Description

In Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī outlines the milestones in the path of devotional service as follows:

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo’tha bhajana-kriyā
sādhakānām ayaṁ premnaḥ prādurbhāve bhavet kramaḥ

athāsaktis tato bhāvas tataḥ premābhyudañcati
tato’nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ

“In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization [śraddhā]. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated [sādhu-saṅga]. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service [bhajana-kriyā]. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment [anartha-nivṛtti], attains steadiness in self-realization [niṣṭhā], and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa [ruci]. This taste leads one further forward to attachment [āsakti] for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is matured in bhāva, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life.” [Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.4.15-16]

Anarthas are spiritual liabilities: the weeds of material desire in our hearts that hinder our spiritual progress. Until we get past the stage of anartha-nivṛtti [the removal of all anarthas from the heart], spiritual life seems like an uphill struggle. But from that point on, it’s all downhill.

We must know the enemy that holds us back. Only by understanding what anarthas are, and by observing them in ourselves, can we attempt to uproot them.

This package contains a collection of motivating and inspiring sessions given by Śrī Bābājī, who expounds on the main anarthas faced by devotees. These talks are based on Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākur’s insightful analysis of the categories of anarthas in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu-bindu.

Śrī Bābājī provides a refreshingly contemporary commentary with numerous illustrations and insights from his own personal experience and realization.

Features:

• Over seven hours of video in a series of seven lectures by Bābājī, covering Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākur’s analysis of anarthas in the life of a devotee.
• Each talk features a lively question-and-answer session between Bābājī and the devotees present during the seminar.
• Relevant excerpts on anarthas from Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākur’s Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu-bindu.
• MP3 audio extracts of the video series, for easy listening at your convenience.
• Recommended for intermediate devotees determined to attain prema, pure love of Godhead.