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Any recommended path for self-realization can be successful only when it is mixed with devotional service. This was explained by Narada Muni, the Spiritual Master of Vyasadeva, when Vyasadeva was not satisfied even after compiling heaps of books of Vedic knowledge. Vyasadeva was sitting in a state of depression by the banks of the River Saraswati when Narada Muni arrived. Upon seeing Vyasa so dejected, he explained the deficiency in the compilation of his various books. He said as follows:
#$p#"Even pure knowledge without being completed by transcendental devotional service does not look well. What to speak of fruitive activities when they are not in devotional service? How can they be of any benefit to the performer?"
#$p#There are many sages who are expert in performing austerities; there are many men who give much in charity; there are many famous men, scholars and thinkers; and those who are very expert in the Vedic hymns. All such achievements are certainly very auspicious, but unless they are utilized for attaining devotional service to the Lord, they are unable to award the desired results. Therefore, in Srimad Bhagwatam, Sukadeva Goswami offered his respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord, Who is the only One Who can award such success.
#$p#It is accepted by all classes of philosophers and transcendentalists that no one who lacks knowledge can be liberated from the material entanglement. Still, knowledge without being mixed with devotional service holds no possibility of awarding liberation. In other words, when Jnana, or the cultivation of knowledge, opens the path of devotional service, then alone can it give one liberation, and not otherwise.
#$p#In the Srimad Bhagwatam this is also stated by Brahma: "My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the best path for self-realization. If somebody gives up that path and becomes engaged in the cultivation of knowledge, or in speculation, he will undergo a troublesome process, without achieving any desired results. Just as a person who beats the empty husk of the wheat cannot get the grain, so those who are engaged simply in speculative knowledge cannot achieve the desired result of self-realization. Their only gain is trouble."
#$p#The Bhagavad Gita says, in the Seventh Chapter, 14th verse, that this material Nature is very strong, and not surmountable by an ordinary living entity. Only those who surrender unto the Lotus Feet of Krishna can cross over the ocean of material existence. The self-forgetfulness of the living entity—forgetting that he is eternally the servitor of Krishna—is the cause of his bondage in conditional life, and the cause of his being attracted by the material energy. That attraction is the shackle of material energy. It is very difficult for a person to become free as long as he desires to lord it over the material Nature. It is recommended, therefore; that one should approach a Spiritual Master who can train him in devotional service, and thus he can get out of the clutches of material Nature, and achieve the Lotus Feet of Krishna.
#$p#There are divisions of human society, like the Brahmins, or intellectuals; the Kshatriyas, administrators; the Vaishyas, businessmen; and the Sudras, or laborers; and there is the Brahmachary, or student, the Grihastha or householder, the Vanaprasthas, retired; and the Sannyasis, renounced life. And, in every case, if the individuals lack engagement in devotional service, Krishna Consciousness, even though engaged in their prescribed duty, they cannot get release because of their material consciousness. On the contrary, even by discharging their prescribed duties, they glide down to hell. Therefore, all persons engaged in their prescribed occupational duties must cultivate Krishna Consciousness in devotional service, if they want liberation from the material clutches.
#$p#In this connection, Lord Chaitanya cited a verse from the Srimad Bhagwatam which was delivered by Narada as the path of Bhagavat cultivation. He said that the four divisions of human social life, as well as the four different orders of life, are born out of the gigantic Form of the Lord: the Brahmins are born out of the mouth of the Universal Form of the Lord, the Kshatriyas are born out of the arms of His Personality, the Vaishyas are born out of His waist, and the Sudras are born from the legs of that Personality. As such, they are qualified in different modes of material Nature, within the Form of Virata Purusha. Out of these four orders of life, or social divisions, if anyone is not engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, then in spite of his being in his prescribed occupational, functional duty, he falls from his position.
