The Further Awakening of Spontaneous Devotional Service

In 1972, Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote that his followers’ development in spontaneous devotion was assured provided that they followed his teachings:

“This spontaneous loving devotional service is not so easy matter, but if one simply sticks strictly to the rules and regulations — like rising early, chanting sixteen rounds, chanting gāyatrī, and keeping always clean — then his enthusiasm will grow more and more, and if there is also patience and determination, one day he will come to the platform of spontaneous devotion, then his life will be perfect.” (Letter to Karāndhara, Bombay, 22 December 1972).

The Awakening of Spontaneous Devotional Service, published in 2015, outlined some of the principles of rāgānuga-bhakti, describing further details on the development of spontaneous devotional service. It is an extensive devotional science — and a delicate one — whose erroneous application can result in difficulties in spiritual life. Thus, one requires qualified guidance in order to move forward in this arena.

While rāgānuga-bhakti may not be inspired by scriptural guidelines, it is, like the practice of regulated devotional service, bound by the standards established by previous ācāryas and by scripture. Practising devotees should therefore never think that “spontaneity” means doing whatever they feel or think. Spontaneous devotion is a serious business.

The Further Awakening of Spontaneous Devotional Service is the sequel, and helps the reader to further understand the principles, as well as the application of this science. It illuminates various milestones in a sādhaka’s life, such as in-depth details into the symptoms of ruci and āsakti, and what one is eligible for at these various stages. It also expands on topics including:

• Gauḍīyas Mostly Follow Mañjarīs
• Sahajiyā Sampradāyas
• Who is “Not Advanced Enough for Rāga-bhakti?”
• Rāgānuga-bhakti Is Not Sahajiyāism

In addition to books that outline the rules governing rāgānuga-bhakti are those that teach how to put those principles into action. Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī is the perfect person to show how rāgānuga-bhakti is practised. Without doubt, the most well-known and well-acclaimed literature on the topic is Śrī Vilāpa-kusumāñjali, in which Dāsa Gosvāmī reveals not only his identity as Rati-mañjarī, but also how to hanker for Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s eternal service. This book serves as a precursor to approaching that most treasured of literatures.

318 pages
Hardbound
Gilt-edged
136x208mm / 5.3x8.2in

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Sample chapter from the book: