Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 19.180
Continuous Love Takes Many Expressions
“All these stages combined are called sthāyibhāva, or continuous love of Godhead in devotional service. In addition to these stages, there are vibhāva and anubhāva.
What the purport teaches
- Attachment for Kṛṣṇa never wanes; it increases through different stages. Together these stages are called sthāyibhāva, or continuous love of Godhead.
- When continuous love of Godhead mixes with the processes of devotional service, it is called vibhāva, anubhāva, sāttvika and vyabhicārī. The devotee enjoys a variety of transcendental bliss.
- Anubhāva has thirteen categories of expression, including dancing and singing. The Gosvāmīs have analytically studied these expressions, and Rūpa Gosvāmī gives each symptom a particular name.
Try this today
Spend a few quiet minutes remembering Kṛṣṇa, taking up remembrance as one of the forms of devotional service.
Ask yourself
How does understanding devotional love as continuous and increasing shape my view of service?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.