#$p#Lord Chaitanya says that those of the Mayavadi, or impersonalist, school may artificially think themselves as one with God, or liberated, but according to Him and to Srimad Bhagwatam, they are not actually liberated. In this connection, He quoted a verse from the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, Second Chapter, in which it is said: "Those who think that they are liberated in the Mayavadi philosophical way, but who do not take to the devotional service of the Lord, even after undergoing the severest type of penance or austerity, and even after sometimes approaching the Supreme post, still, for want of devotional service, fall."
#$p#The Lord explained that Krishna is just like the Sun, and Maya, or the illusory material energy, is just like darkness. Therefore, one who is constantly in the sunshine of Krishna does not have any chance of being deluded by the darkness of material energy. This is very nicely explained in the four prime verses of Srimad Bhagwatam, and is also confirmed in the Second Canto of Srimad Bhagwatam, Fifth Chapter, which states: "The illusory energy, or Maya, is ashamed to stand before the Lord."
#$p#But the living entities are constantly being bewildered by the same illusory energy. The living entity in his conditioned state discovers many kinds of word-jugglery for getting apparent liberation from the clutches of Maya; but actually a person who sincerely surrenders unto Krishna even by saying only once, "My dear Lord Krishna, from this day, I am yours," at once gets out of the clutches of the material energy.
#$p#This is confirmed in the Ramayan, Lankakanda. There the Lord says, "It is My duty and vow that if somebody surrenders unto Me without any reservation, then I give him all protection." Somebody may develop the idea of enjoying fruitive activities, or liberation, or Jnana, or perfection in the Yoga system, but if such a person by chance becomes very intelligent, then he will give up all those paths and engage himself in sincere devotional service to the Lord. The Bhagwatam also confirms, in the Second Canto, Third Chapter, that a person—whatever he may be, either full with all desires for material enjoyment or desirous of liberation—if he is actually intelligent, should engage himself in perfect devotional service.
#$p#Persons who are ambitious for deriving material benefit from devotional service are not pure devotees, but because they are engaged in devotional service they are considered fortunate. They do not know that the result of devotional service is not material benediction; but, because they engage themselves in devotional service of the Supreme Lord, ultimately they will come to the understanding that material enjoyment is not the result of engagement in His devotional service. Krishna says that such persons, engaged in His devotional service, are certainly foolish for wanting some material benefit in exchange. Such persons are foolish because, instead of achieving the stage of love of Godhead, they try to accept something which is poisonous for them. Although such persons want material benefit from Krishna, Krishna being All-powerful considers the person's position and gradually liberates him from such an ambitious life, and engages him in devotional service. And when he is actually in devotional service he forgets his past ambitions and desires for material benefits.
#$p#In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Fifth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, this is confirmed as follows: "Lord Krishna certainly fulfills the desire of His devotees who come to Him in devotional service. But He does not fulfill such desires as would again cause miseries. In spite of being materially ambitious, because they are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, such devotees are gradually purified of desire for material enjoyment, and come to desire the pleasure of devotional service."
#$p#Generally people come to the association of devotees for mitigating some material wants. But the influence of a pure devotee frees a man from all material desires, and he relishes the taste of devotional service. Devotional service is so nice and pure that it purifies the devotee, and he forgets all material ambitions as he engages fully in the transcendental loving service of Krishna. A practical example is Druva Maharaj, who wanted something from Krishna, and for that reason engaged in devotional service. But when the Lord appeared as four-handed Vishnu before Druva, he said, "My dear Lord, I engaged myself in Your devotional service with great austerity and penances, and thus I am now seeing You. It is always very difficult to see You, even for the great demigods and great sages, and I am now pleased and all my desires are satisfied. I do not want anything further. While I was searching for some broken glass, I have found a great and valuable gem." Druva Maharaj stated his full satisfaction, and he refused to ask anything from the Lord.
