48 The Nectar of Devotion

Srila Rupa Gosvami warns, however, that if a person is properly
initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, he should not think that sim-
ply by the acceptance of such initiation his business is then finished.
One still has to follow the rules and regulations very carefully. If
after accepting the spiritual master,and being initiated one does not
follow the rules and regulations of devotional service, then he is again
fallen. One must be very vigilant to remember that he is the part and
parcel of the transcendental body of Krsna, and it is his duty as part
and parcel to give service to the whole, or Krsna. If we do not render
service to Krsna then again we fall down. In other words, simply be-
coming initiated does not elevate one to the position of a high-class
brahmana. One also has to discharge the duties and follow the regu-
lative principles very rigidly.

Sri Ripa Gosvami also says that if anyone is regularly discharging
devotional service there will be no question of a falldown. But even
if circumstantially there is some falldown, the Vaisnava need have
nothing to do with the prayascitta, the ritualistic ceremony for puri-
fication. If someone falls down from the principles of devotional
service, he need not take to the prayascitta performances for refor-
mation. He has simply to execute the rules and regulations for dis-
charging devotional service, and that is sufficient for his reinstate-
ment. This is the mystery of the Vaisnava (devotional) cult.

Practically there are three processes for elevating one to the plat-
form of spiritual consciousness. These processes are called karma,
jiiana and bhakti. Ritualistic performances are in the field of karma.
Speculative processes are in the field of jridna. One who has taken to
bhakti, the devotional service of the Lord, need have nothing to do
with karma or jiiana. It has been already explained that pure devo-
tional service is without any tinge of karma or jnana. Bhakti should
have no tinge of philosophical speculation or ritualistic performances.

In this connection Srila Ripa Gosvami gives evidence from
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto, in which it is said by Lord
Krsna to Uddhava, “‘The distinction between qualification and dis-
qualification may be made in this way: persons who are already ele-
vated in discharging devotional service will never again take shelter of
the processes of fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. If one
