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700623ND.LA
The Nectar of Devotion

Los Angeles, June 23, 1970
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. So we have published our Nectar of Devotion. So every one of you should read this Nectar of Devotion repeatedly. The whole substance of Vaisnava philosophy and activities, everything is there. So every one of you read this Nectar of Devotion once, twice, thrice. Unless you have got full-fledged ideas what is this devotional service... That was written by... Actually, it was spoken by Lord Caitanya to Rupa Gosvami. For ten days continually He instructed Rupa Gosvami at Prayaga, Dasasvamedha-ghata. You have seen the picture in TLC. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was at Allahabad, Prayaga, and Rupa Gosvami met Him there. He was offering obeisances flat. You have seen that picture. So at that time Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally gave him instruction what is this cult of bhakti. So for ten days. And he took note of it and later on he placed this book in the form of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. That is in Sanskrit. It will be difficult for you. Therefore I have presented a summary study, and the summary study has come to 407 pages. If we would have elaborately described each and every verse, then it would have come to at least thousand pages.
So the whole substance is creamed. You should take advantage of this. And don't indulge in much unnecessary talks. Time should be very properly utilized. Ayusah ksana eko 'pi na labhyah svarna-kotibhih. Value of time is so great that one moment of your life lost, it cannot be returned even in exchange of millions of dollars. Therefore every moment should be properly utilized. Avyartha kalatvam [Cc. Madhya 23.18-19]. When one is advanced in Krsna consciousness his business becomes to see, "Whether I am wasting my time?" That is one of the sign of advanced devotee. Avyartha kalatvam. Nama-gane sada ruci [Cc. Madhya 23.32]. Attachment for chanting always. Pritis tad-vasati sthale: [Cc. Madhya 23.18-19] and attraction or attachment for living in the temple, vasati, where Krsna lives. Krsna lives everywhere, but specifically, to give us chance to meet, He lives in the temple or in places like Vrndavana. So pritis tad-vasati sthale. One should be enhanced in attachment for living where Krsna is living. Pritis tad... Nama-gane sada ruci [Cc. Madhya 23.32]. And taste for singing always the holy name. These are development. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. All of you who come here, it is out of sraddha, some, what is called... What is the exact English word for sraddha? Devotion, you can take. Devotion. Those who come here, their first principle is they have some regard that "This Krsna consciousness movement is nice. Let me see." So this is the beginning. Adau sraddha. And then sadhu-sangah: then associate with these devotees. Then, after some time, when he's little advanced more, then he is eager to become initiated. This is third stage, as some of these students are going to be initiated today. The initiation means bhajana-kriya. Actually executing devotional service: initiation. And if one actually executes devotional service, then anartha-nivrttih syat, then all nonsense habits will disappear. Then I'll not have to stress on the point these four regulative principles. Automatically it will go away. That is the test. How one has properly utilized his initiation will be tested that he has no more attraction for these four principles: illicit sex, intoxication, gambling, and meat-eating. They will automatically go. There is no need of asking. Anartha-nivrttih syat. Then ruci. When one is freed from all these prohibitive principles, then he develops a taste, tato ruci. Tato nistha: then he's steadily confirmed. Athasaktih. Then attachment: he cannot go. He cannot go. Athasaktis tato bhavah. Then ecstasy. And then he comes to the platform of love of Godhead. So when that platform is reached, then everything is successful. And if that platform is not reached, then everything is simply waste of time. But in the beginning, if you follow these principles, as laid down by Srila Rupa Gosvami and other acaryas...
So these things, one after another, everything is very clearly explained in this Nectar of Devotion. So each chapter you should read very carefully. And if you cannot understand, read it repeatedly. Don't all of a sudden, reading one or two page, immediately question, "Prabhupada, what is this? What is this? What is this?" Go on reading, and the answers will automatically come. So this book is, this valuable book is now published. You should take full advantage.
So chant this mantra... (end)

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