#$p#The living entity who is transmigrating through the 8,400,000 species of life is sometimes likened to a log which is gliding downstream on the waves of the river. Sometimes, by chance, the log comes to the shore and it is saved from being forced to drift further downstream. There is a nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam in which every conditioned soul is encouraged: "Nobody should be depressed, thinking that he will never be out of the clutches of matter; because there is the possibility of being rescued exactly like the log which floats on the river for some time, and then comes to rest on the bank." This fortunate opportunity is also discussed here by the Lord.
#$p#Such fortunate incidents are considered the beginning of the decline of one's conditional life. They occur if there is the association of pure devotees of the Lord. By association of pure devotees of the Lord, one actually develops his attraction for Krishna. There are different types of rituals and activities: some of them develop into material enjoyment, and some of them develop into material liberation. If a living entity takes to ritualistic activities which develop into his pure devotional service to the Lord, in the association of pure devotees, then he naturally develops devotional service in his mind.
#$p#There is a nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, Fifty-first Chapter, where it is stated by Muchakunda: "My dear Lord, a living entity, while travelling in this material world through different species of life, may develop towards liberation. By chance he may come in contact with pure devotees. Only at that time is he liberated from the clutches of the material energy, and he becomes a devotee of Yourself, the Personality of Godhead."
#$p#When a conditioned soul becomes a devotee of Krishna, Krishna by His causeless Mercy trains him in two ways: He trains him by the Spiritual Master from the outside, and He trains him from the inside by the Supersoul. In this connection there is a very nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twenty-ninth Chapter, in which it is said: "O my dear Lord, if somebody should get a duration of life like Brahma's, still he would be unable to express his gratitude to You for the benefits derived from remembering You; because, out of Your causeless mercy, You drive away all inauspicious conditions for a devotee, expressing Yourself from outside as the Spiritual Master, and from inside as the Supersoul."
#$p#Somehow or other, if somebody gets in touch with a pure devotee and thus develops a desire for devotional service to Krishna, he gradually rises up to the platform of love of Godhead, and thus he is freed from the clutches of the material energy. This is explained in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, where the Lord says: "For one who becomes attracted by the topics of My Activities out of his own accord—being neither lured nor repelled by material activities—the path of devotional service, leading to the perfection of love of God, becomes possible."
#$p#It is not possible, however, to achieve such a stage of perfection without being favored by a pure devotee, or a #i#Mahatma#/i#, a great soul. Without the mercy of a great soul no one can even be liberated from the material clutches, what to speak of rising to the platform of love of Godhead? This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Fifth Canto, Eleventh Chapter, spoken in connection with the meeting of the King Rohugana of the Sind province in Siberia with King Bharata. The King expressed surprise at seeing Bharata's great stage of spiritual perfection in life.
#$p#Bharata replied: "My dear Rohugana, no one can attain the perfected stage of devotional service without being favored by a great soul, or pure devotee. No one can attain such perfectional stages simply by following the regulative principles of Scriptures, nor by acceptance of the renounced order of life, nor by prosecuting the prescribed duties of householder life, nor by becoming a great student of spiritual science, nor by accepting severe austerity and penances performed for realization."
#$p#Similarly, in the same Bhagwatam, Seventh Canto, Fifth Chapter, in connection with the conversation of Prahlad Maharaj with his father, Hiranyakasipu, the following statement appears: "When the atheist father Hiranyakasipu inquired from his son where he got such an attitude of devotional service, the boy replied: 'So long as one is not favored by the dust of the feet of pure devotees, then he cannot even touch the path of devotional service, which is the solution of all the varieties of problems of material life.'"
#$p#Lord Chaitanya said to Sanatan Goswami that all the Scriptures stress association with pure devotees of Godhead. The opportunity to associate with a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord is the beginning of one's complete perfection. This statement is also confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam, First Canto, Eighteenth Chapter. It is said there that the facility and benediction achieved by the association of a pure devotee cannot be compared with anything: neither elevation to the heavenly kingdom, nor liberation from this material energy.
