by Srila B.B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaja
Sree Sree Guru Gauranga Jayatah!
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has said in his explanation of the first verse of Upadesamrita, “When a novice starts the practice of devotion, the six urges of the senses will create hindrance to his getting enhancement in devotional practice. The bona fide aspirant can remove the hindrances by the association of the pure bona fide devotees, by doing Harinam without the tenfold offences and with exclusive submission to God. Devotees practice yukta-vairagya positively by the actual renunciation of engaging mind, intellect, words and sense organs in the service of the Lord and His devotees and negatively by withdrawing the gross and subtle sense organs from the respective material objects. Devotees have no aptitude for practicing sushka-vairagya (external abnegation without the positive side of engaging all sense organs for the service of Krishna).
