it also requires that we have some sukriti or pious merit from a previous birth. Without pious merit from spiritual activities performed in a previous birth it is not possible to attain the platform of loving devotional service in this life. But by the mercy of Lord Krishna through the potency of the spiritual master in direct disciplic succession from Him which also comes from pious merit derived form a previous life and by the mercy of the Vaisnava devotees of Lord Krishna then pure loving devotional bhakti will surely manifest within us.As the Ganga river descends from the Himalaya mountains and flows naturally to the ocean without making a special effort in the same we want our bhakti to flow from our hearts naturally to Lord Krishna without effort.There are two distinct processes within these nine types of bhakti:1) vaidhi-bhakti -devotion strictly following the rules and regulations2) raganuga-bhakti -spontaneous loving devotion from the heartDevotion works in these two ways and we must always follow them both. Externally we must perform vaidhi-bhakti in devotional service attentively following all the regulations and injunctions ordained by scripture while internally we will be performing raganuga-bhakti in devotional service within our mind and heart in so many sublime and wonderful ways. With tears flowing from our eyes due to feelings of seperation from the presence of Lord Krishna we should conceive our heart as a beautiful scented flower and offer that flower by our minds and hearts to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.One absorbed in raganuga-bhakti should perform devotional service in this manner. Overwhelmed in a great mood of seperation from Lord Krishna while having the one pointed desire of uniting with Him eternally we should see all the realizations within our hearts in the form of flowers and collecting them all string these wonderful realizations together just like a flower garland and humbly offer them to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.Great enthusiasm and eagerness to have the association of Lord Krishna is a prerequisite for attaining bhakti. This expressed in hearing and glorifying the Supreme Lord and is also further sub-divided into two types:1) nisthata-bhakti-devotion performed with resolute faith2) anisthata-bhakti-devotion performed without resolute faithAlthough we have begun the practice of bhakti are faith is not yet resolute. So we must make the endeavour to achieve nistha or firm resolute faith. Then after we have achieved nistha and are beginning our practice of bhakti we must also transcend the four kinds of anarthas or reactions which are:1) bhaktyottha-reactions arising from imperfect service2) duskrtottha-reactions arising from previous piety3) sukrtottha-reactions arising from previous sins4) aparadhottha-reactions arising from offenses in chantingBut there is another reaction more devastating than all the others combined and this reaction we must unceasingly gaurd against or our bhakti is ruined.1) Vaisnava aparadha-the utterly destructive and totally devastating reaction from an offense committed knowingly or unknowingly unto a Vaisnava devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna.I now beseech all of you with full compassion to be very, very vigilant against making any type of offense consciously or otherwise by thought, word or deed unto