#$p#Lord Krishna, also, while giving instruction to Arjuna, in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, confirmed this as the most confidential instruction, in the Eighteenth Chapter, 65th verse. The Lord said there: "My dear Arjuna, you are My affectionate friend and relative, and therefore, for your benefit, I am giving you the most confidential knowledge: Just become always mindful of Me, become always a devotee of Mine, become a constant worshipper of Me, and just become a soul surrendered to Me. That is the only way by which you can achieve My Abode. Because you are My very dear friend, My most confidential knowledge is disclosed herewith to you."
#$p#Such a direct instruction of Krishna to Arjuna is more important than any Vedic injunctions or regulative service. There are certainly many Vedic injunctions, such as ritualistic performances, sacrificial performances, regulative duties, meditation, and the speculative process of knowledge; but Krishna's direct order—"You just give up everything and become My devotee, My worshipper"; —should be taken as the final order of the Lord, and one should follow that principle.
#$p#If one is convinced by this direct order of the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita, and becomes attached to His devotional service and gives up all other engagements, then he undoubtedly becomes successful. Srimad Bhagwatam also says, to confirm this statement, that one should be engaged in other paths of self-realization only so long as one is not convinced by the direct order of the Lord, Sri Krishna. As stated in Srimad Bhagwatam and Bhagavad Gita, the direct order of the Lord is to give up everything and be engaged in devotional service.
#$p#This firm conviction is known as faith. Faith means that one is firmly convinced that, simply by devotional service to Lord Krishna, everything else is performed—including the regulative principles of ritualistic duties, sacrifices, performance of Yoga, and the speculative pursuit of knowledge. Everything else is performed if one is convinced that devotional service to the Lord includes everything. This is also found in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Fourth Canto, Thirty-first Chapter. It is said there: "As by watering the root of the tree the branches, the twigs, the leaves, and the fruits become nourished; and as in supplying foodstuffs to the stomach all the senses become satisfied—similarly, simply by devotional service to Krishna, all other worship and all other processes are completed." Such a faithful and firmly convinced person is eligible to be elevated as a pure devotee.
#$p#Now, amongst the devotees there are three classes, according to the degree of conviction: The first class devotee is one who is conversant with all kinds of Vedic literature, and at the same time has the firm conviction mentioned above. He is a first class devotee, and he can deliver all others from the pangs of material miseries. The second class devotee is firmly convinced and of strong faith, but has no power to cite evidence from revealed Scriptures. The third class devotee is one whose faith is not very strong but is eligible to be promoted to the position of second class devotee or first class devotee by the gradual cultivation of devotional service.
#$p#It is said in Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Second Chapter, that the first class devotee always sees the Supreme Lord as the Soul of all living entities. Therefore, in seeing all living entities, he sees Krishna and nothing but Krishna. A devotee who places his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who makes friendship with the pure devotees, who shows favor to the innocent person, and who avoids those who are atheistic or are against devotional service—such a devotee is called a second class pure devotee. And a person who is engaged in the devotional service of the Lord according to the direction of the Spiritual Master, or by family tradition, and worships the diety of the Lord, but has not much cultivation of knowledge in devotional service, and does not know who is a devotee and who is a non-devotee—such a person is called a third class pure devotee. The last-mentioned are not actually pure devotees. They are almost in the devotional line, but their position is not very secure.
#$p#The purport is that, when a person shows his love for God and his friendship for the devotees and his mercy for the innocent and his reluctance to the non-devotees, he becomes in the category of a pure devotee. Such a person, by developing devotional service, can perceive that every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme. In each and every living entity he can see the Supreme Person, and therefore he becomes highly developed in Krishna Consciousness. At this stage he does not make any distinction as to who is a devotee and who is a non-devotee. He sees everyone in the service of the Lord. A pure devotee, however, continues to develop all great qualities in his body, while engaged in Krishna Consciousness and devotional service. It is stated in Srimad Bhagwatam, Fifth Canto, Chapter Eighteen, that anyone who has attained pure unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Lord develops all the good qualities of the demigods; whereas a person who hasn't developed pure devotional service to the Lord, in spite of his being materially qualified, is sure to go astray as he hovers on the mental plane. Therefore, his material qualification is valueless.
