2 / The First Stages of Devotion

The three categories of devotional service which Srila Ripa Go-
svami describes in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu are listed as devotional
service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service
in pure love of Godhead. There are many sub-headings in each of
these categories. Generally it is understood that in the category of
devotional service in practice there are two different qualities, de-
votional service in ecstasy has four qualities, and devotional service in
pure love of Godhead has six qualities. These qualities will be ex-
plained by Srila Ripa Gosvami later on.

In this connection, Srila Ripa Gosvami suggests that the person
eligible for Krsna consciousness or devotional service can be classified
by his particular taste. He says that devotional service is a continual
process from one’s previous life. No one can take to devotional ser-
vice unless he has had some previous connection with it. For example,
suppose in this life I practice devotional service to some extent. Even
though it is not one hundred percent perfectly performed, still what-
ever I have done will not be lost. In my next life, from the very point
where I stopped in this life, I shall begin again. In this way there is
always a continuity. But even if there is no continuity, if only by
chance a person takes interest in a pure devotee’s instruction, he can
be accepted and advance in devotional service. Anyway, for persons
who have a natural taste for understanding books like the Bhagavad-
gita and S rimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is easier than for those
who are simply accustomed to mental speculation and argumentative
processes.

To support this statement there are many authoritative assertions

18
