Jayapataka Swami:There are different steps of devotional service. The first step is śraddhā, then satsaṅga, and then bhajana-kriyā,at the state of bhajana-kriyā, one usually takes initiation. Next stage is called anartha-nivṛtti, there are different anarthas, unwanted things. One of those anarthas is called, thick and thin,one day the devotional service is thick, one day it is thin,it seems that you are on the stage of anartha-nivṛtti. One day you are feeling enthusiastic, next day you feel laziness. So, you have to keep on with your devotional service, pray for the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura and Pañca-tattva. Then you reach the next stage, is called niṣṭhā which means steady,you don’t have one day up and one day down,you will be always steady. Next stage after that you are having a constant taste.So now you may have a glimpse, some day you may have a taste,but some days no taste.When you attain the stage of ruci, every day you will have taste! Every day! Don’t you want to reach that stage?! Why you are delaying?and then after that you get attached to that taste. That is called āsakti,then after āsakti, you come into the ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa,aṣṭa-sātvika-bhāva– eight ecstasies. After that whenever Kṛṣṇa blesses you, you can achieve kṛṣṇa-prema. So, you are making progress! Someday up, someday down. Some people they don’t have any up, they are very fallen! You have some day up and someday down.Keep on going soon you will reach the stage of niṣṭhā.
26-MAY-2020 SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, INDIA