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Next Lord Caitanya explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī the process by which one can approach Kṛṣṇa. The only process, said Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. This is the verdict of all Vedic literature. As the sages declare, "If someone inquires into the #i#Vedas#/i# to determine the process of transcendental realization, or if someone consults the #i#Purāṇas#/i# (which are considered sister literatures), one will find that in all of them the conclusion is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the only object of worship."
#$p#Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is situated in His internal potency, which is known as #i#svarūpa-śakti#/i# or #i#ātma-śakti#/i#, as described in the #i#Bhagavad-gītā#/i#. He expands Himself in multiple forms, some of which are known as His personal forms and some as His separated forms. Thus He enjoys Himself in all the spiritual planets, as well as in the material universes.
#$p#Kṛṣṇa 's separated expanded forms are the living entities, who are classified according to which of the Lord 's energies they are under. They are divided into two classes—eternally liberated and eternally conditioned. Eternally liberated living entities never come into contact with the material nature, and therefore they do not have any experience of material life. They are eternally engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to the Lord, and they are counted among the associates of Kṛṣṇa. Their pleasure, the only enjoyment of their life, is derived from rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa.
#$p#On the other hand, those who are eternally conditioned are always divorced from the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa and are thus subjected to the threefold miseries of material existence. On account of the conditioned soul 's eternal attitude of separation from Kṛṣṇa, the spell of the material energy awards him two kinds of bodies—the gross body, consisting of five elements, and the subtle body, consisting of mind, intelligence and ego. Being covered by these two bodies, the conditioned soul eternally suffers the pangs of material existence, known as the threefold miseries. He is also subjected to six enemies (lust, anger, etc.). Such is the everlasting disease of the conditioned soul.
#$p#Diseased and conditioned, the living entity transmigrates all over the universe. Sometimes he is situated in the upper planetary system, and sometimes he travels in the lower planetary system. In this way he leads his diseased, conditioned life. His disease can be cured only when he meets and follows the expert physician, the bona fide spiritual master. When the conditioned soul faithfully follows the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master, his material disease is cured, he is promoted to the liberated stage, and he again attains to the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa and goes back home, back to Kṛṣṇa.
#$p#A conditioned living entity should become aware of his real position and pray to the Lord, "How much longer will I be ruled by all these bodily functions, such as lust and anger?" As masters of the conditioned soul, lust and anger are never merciful. Indeed, such bad masters never cease demanding service from the conditioned soul. But when he comes to his real consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he stops serving these bad masters and approaches Kṛṣṇa with a frank and open heart to achieve His shelter. At such a time he prays to Kṛṣṇa to be engaged in His transcendental loving service.
#$p#Sometimes the Vedic literature highly praises fruitive activities, mystic #i#yoga#/i# and the speculative search for knowledge as different ways to self-realization. Yet despite such praise, in all Vedic literature the path of devotional service is accepted as foremost. In other words, devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfectional path to self-realization, and it is recommended that it be performed directly. Fruitive activity, mystic meditation and philosophical speculation are not direct methods of self-realization. They are indirect because without devotional service they cannot lead to the highest perfection of self-realization. Indeed, all paths to self-realization ultimately depend on the path of devotional service.
#$p#When Vyāsadeva was not satisfied even after compiling heaps of books of Vedic knowledge, Nārada Muni, his spiritual master, explained that no path of self-realization can be successful unless it is mixed with devotional service. When Nārada Muni arrived, Vyāsadeva was sitting by the banks of the river Sarasvatī in a state of depression. Upon seeing Vyāsa so dejected, Nārada explained the deficiency in his compilation of various books: "Even pure knowledge does not look well unless it is complemented by transcendental devotional service. And what to speak of fruitive activities when they are devoid of devotional service? How can they be of any benefit to their performer?"
