Caitanya Caritamrta Compact
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  • Welcome to Caitanya Caritamrta Compact Online!
  • The Flow Of Nectar
  • Copyright
  • Dedication
  • Contents
  • Introduction
    • The God who Dances
    • Postgraduate Spirituality
    • A Humble Offering
  • Overview
    • Breakdown of Sri Chaitanya's Life
    • Layout of Book
  • ADI-LILA
    • Invocation
      • Auspicious Prayers
      • A Safe God
      • The Golden Opportunity
      • Five Stars
      • Writing Chaitanya-Charitamrita
      • The Desire Tree
    • Incarnation
      • The Rising Sun
      • Greatness and Sweetness
    • Education
      • Life Lessons
      • The Greatest Scholar
    • Transformation
      • The Turning Point
      • Birth of Kirtan
      • Exhibitions of Divinity
      • Overcoming the Opposition
      • The World is My Family
  • MADHYA-LILA
    • Renunciation
      • Snapshot
      • An Emotional Meeting
      • Lessons on the Road to Puri
      • Sarvabhauma’s Salvation
    • Propagation
      • The South Indian Tour
      • Returning to HQ
      • Preparations for Rathayatra
      • The Ecstatic Festival of Chariots
      • King Prataparudra’s Strong Desire
      • Expanding the Mercy
    • Aspiration
      • An Unfulfilled Aspiration
      • The Journey Home
      • Vraja Mandala Parikrama
    • Organisation
      • Systematic Documentation
      • Rupa and Sanatana’s Escape
      • Teachings to Rupa Goswami
      • Teachings to Sanatana Goswami
      • Essential Instructions to the Goswamis
      • Prakashananda and the Mayavada Sannyasis
  • ANTYA-LILA
    • Appreciation
      • Humility and Empowerment – Rupa Goswami
      • Devotion – Pradyumna Brahmachari
      • Pure Chanting – Haridas Thakur
      • Surrender and Vaishnava Etiquette – Sanatana Goswami
      • Renunciation – Raghunath das Goswami
      • Remembrance of Krishna – Gopinath & Vaninath
      • Service Attitude – Govinda
      • Spontaneous Love - Jagadananda Pandita
      • Following instructions – Raghunath Bhatta Goswami
    • Correction
      • Inappropriate Association - Chota Haridas
      • Dangers of Mayavada Philosophy – Bhagavan Acharya & Bengali poet
      • Criticism and Faultfinding – Damodara Pandita & Ramachandra Puri
      • Superficial Discrimination – Pradyumna Mishra
      • Respecting Teachers – Vallabha Bhatta
    • Intoxication
      • Feelings of Separation
      • Lessons in Eagerness
      • Instances of Ecstacy
    • Instruction
      • Shikshastakam
      • Closing Pastimes
      • Concluding Words
  • APPENDIX
    • Cover
    • Mangalacharana Breakdown
    • Ramananda-Samvada
    • CC Family Tree
    • Shikshastakam Breakdown
    • References & Extra Reading
    • End Notes
    • Shri Chaitanya's Travels
    • The Author
    • Wisdom That Breathes
    • Support this work
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  1. ANTYA-LILA
  2. Appreciation

Following instructions – Raghunath Bhatta Goswami

[Antya 13]

PreviousSpontaneous Love - Jagadananda PanditaNextCorrection

Last updated 1 year ago

Raghunath Bhatta, the son of Tapan Mishra, journeyed to meet Shri Chaitanya in the hope of renouncing the world. They stayed together for eight months, during which time Raghunath would cook for the Lord. After assessing the situation, Shri Chaitanya offered the young boy a series of instructions:

• Care for your elderly parents, but remain unmarried. • Study Shrimad-Bhagavatam from a pure Vaishnava. • After fulfilling all family duties, return to Jagannatha Puri and become a fully dedicated renunicant.

Raghunath unflinchingly followed these orders. His parents eventually left the world, and Raghunath immediately returned to Jagannatha Puri. Pleased to see him, Shri Chaitanya spent another eight months with him and then instructed further:

• Go to Vrindavana and assist Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis. • Continuously chant Hare Krishna and recite Shrimad-Bhagavatam.

Raghunath immediately departed for the holy land. In Vrindavana, he became renowned for his devotional recitations of Shrimad-Bhagavatam, during which he would experience spiritual ecstasy due to his deep love and devotion. This was all possible by the mercy of Shri Chaitanya, and reveals the power of following the instructions of spiritual authorities.

In most endeavours we have a goal, process and culture. For example, an athlete may have the goal to win gold in the Olympics. They subsequently commence a rigorous training regime to exercise the body; this is the process. Simultaneously, however, they make strict lifestyle choices in diet, sleep and abstinence from intoxication; this is culture. Regardless of how rigorously the athlete trains, if they neglect the proper lifestyle, their efforts and endeavour will likely be unsuccessful. In the same way, although one may diligently engage in spiritual practices, without strict adherence to such culture, one’s spiritual growth is surely stunted.

Shri Chaitanya’s interactions in Jagannatha Puri remind us that a Vaishnava is not simply characterised by what he does, but also by who he is. By nurturing proper character, qualities and saintly disposition, the heart becomes a fertile place for the creeper of devotion to grow. Vaishnava qualities are not simply a by-product of pure devotion, but must be consciously developed by a practitioner devotee.

[13.89-13.138]