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Introduction
from Sivarama Swami - The Awakening of Spontaneous Devotional Service - English - Sample
by Lalita Kft
Historically, the subject and the practice of spontaneous devotional service has repeatedly been a source of concern in iskcon. is concern is generally a justi ed reaction to immature devotees propagating the teachings and practice of rāgānuga-bhakti. At times though, the reaction has been inappropriate, resulting in unwanted consequences. Yet as iskcon grows and matures, it strives to nd the right balance in accommodating rāgānuga-bhakti in a Society whose members visibly practise vaidhī-bhakti.
It has to!
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Spontaneous practice is one of the two paths leading to spontaneous loving devotion which, is the ultimate goal of K ṣ a consciousness. e urge to take up the path of rāga will invariably arise in some iskcon members as a consequence of devotee association and reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. And it will arise in almost every member when they become liberated.
However, all sources of hearing do not awaken genuine greed. Often it is found that when devotees acquire an interest in and knowledge of spontaneous devotion, they mistakenly think they are quali ed to practise it. at misunderstanding can lead to the age-old delusion that a icts our Gau īya tradition—sahajiyāism. Sahajiyās are untrained, unguided Vaiṣ avas who oversimplify the quali cation for spontaneous devotion despite having mastered neither sense control nor Lord Caitanya’s teachings. e result is that the integrity of the purest spiritual lineage has been subjected
The Awakening of Spontaneous Devotional Service
to criticism and disdain. at is a serious handicap for a religious movement with its sights on global in uence and eminence.
It was for this reason that Śrīla Prabhupāda dealt with anything that resembled sahajiyāism with an iron st. And that mood has been rightly carried forth by iskcon’s leaders, albeit without the same spiritual insight as that of His Divine Grace— understandably. But as devotees become more learned and realised, their delity to protect the Society is being ne-tuned to the consequences of Lord Caitanya’s teachings: K ṣ a consciousness gives rise to spontaneous devotees. And those spontaneous devotees must be harmoniously integrated within the Society, their spiritual practices nurtured, and regulated devotion maintained as the common visible sādhana of iskcon.
No easy task. e spiritual leanings and preferences of devotees in iskcon is legion. Among regulated devotees are those who are unaware of the relevance of spontaneous devotion, and those who are. en there are devotees who have an a nity for spontaneous practice but no quali cation for it—they are often instigators of controversy. Among truly spontaneous devotees are both conditioned souls and liberated souls: of the former, some do not know how to conduct themselves and so they too cause dissention. Returning to regulated devotees, there are those who do not know how to relate to Vaiṣ avas of a mood di erent from their own, and then there are those who are intolerant of what they mistakenly judge to be unorthodoxy.
In writing this book I have tried to shed light on the truths of rāgānuga-bhakti in a way that would assist devotees—regulated, spontaneous, or the many shades in between—to both pursue their spiritual calling and maintain stability in the movement. If I have made any mistakes or created any o ences in the process I beg my readers to forgive me.
