In2-MeC

Timisoara, Romania
6 August 2004

A Letter From Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
translated by Punya Palaka Prabhu, ISKCON Prague

Instructions for one who chants the holy name and worships the Deities

(remembering the pastimes artificially - all perfection is there in the holy name - after the holy name brings about the appearance of the form, qualities and activities of the chanter in his transcendental svarupa, He manifests His own transcendental form, qualities, etc. - considering purity and impurity is mundane - transcendental discretion or judgment based on a service attitude beyond the modes is what a devotee should aspire for)

sri sri krsna-caitanya-candro vijayatotamam

Sridhama Mayapura, Nadia
8 Damodara, Sri Caitanyabda 429 [1915 AD]

My dear -

Having received your letter dated Damodara 2, I got acquainted with the news. I became overjoyed that your enthusiasm about chanting the holy name had increased. If in the course of your continued chanting all anarthas have been dispelled, in the holy name Himself the form, qualities and pastimes will automatically manifest. It is not possible to remember the form, qualities and pastimes by an artificial endeavor.

The nama and the nami are nondifferent truth. It will be realized in various ways when our anarthas cease to exist. If you chant the name of Krsna without offenses, you will be able to understand by yourself that from the name alone all perfection comes.

For one who chants the holy name, the aloofness of his gross and subtle body in his own self-conceit will gradually vanish, and his own siddha-rupa will manifest itself. When a person chants the holy name while situated in his siddha-svarupa, then he can get the transcendental vision of Krsna's form. Causing the actual form of the living entity to appear, the holy name awakens his attraction to Krsna's form. Causing the actual qualities of the living entity to appear, the holy name awakens his attraction to Krsna's qualities. Generating the actual activities of the living entity, the holy name awakens his attraction to Krsna's pastimes. Service to the holy name inevitably includes all that the chanter should do. How to serve the holy name by body, mind and words will be automatically manifested to you in your heart. One who chants the holy name can automatically realize in his heart all considerations regarding the truth of the holy name. By hearing and reading the scriptures and acting upon their message the actual form of the holy name is revealed. It is needless to write much in this regard. Everything will unfold for you in the course of your continued chanting.

Both purity and impurity are material considerations, but impurity relating to the Lord's service must be given up. In sattva-guna there is pure substance while in rajas and tamo-guna there is impurity involved. Through sattva-guna one should lose interest in rajas and tamas, in other words, one should become situated in visuddha-sattva and serve the Lord with such ingredients, knowing this mode to be pure. Things selected by an impure intelligence, or things originating from rajas and tamo-guna should not be offered to the Lord. Moreover, if a pure substance does not become transcendental (nirguna), then the Lord does not accept it; it depends on the mental disposition of the worshiper. Purity is certainly to be taken into consideration. When the transcendental intelligence is awakened, one can quit considering purity and impurity because of having developed a transcendental discretion.

Here everything is fine. Please increase our happiness from time to time by letting us know how you are doing in your service. Sriman Bhaktivilasa Thakura Mahasaya is OK. We are gratified with getting news about his bhajana occasionally. . . . Read the Sajjana-tosani.

your ever well-wisher,
lowly (akincana) Sri Siddhanta Sarasvati

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