Kṛṣṇāya no namati: Because the atheist class of men, they do not got to temples neither offer, neither bows down. So to give a chance because hundreds of devotees are bowing down, so one has to do it. That is their kṛṣṇa-bhakti phase, even if he does not like but out of previous . . . (indistinct) . . . would like to go, "Alright, take the arms and bow down." And as soon as he bows down he makes one step advancement, immediately. If he plays any instrument he advances, if he hears the prayer he advances. So these are the chances given to the ordinary neophytes. And as he comes, as he appreciates, sādhu-saṅgaḥ, ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgo. The opportunity of sādhu-saṅga is given and by sādhu-saṅga, when he is rectified almost. He offers himself, "Swamiji kindly initiate me." I get so many letters, so many requests, that is natural. If one has actually done sādhu-saṅga he will be inclinded to be a bona fide disciple, he is guided by a bona fide spiritual master. That is called bhajana-kriyā.
- ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-
- saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā
- (CC Madhya 23.14)
And if he actually follows the rules and regulations of bhajana then anartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt. Then anartha, unnecessary nonsense habits, sinful habits, will disappear. Just like these boys and girls they are habituated in so many unapproved habits but they have disappeared. Take for example they were meat-eating, they have given up meat-eating. They have given up, they were. Because in their social affairs meat-eating and drinking is a common thing, in Europe and America but this bhajana-kriyā helped them to give up everything. They are not even smoking, what to speak of drinking, they do not smoke even cigarettes, don't take tea, don't take coffee. This is called anartha-nivṛttiḥ. Nivṛttiḥ means: "Vanishing, completely vanishing." Anartha, anartha, "That is not required." Nobody is dying without smoking, nobody is dying without drinking tea, nobody is dying without illicit sex but by bad association one learns all this nonsense. So similarly by good association and bhajana-kriyā they can give it up. That chance we are giving. Anartha nivṛttiḥ syāt.
So after anartha-nivṛttiḥ, niṣṭhā: "Yes, I must take to devotional service," niṣṭhā. Then ruciḥ: then there is taste, there is taste. Wherever there is some talk of Kṛṣṇa immediately he goes there because he has got a taste. Then āsakti, āsakti means: "Attachment." When āsakti platform is there he can not give up—āsakti. Just like one becomes attached to drinking wine, he can not give up similarly the same āsakti is transferred to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and he can not give up. Even if you pay him lakhs of rupees, "That give up this." Some of our students they have been actually offered by their fathers that, "You give up this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I'll give you ten thousand dollars," and like that. "You do some business," but they, "No." They are living with us although they have no very good facility for eating, sleeping but still because there is attachment they are with us. That is called āsakti. After this āsakti there is bhāvaḥ—always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, and the next stage is prema: how to love Kṛṣṇa, become mad after Kṛṣṇa. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed the example:
- yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa
- cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
- śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
- govinda-viraheṇa me
- (Cc Antya 20.39)
When there is prema these things comes to be manifest, yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa: "One moment will appear just like hundreds of years." Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam: "Crying, the tears coming incessantly like torrents of rain." Cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ, "And without Govinda, without Kṛṣṇa, the whole world is vacant." That is prema. Just like Gosvāmīs were, Gosvāmīs, they also told this: he rādhe! vraja-devike! ca lalite! he nanda-sūno! kutaḥ (Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka, 8).