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The Nectar of Instruction
remembering Krṣṇa’s name, fame, pastimes and qualities under the direction and protection of an expert devotee. This is the sum and substance of all instruction regarding the cultivation of devotional service.
“In the neophyte stage one should always engage in hearing  kṛṣṇa-kathā . This is called  śravaṇa-daśā , the stage of hearing. By constantly hearing the transcendental holy name of Kṛṣṇa and hearing of His transcendental form, qualities and pastimes, one can attain to the stage of acceptance called  varaṇa-daśā . When one attains this stage, he becomes attached to the hearing of  kṛṣṇa-kathā . When one is able to chant in ecstasy, he attains the stage of  smaraṇāvasthā , the stage of remembering. Recollection, absorption, meditation, constant remembrance and trance are the five items of progressive  kṛṣṇa-smaraṇa . At first, remembrance of Kṛṣṇa may be interrupted at intervals, but later remembrance proceeds uninterrupted. When remembrance is uninterrupted, it becomes concentrated and is called meditation. When meditation expands and becomes constant, it is called  anusmṛti . By uninterrupted and unceasing  anusmṛti  one enters the stage of  samādhi , or spiritual trance. After  smaraṇa-daśā  or  samādhi  has fully developed, the soul comes to understand his original constitutional position. At that time he can perfectly and clearly understand his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. That is called  sampatti-daśā , the perfection of life.
“ Caitanya-caritāmṛta  advises those who are neophytes to give up all kinds of motivated desires and simply engage in the regulative devotional service of the Lord according to the directions of scripture. In this way a neophyte can gradually