#$p#Similarly, Śukadeva Gosvāmī prays in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (2.4.17): "There are many sages who are expert in performing austerities, there are many men who give much in charity, there are many famous men, scholars and thinkers, and there are those who are very expert in reciting Vedic hymns. Although all the activities of these men are auspicious, unless one performs them in order to attain devotional service to the Lord, they cannot award the desired results. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, the only one who can award such results."
#$p#Although many types of philosophers and transcendentalists believe that one who lacks knowledge cannot be liberated from material entanglement, there is no possibility that knowledge without devotional service can award liberation. In other words, when #i#jñāna#/i#, or the cultivation of knowledge, leads one onto the path of devotional service, then only does it help one gain liberation, but not otherwise. This is confirmed by Brahmā in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (10.14.4):
#dl##dd##i#śreyaḥ-sṛtiṁ bhaktim udasya te vibho#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#teṣām asau kleśala eva śiṣyate#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#nānyad yathā sthūla-tuṣāvaghātinām#/i##/dd##/dl#
"My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the best path for self-realization. If someone gives up that path and engages in the cultivation of knowledge or in speculation, he will simply undergo a troublesome process and will not achieve his desired results. Just as a person who beats an empty husk of wheat cannot get grain, one who engages simply in speculative knowledge cannot achieve the desired result of self-realization. His only gain is trouble."
#$p#In the #i#Bhagavad-gītā#/i# (7.14) it is stated that material nature is so strong that it can be surmounted only by those living entities who surrender unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Only they can cross the ocean of material existence. When a living entity forgets that he is eternally the servitor of Kṛṣṇa, that forgetfulness causes his bondage in conditioned life and his attraction for the material energy. Indeed, that attraction is the shackle of the material energy. Since it is very difficult for a person to become free as long as he desires to lord it over the material nature, it is recommended that he approach a spiritual master who can train him in devotional service. In this way he can get out of the clutches of the material nature and achieve the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
#$p#There are four social divisions of human society: the #i#brāhmaṇas#/i#, or intellectuals; the #i#kṣatriyas#/i#, or administrators; the #i#vaiśyas#/i#, or businessmen and farmers; and the #i#śūdras#/i#, or laborers. There are also four spiritual orders, or #i#āśramas#/i#: the #i#brahmacārīs#/i#, or students; the #i#gṛhasthas#/i#, or householders; the #i#vānaprasthas#/i#, or retired persons; and the #i#sannyāsīs#/i#, or those in renounced life. Regardless of one 's social or spiritual position, however, one who is lacking in devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, cannot be released from material bondage, even if he executes his prescribed duty. On the contrary, he will glide down to hell due to material consciousness. Therefore, whoever is engaged in his occupational or spiritual duty must simultaneously cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness in devotional service if he wants liberation from the material clutches.
#$p#In this regard, Lord Caitanya recited two verses from #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (11.5.2–3) that were spoken by Nārada Muni to indicate the path of #i#bhāgavata#/i# cultivation. Nārada pointed out that the four social divisions of human society, as well as the four orders of life, are born from the gigantic universal form of the Lord, the #i#virāṭ-puruṣa#/i#. The #i#brāhmaṇas#/i# are born from the mouth of the universal form, the #i#kṣatriyas#/i# are born from the arms, the #i#vaiśyas#/i# from the waist, and the #i#śūdras#/i# from the legs. As such, the members of all these social orders are qualified in the different modes of material nature within the form of the #i#virāṭ-puruṣa#/i#. But if a person is not engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, he falls from his position, regardless of whether he executes his prescribed occupational duty or not.
