valuable.) A sadhak must keep this eternal relationship in mind and then do bhajan. (Otherwise, although he might seem to do a lot of bhajan physically, his mind might get entangled in Maya in various subtle ways)....

  There are two characteristics of the Asakti stage of Bhakti: Kleshagni and Shubhada. Kleshagni: In Asakti dasha, the sadhak does not get distressed by miseries and disasters. It is not like the sadhak does not have to face any sufferings in his life, but he is so absorbed in the contemplation of Radha Krishna and is so detached from the material world that he does not get distressed about it. “Dukheshu anudvigna manah sukheshu vigataspriha” (Bhagvat Geeta 2.56) Meaning: A sadhak should be undisturbed in miseries and detached in pleasurable moments. In fact, the sadhak considers worldly miseries as auspicious and worldly pleasures as inauspicious. Normally, people think ‘I must have committed sins in the past and that's why I have to suffer such miseries.’ But in Asakti dasha, the sadhak thinks everything is happening for his spiritual welfare. He sees mercy in miseries and lack of mercy in pleasures. Namdev, a great devotee of Sri Hari, used to do bhajan in his hut made of eart...