Teachings to Sanatana Goswami

[Madhya 20-24]

[20.94-20.107]

Sanatana Goswami humbly presented his inquiries before Shri Chaitanya, who patiently spent two months discussing different aspects of Krishna’s enchanting personality. A multitude of topics were discussed in that period:

[20.108-20.151]

Energies of the Lord – Shri Chaitanya describes the material, spiritual and marginal energies of Krishna. With the help of sadhus and sastra, the living entity can disentangle himself from the material energy and re-establish his eternal relationship with Krishna. Shri Chaitanya cites the story of ‘Sarvajna the astrologer’ to illustrate how this invaluable treasure of a relationship with Krishna can be discovered through bhakti-yoga.

[20.152-20.404]

Aspects of the Absolute Truth – Shri Chaitanya discusses the three aspects of the Absolute Truth, namely brahman, paramatma and bhagavan, and also gives a full description of the various Vishnu expansions. He elucidates the six varieties of avatars (purusa, lila, guna, manvantara, yuga and saktyavesa) and establishes Krishna as svayam-bhagavan, the original source of everything. Krishna performs His eternal pastimes in multiple universes simultaneously, although His most confidential and intimate pastimes are exclusively enacted in Shri Vrindavana dham.

[21.1-21.146]

Spiritual & Material universes – Shri Chaitanya gives a description of Devi dham, Mahesha dham, Hari dham and Goloka dham (Gokula, Mathura, Dvaraka). He extensively describes the qualities and opulence of Krishna which enchants everyone in these universes. The full extent of Krishna’s greatness, however, is unfathomable, even to Brahma.

[22.1-22.103]

Process of devotional service – Shri Chaitanya reiterates that devotional service, triggered by the association of devotees, is the means to reconnect with Krishna. By describing the various gradations and qualities of a devotee, Shri Chaitanya teaches how to derive maximum benefit when in spiritual company.

[22.104-23.68]

Regulated & spontaneous devotion – Shri Chaitanya defines the stages of vaidhi-bhakti (regulative devotional service) and raganuga-bhakti (spontaneous devotional service). Expanding on regulative devotion, Shri Chaitanya delineates the 64 items of devotional service that awaken one’s dormant consciousness of Krishna. He then discusses spontaneous devotion, the unique character of Vrindavana’s residents, the symptoms of advanced love (bhava and prema), and the various components of rasa.

[23.69-23.93]

Qualities of God – Shri Chaitanya lists the 64 transcendental qualities of Krishna, comparing them with the qualities of Narayana, Siva and ordinary living entities. He also describes the 25 divine qualities possessed by Shrimati Radharani.

[24.1-24.323]

Explanation of Atmarama verse – Being specifically requested by Sanatana, Shri Chaitanya explains this famous verse in 61 different ways. In the process, He also cites the famous story of ‘Mrigrari the hunter’.

[24.324-24.345]

Outline for Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa – Shri Chaitanya gives Sanatana the outline for Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa, a book which documents the behaviour, etiquette and standard practices of a Vaishnava.