vi The Nectar of Instruction
Sri Ripa, Sanatana, Bhatta Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala
Bhatta and Dasa Raghunatha.

Sri Ripa Gosvami was the leader of all the Gosvamis, and
to guide our activities he gave us this Upadesamrta (The
Nectar of Instruction) to follow. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
left behind Him the eight verses known as Siksdstaka, Ripa
Gosvami gave us Upadesdmrta so that we may become pure
Vaisnavas.

In all spiritual affairs, one’s first duty is to control his
mind and senses. Unless one controls his mind and senses,
one cannot make any advancement in spiritual life. Every-
one within this material world is engrossed in the modes of
passion and ignorance. One must promote himself to the
platform of goodness, sattva-guna, by following the instruc-
tions of Rapa Gosvami, and then everything concerning how
to make further progress will be revealed.

Advancement in Krsna consciousness depends on the at-
titude of the follower. A follower of the Krsna consciousness
movement should become a perfect gosvdmi. Vaisnavas are
generally known as gosvamis. In Vrndavana, this is the title
by which the director of each temple is known. One who
wants to become a perfect devotee of Krsna must become a
gosvdmi. Go means “‘the senses,” and svdmi means “the
master.” Unless one controls his senses and mind, one can-
not become a gosvami. To achieve the highest success in life
by becoming a gosvami and then a pure devotee of the Lord,
one must follow the instructions known as Upadesamrta,
which have been given by Srila Ripa Gosvami. Srila Ripa
Gosvami has given many other books, such as Bhakti-
rasamrta-sindhu, Vidagdha-mddhava and Lalita-madhava,
