Jumping Into Radha-Kunda

When another devotee said that Prabhupada's explanations in the KRSNA book were so clear that they could not be misinterpreted, Prabhupada agreed. "No, you read all the books first of all. Then you'll be able to understand. Every devotee, they must follow the rules and regulations, that's all. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, ara na kariha mane asa. Has he taken order from Guru Maharaja that 'I am going to jump over Radha-kunda'? Why does he go? Why should he desire like that?"

Gopala Krsna started to say that there are always devotees who want to do their own thing, but Prabhupada cut him off. "They are not devotees," he said emphatically. "Rascals. Don't say 'some devotees.' Devotees will hear: guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, ara na kariha mane."

Acyutananda Swami said, "They also wear the Radha-kunda mati, tilaka."

"There is no harm," Prabhupada told him, "but they should understand what is Radha-kunda and how to deal with Radha-kunda. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami showed how to live in Radha-kunda. Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasanikrtau. He was circumambulating Radha-kunda, falling down, making a mark. That is Radha-kunda-vasi. Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. Not only counted holy names, but offering obeisances so many hundred times. That is Radha-kunda. So much vairagya he showed. He can take bath in the Radha-kunda. First of all, do this like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami."

"In other words, first one should understand Bhagavad-gita," Yasomatinandana said, "then gradually the First Canto of Bhagavatam, then ultimately Caitanya-caritamrta. Without that, simply taking Caitanya-caritamrta..."

Srila Prabhupada tipped his head. "Yes. Bhagavad-gita is the entrance. Then Bhagavata is graduate and Caitanya-caritamrta... This is the step-by-step."