Dasa Mila Tattva Chapter 1 By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, five hundred years after His appearance, there are many learned people engaged in specialized research and cultivation of knowledge in various parts of the world. The result of their hard efforts, like rays of light, drive out the darkness from the hearts of those eager for knowledge. The youth of this country, obtaining all this material knowledge at universities, gain an acquaintance with their way of thinking, In their extensive studies, many have also studied the works of different preachers of religion in India and elsewhere. They have come to the conclusion that there is no teacher equal to Sti Caitanya and that there is no religion equal to pure Vaisnava dharma. Inspired by this conclusion, thousands of men now desire to know the teachings of Sti Caitanya and the meaning of Vaisnava dharma ‘Wise men have conviction that the religion of humanity cannot be many. The eternal religion of mankind cannot be divided into extremely opposing factions. At root, eternal religion must be only one. Why have many religions then arisen? The correct answer is that the religion or dharma of man is one when the soul is ina pure condition. When the soul becomes conditioned, the dharma takes two forms: conditional and unconditional, Unconditional dharma does not differ no matter what county it is found in, When the soul takes on material designation and consequently different place, time and body, due to variety in matter, conditional dharma makes its appearance in difference counties and at different times. Conditional dharma takes on different forms and names in different countries. The dharma of the soul becomes unconditioned to the extent that the soul becomes freed from material conceptions. When the jivas reach the unconditioned state, they have only one dharma Sri Caitanya taught this etemal dharma to the jivas of this world, it is called pure Vaisnava dharma mathurdee pathaila ripa-sandtana dui senépati kaila bhakei-pracarana nitydnanda gosarie pathdila gaudadese tiniho bhakei pracarila asesa-visese pani daksina desa karilé gamana grdme grame kaila krsna-ndma-pracdrana Lord Caitanya dispatched the two generals Riipa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami to Vendavana to preach the bhakti cult. As Ripa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were sent toward Mathura, so Nitydnanda Prabhu was sent to Bengal to preach extensively the revelations of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally went to South India, and He broadcast the holy name of Lord Krsna invery village and town. C.C.Adi 7, 164-66 Listen to the instruction that the Lord Himself gave the world, through His orders to His commissioned generals: ataeva ami ajid dilu sabahare yanha ednha prema phala deha' yare edre Dharata bhumie haila manusya janma yara Jjanma sdrthaka kari' kara para-upakara Therefore 1 order every man within this universe to accept this Krsna consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere. One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people CC. Adi 9. 36, 41 Ist any surprise then, that a person would give up the teachings of spokesmen of various religions and simply desire to learn the pure Vaisnava dharma of Sri Caitanya? It is necessary that we give the teachings of Sri Caitanya to the world at the present time However, taking this opportunity, some unintelligent persons have attempted to mislead the educated people by preaching their own doctrines. Some people, giving up the correct path, have taken up a speculative path, cheating themselves, and the world, At the moment,. we must therefore, to the best of our ability, make assincere attempt to help the innocent, educated youth. In such an auspicious work there are none of the obstacles that arise in selfish acts, Many people, with motives of self -interest, can take advantage and preach impure doctrines However, dear readers, we have no type of self-interest at heart. We do not desire wealth, fame, surrender, or respect as an Acérya. We have only the desire to make the people understand and appreciate the teachings of Sri Caitanya - to the extent of our own appreciation-by the mercy of devotees Some time ago 1 happened to see one new publication called Sri Caitanya Bodhini. The authors had vowed to give the pure teachings of Sri Caitanya to the world. The vow is not bad, but the system they proposed to gather Sri Caitanya' s teachings is very dangerous. The authors thought that they could extract the Lord's teachings from the Samnskrt works of the Gosvamis. They forgot that the essence of the Gosvamis' works is contained in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. It is sufficient to take this work in order to present the teachings of Sri Caitanya to the world. There is no one as learned as Kavir’i Gosvami today. Anyone who thinks that he can extract the essence from the Sanskrit works of the Gosvamis better than Kavird ja Gosvami is certainly worthless and foolish. 1 have firm conviction that by presenting to the world clearly the teachings of Sti Caitanya Caritamrta, nothing else need be known. However, many topics in Kaviraja's work are described in a cryptic way. In those places it is best to consit the Sandarbhas,Bhakti Rasimsta Sindu and other works of the Gosvamis in order to clarify matters. The aim of the Caitanya Bodhini however was to bypass the superior authority. In the present work we will reveal the teachings of Sri Caitanya clearly, based on the statements of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. Thave one request to the readers. The teachings of Mahaprabhu are a very confidential science. Without applying proper concentration one cannot understand them. It is a common practice nowadays to go to sleep after eating, while reading a novel. One cannot read this book in that manner. These teachings are the esoteric truths of the Vedas and Vedanta stitras. If one slowly reads these teachings with faith and concentration while discussing the topics with devotees, the truths will be properly understood. Therefore give up the bad habit and attentively study the ten topics presented in this book. All of Sri Caitanya's teachings-whatever they it may be-are discussed in terms of three divisions: sambandha, abhidheya and prayojina In teaching Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Caitanya said: veda Sastre kahe, sambandha, abhidhe ya, prayojana krsna, krsna-bhakei, prema-tina mahddhana mukhya gauna vreti, kirnva anvaya vyatireke vedera pratijid kevala kahaye krsnake Jn Vedic literatures, Krsna is the central point of attraction, and His service is our activity. To attain the platform of love of Krsna is life's ultimate goal. Therefore Krsna, Krsna’s service and love of Krsna are the three great riches of life ‘When one accepts Vedic literature by interpretation or even by dictionary meaning, directly or indirectly, the ultimate declaration of Vedic knowledge points to Lord Krsna. C.C Madhya 20. 143, 146 The meaning is this. Vedas are the scriptural authority. What the Veda states is true, Any religious person must act according to the instructions of the Vedas. The ultimate aim of the Vedic literature is to reveal Krsna as the only Lord, either by secondary, or indirect interpretation of the statements, or by primary or direct meaning of the statements. In other words, if one examines the sambandha or principle of relationships described in the Vedas, one will find no one except Krsna. On considering the abhidheya or process recommended in the Vedas, only devotion to Krsna will be found. In considering the prayojana or goal of the scriptures, only Krsna prema will be found. In order to discuss in detail the sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana, the ten conclusions taught by Sri Caitanya will first be presented in the form of one verse, and later, each topic will be discussed separately in detail. mméyah préha tatevarn harim iha paramarn sarva-sakeim rasabdhinn ¢ad bhinndrnsarns ca jivan prakrei-havaliean tad- vimukedrns ca bhava