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Re:Para bhakti

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Krishna Kalale • November 4, 1998 


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Srimathe Sri Lakshminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Nama:
Srimathe Athivan Satakopa Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
Srimathe Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedantadesika Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
Srimathe Sri Lakshminrisimha Dhivya Padhukasevaka
Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:


If adiyen remembers it right,  three statements in sanskrit define these three
states :

darshanam parabhaktih syat
parajnanam tu samgamaha
punar vishlesha bhitistu paramabhaktiruchyate

sight of lord is parabhakti.  When an aspirant gets the sight of lord in a
particular mature state of bhaktiyoga which is usually attained after self
realization, which usually results from karmayoga and / or jnanayoga.  This
darshana is not actual sight of lord, since Sri ramanuja states that it is
darshana samanakara - or equivalent to actual sight (but not exactly).
(NOTE:
bimba -darshana  or sight of lord's form is taken as prerequisite for
moksha in
madhva system of thought)

parajnana is actually meeting lord in bhaktiyoga.  Even here meeting means
nearness, interaction involving intense affection of jivatman to his only
controller, support and seshin and reciprocal mercy and outpourings of love
from God.  Here the bhaktiyogi's experience of God is higher than that of the
previous stage.

Then God, after revealing himself to the bhaktiyogi for a while, it seems, 
usually disappears from his vision leaving this jiva in utmost misery; in this
state of misery it seems there is a powerful yearning which is uncontrollable
and unbearable to the jivatman to have that sight again..... (thank GOD!
this
state of misery usually does not befall unworthy souls like me ! or else this
separation would be unbearable) .. ( I am just making fun, even though this is
a very desirable state)

Then it seems, after a while GOd appears in vivid splendour to these
bhaktiyogis thus creating a surge of unlimited happiness in the aspirant
who is
overwhelmed with joy.  In that state of joy, itseems the bhaktiyogi is
subjected to great fear that he may lose sight of that glorious Lord again and
that he can never bear it.  this is the "punar vishlesha bheeti" or having
fear
again that he may lose the sight of his dear Lord.  this stage is parama
bhakti.

"yada hyevaisha etasmin udaram antaram kurute atha tasya bhayam bhavati
tattveva bhayam vidhusho manvanasya" taittiriyopanishad

even if the sight of that lord is lost for half a moment, a great fear takes
over this mature bhaktiyogi (vidhushah).  This is is the fear for the learned
vidwan or jnani or bhaktiyogi.

adiyen Krishna Kalale