#$p#Lord Caitanya further pointed out that although those who belong to the Māyāvāda, or impersonalist, school consider themselves to be one with God, or liberated, they are not actually liberated, as confirmed in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (10.2.32):
#dl##dd##i#ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#patanty adho 'nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ#/i##/dd##/dl#
"Those who think that they are liberated according to Māyāvāda philosophy but who do not take to the devotional service of the Lord fall down for want of devotional service, even after they undergo the severest types of penances and austerities, and even after they sometimes approach the supreme position."
#$p#Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained that Kṛṣṇa is just like the sun and that #i#Māyā#/i#, the illusory material energy, is just like darkness. Therefore one who is constantly in the sunshine of Kṛṣṇa cannot possibly be deluded by the darkness of the material energy. This is very clearly confirmed in the last of the four principal verses of #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (2.9.34), as well as in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# 2.5.13, which states: "The illusory energy, or #i#Māyā#/i#, is ashamed to stand before the Lord." Nonetheless, the living entities are constantly being bewildered by this very same illusory energy. In his conditioned state, the living entity discovers many forms of word jugglery to get apparent liberation from the clutches of #i#Māyā#/i#, but if he sincerely surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa by simply once saying "My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, from this day I am Yours," he at once gets out of the clutches of the material energy. This is confirmed in the #i#Rāmāyaṇa#/i# (#i#Yuddha-kāṇḍa#/i# 18.33), wherein the Lord says:
#dl##dd##i#sakṛd eva prapanno yas tavāsmīti ca yācate#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama#/i##/dd##/dl#
"It is My duty and vow to give all protection to one who surrenders unto Me without reservation." One may develop the desire to enjoy fruitive activities, liberation, #i#jñāna#/i# or the perfection of the #i#yoga#/i# system, but if one becomes very intelligent he will give up all these paths and engage himself in sincere devotional service to the Lord. The #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (2.3.10) confirms that an intelligent person, whether free of desires or full of desires for material enjoyment or desirous of liberation, should engage in intense devotional service. Those who are ambitious to derive material benefit from devotional service are not pure devotees, but because they are engaged in devotional service they are considered fortunate. They do not know that the result of devotional service is not material benediction, but because they engage in devotional service of the Supreme Lord they ultimately come to understand that material enjoyment is not its goal. Kṛṣṇa says that persons who want some material benefit in exchange for devotional service are certainly foolish because they want something that is poisonous for them. Yet although a person may desire material benefits from Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, being all-powerful, considers the person 's position and gradually liberates him from a materially ambitious life and engages him in more devotional service. When one is actually engaged in devotional service, he forgets his material ambitions and desires. This is confirmed in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (5.19.27):
#dl##dd##i#satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#naivārtha-do yat punar arthitā yataḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam#/i##/dd##/dl#
"Lord Kṛṣṇa certainly fulfills the desires of His devotees who come to Him in devotional service, but He does not fulfill desires that would again cause miseries. In spite of being materially ambitious, such devotees, by rendering transcendental service to the Lord, are gradually purified of desires for material enjoyment and come to desire the pleasure of devotional service."
#$p#Generally people come into the association of devotees to mitigate some material wants, but the influence of a pure devotee frees a man from all material desires by enabling him to relish the taste of devotional service. Devotional service is so nice and pure that it purifies the devotee, and he forgets all material ambitions as soon as he engages fully in the transcendental loving service of Kṛṣṇa. A practical example is Dhruva Mahārāja, who wanted something material from Kṛṣṇa and therefore engaged in devotional service. When the Lord appeared before Dhruva as four-handed Viṣṇu, Dhruva told Him: "My dear Lord, because I engaged in Your devotional service with great austerity and penances, I am now seeing You, whom even great demigods and sages have difficulty seeing. Now I am pleased, and all my desires are satisfied. I do not want anything else. I was searching for some broken glass, but instead I have found a great and valuable gem." Thus Dhruva Mahārāja expressed his full satisfaction and refused to ask anything from the Lord.
