Smaranam - Basic questions regarding it.

Jai Radhe!

Dandavats to the Patita-pavana Vaishnavas!

Had a small query:

Is the smaranam imposed on the mind or should it come by itself?
I feel that it should be both ways. In the advanced stage it comes by itself. Am I right?

Hare Krishna!

Correct, according to Krishnadas Kawiraja in his tika of Krishna Karnamrita, verse 3.

Jai Radhe!

Thanks very much Advaitadasji for your answer. I'd like to take this opportunity to convey my deepest appreciation for the great work you're doing in terms of translating the nectarean works both in text and audio.

It will be nice for everyone to hear about how you took to the spiritual path in service of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna!

Could I get the verse with translation which you've stated?

Hari Hari..

Dear Som, the text in question actually deals with the awakening of the siddha deha (spiritual body), but the same principle goes for lila smarana:

raganuga marge anutpanna rati sadhaka bhaktair api svepsita siddha-deham manasi parikalpya bhagavat sevadikam kriyate. jata ratinam tu svayam eva tad deha sphurteh.

"On the path of sacred passion (raganuga-marga) the practising devotees will mentally imagine their own desired spiritual body, as long as rati (spiritual attraction, coinciding with spiritual revelation) has not appeared in the heart, and serve the Lord in that body. When rati arises, then that body will be automatically revealed."

rati is the same as bhava, the stage that follows asakti. Also, I believe it was Singha Bhupal who said in Rasarnava Sudhakara (must ask this to Nitai) that (after anartha nivrtti) in the stages of nistha and ruci, who are twins, personal endeavour in sadhana is no longer required - experiences come by themselves. Of course, for most sadhakas this is a slow and gradual process, and: even in rati/bhava stage sadhana continues, not compulsory but out of sacred greed only.

Sri Visvanata Cakravartipada states in Madhurya Kadambini (6.1): “asakti cleans the mirror of devotee’s heart in such a way the reflection of the Lord suddenly seems to be almost directly visible there. The devotee vows: “Oh! My mind is afflicted by material desires. Let me fix it on the Lord.” His mind thus ceases from the material affairs and becomes fixed on the Lord’s form, qualities, and so on. On the appearance of asakti, however, the mind automatically fixes on the Lord before such deliberate efforts.”