In this class given on May 15th 2002 in Vermont, USA, Śrīla Narasingha Maharaja speaks from Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā Chapter 16 in relation to the the Lord leaving for Vṛndāvana. Mahārāja speaks about the three kinds of devotee, and in particular discusses the position of the madhyama-adhikārī and how one should only remain a kaniṣṭha “for a few days.” He then explains that the madhyama stage is a long process and how sacrifice is the necessary nectar that we require - not simply reading and hearing the higher topics of kṛṣṇa-līlā. Such self-deception only leads to us ‘dancing with a shadow’ of the real thing.
