76 The Nectar of Instruction

remembering Krsna’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 serivce.

“In the neophyte stage one should always engage in hear-
ing krsna-kathd. This is called sravana-dasd, the stage of
hearing. By constantly hearing the transcendental holy name
of Krsna and hearing of His transcendental form, qualities
and pastimes, one can attain to the stage of acceptance called
varana-dasd. When one attains this stage, he becomes at-
tached to the hearing of krsna-kathé. When one is able to
chant in ecstasy, he attains the stage of srmarandvastha, the
stage of remembering. Recollection, absorption, meditation,
constant remembrance and trance are the five items of
progressive krsna-smarana. At first, remembrance of Krsna
may be interrupted at intervals, but later remembrance
proceeds uninterrupted. When remembrance is uninter-
rupted, it becomes concentrated and is called meditation.
When meditation expands and becomes constant, it is called
anusmrti. By uninterrupted and unceasing anusmrti one en-
ters the stage of samadhi, or spiritual trance. After
smarana-dasa or samadhi 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 Krsna. That is called sampatti-dasd, the
perfection of life.

‘‘Caitanya-caritamrta 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
