“Work now. Samadhi later.” -Śrīla Prabhupada
This principle suggests that one should engage intensely in preaching work along with śravaṇam and kīrtanam, embodying the spirit of a goṣṭhyānaṅdī. As one attains Kṛṣṇa prema through Bhagavān’s mercy, they should evolve into a bhajanānaṅdī.
The Dual Role: Bhajanānaṅdī and Goṣṭhyānaṅdī
One should strive to be a bhajanānaṅdī from within while portraying the role of a goṣṭhyānaṅdī externally. To become a bhajanānaṅdī, one must possess three qualities: desire to attain Kṛṣṇa prema, freedom from the desire for honor, and readiness to present oneself as a fool to avoid association of non-devotees.
Bhajanānaṅdī Spirit
When one harbors a strong desire to become a bhajanānaṅdī, Bhagavān considers him to be a bhajanānaṅdī. One should engage in preaching work while nurturing the desire for the day when they will be in samādhi or become mad in Kṛṣṇa prema. However, merely cultivating this desire is not sufficient; one must also strive internally to become a bhajanānaṅdī or attain Kṛṣṇa prema avastha.
Goṣṭhyānaṅdī Spirit
A Goṣṭhyānaṅdī’s mission is to distribute Kṛṣṇa prema. Their target is to bring people into bhakti under the shelter of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the parampara. This may involve bringing many people into bhakti, building temples, and writing books. However, it’s equally important to work on the bhajanānaṅdī aspect.
Balancing the Dual Roles
The trick lies in balancing and giving equal importance to both roles. For instance, from 5 am to 9 am could be dedicated to maṅgala ārati, chanting, and SB classs for cultivating the bhajanānaṅdī aspect. The rest of the day, from 9 am to 6 pm, could be dedicated to the goṣṭhyānaṅdī aspect. Both these aspects will be rendered weak if one puts efforts less than 100% in each of them.
If one focuses solely on the internal work of the bhajanānaṅdī aspect and neglects the external work of the goṣṭhyānaṅdī aspect, they risk falling from their spiritual path. One cannot act as a bhajanānaṅdī externally unless they have attained Kṛṣṇa prema.
Conversely, if one focuses only on the goṣṭhyānaṅdī aspect and neglects the internal work of the bhajanānandi aspect, their bhāva will be spoiled and they will never attain Kṛṣṇa prema. Such a person may develop an egoistic mindset, thinking, “I am a guru. I am a preacher,” which can lead to their downfall.
Practical Tips for Becoming a Bhajanānaṅdī
1. During the time allocated for cultivating the bhajanānaṅdī aspect, one should not think about goṣṭhyānaṅdī related activities. One should not think about this material world, devotees, or preaching, but only about Bhagavān.
2. During free time, one should read pastimes of Bhagavān to nourish the bhajanānaṅdī aspect.
3. One should also contemplate on questions like “How far am I from Kṛṣṇa prema? How to go up to that stage? What hurdles are there?”
The Parallel Path of Bhajanānaṅdī and Goṣṭhyānaṅdī
Both the bhajanānaṅdī and goṣṭhyānaṅdī aspects should progress in parallel in one’s devotional life. This balance ensures that one can become a bhajanānaṅdī internally and a goṣṭhyānaṅdī externally, maintaining a harmonious blend of internal spiritual cultivation and external preaching efforts.
In conclusion, becoming a bhajanānaṅdī internally and a goṣṭhyānaṅdī externally requires discipline and balance between internal spiritual cultivation and external preaching efforts.