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EDITORIAL March 11, 2000 VNN5663 Comment on this story Dangers In The Guise Of Sadhana BY VICTOR D DICARA (VRAJA KISHOR DAS) EDITORIAL, Mar 11 (VNN) — The twelth, thirteenth, and fourteen items of sadhana listed in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu are: (12) Not being attached to having students; (13) not starting huge projects; and (14) giving up excessive appreciation for mundane arts sciences. Rupa Goswami explains these items by quoting the Seventh Canto [7.13.8]: "Never be attached to having students, nor to studying many books and teaching them to earn money, nor to starting huge projects."
The twelth through fourteen item of sadhana are intended to protect one from activities that appear harmless or even favorable to sadhana, but in fact pose a great danger, as explained below. Accepting students or disciples is dangerous because it exacerbates desires of gain, honor, and position. The twelth item of sadhana therefore prescribes that one be cautious to root out such attachments in regard to students and disciples. Knowledge and study also seems harmless or even favorable to sadhana, but is dangerous because it too can exacerbate similar material desires. The thirteenth item therefore prescribes that one not study with the purpose of impressing others by one's lectures and explanations for the sake of gaining worldly things like wealth and respect. Starting huge projects specifically refers to construction of temples (Vishvanatha Cakravarti defines it as mŠšhŠdi-vyŠpŠrŠn). Building temples seems quite favorable to sadhana, but is a dangerous thing for the sadhaka because it can exacerbate the desire to expand ("Šrabhet") one's influence and properties. The fourteenth item of sadhana therefore prescribes that sadhakas be cautious regarding such projects, as they may surreptitiously distract one from the pure motives of sadhana-uttama-bhakti. Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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