#$p#The living entity transmigrating through 8,400,000 species of life is sometimes likened to a log gliding downstream on the waves of a river. Sometimes, by chance, a log washes up on shore and is thus saved from being forced to drift further downstream. In this regard there is a nice verse in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (10.38.5) that encourages every conditioned soul: "No one should be depressed by thinking he will never be out of the clutches of matter, for there is the possibility of being rescued, exactly as it is possible for a log floating down a river to come to rest on the bank." This fortunate opportunity was also discussed by Lord Caitanya. Such fortunate incidents are considered the beginning of the decline of one 's conditioned life, and they occur if one associates with the pure devotees of the Lord. By associating with pure devotees, one develops attraction for Kṛṣṇa. There are various types of rituals and activities, some of which lead to material enjoyment and others to material liberation. But if a living entity takes to those ritualistic activities by which pure devotional service to the Lord is developed in the association of pure devotees, then his mind naturally becomes attracted to devotional service. In #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (10.51.53) Mucukunda states:
#dl##dd##i#bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ#/i##/dd##/dl#
"My dear Lord, while traveling in this material world through different species of life, a living entity may progress toward liberation. But only when he gets the chance to come in contact with a pure devotee can he actually be liberated from the clutches of material energy and become a devotee of You, the Personality of Godhead."
#$p#When a conditioned soul becomes a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, the Lord, by His causeless mercy, trains him in two ways: He trains him from without as the spiritual master, and He trains him from within as the Supersoul. In this connection there is a very nice verse in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (11.29.6), in which Uddhava says to Lord Kṛṣṇa: "My dear Lord, even if someone lives as long as Brahmā, he would still be unable to express his gratitude to You for the benefits derived from remembering You. Out of Your causeless mercy You drive away all inauspicious conditions for Your devotee, expressing Yourself from outside as the spiritual master and from inside as the Supersoul."
#$p#If one somehow or other gets in touch with a pure devotee and thus develops a desire to render devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, he gradually rises to the platform of love of Godhead and is thus freed from the clutches of the material energy. This is confirmed in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (11.20.8) where the Lord says, "For one who, out of his own accord, becomes attracted to topics of My activities—being neither allured nor repelled by material activities—following the path of devotional service leading to the perfection of love of God becomes possible." However, it is not possible to achieve the stage of perfection without being favored by a pure devotee, or a #i#mahātmā#/i#, a great soul. Without the mercy of a great soul, one cannot even be liberated from the material clutches, and what to speak of rising to the platform of love of Godhead. This is also confirmed in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (5.12.12), in a conversation between Jada Bharata and King Rahūgaṇa, ruler of the Sindhu and Sauvīra provinces. When King Rahūgaṇa expressed surprise upon seeing Bharata 's spiritual achievements, Bharata replied:
#dl##dd##i#rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#vinā mahat-pāda-rajo 'bhiṣekam#/i##/dd##/dl#
"My dear Rahūgaṇa, no one can attain the perfected stage of devotional service without being favored by a great soul, a pure devotee. No one can attain the perfectional stage simply by following the regulative principles of scriptures, or by accepting the renounced order of life, or by prosecuting the prescribed duties of householder life, or by becoming a great student of spiritual science, or by accepting severe austerity and penances for realization." Similarly, when the atheist Hiraṇyakaśipu asked his son Prahlāda Mahārāja how he had attained such a devotional attitude, the boy replied, "As long as one is not favored by the dust of the feet of pure devotees, one cannot even touch the path of devotional service, which is the solution to all the problems of material life." ([[SB 7.5.32|#i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# 7.5.32]])
#$p#Thus Lord Caitanya told Sanātana Gosvāmī that all scriptures stress association with pure devotees of the Lord. The opportunity to associate with a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord is the beginning of one 's complete perfection. This is confirmed in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (1.18.13), where it is said that the facilities and benedictions one achieves by associating with a pure devotee are incomparable. They cannot be compared to anything—neither elevation to the heavenly kingdom nor liberation from the material energy. Lord Kṛṣṇa also confirms this in the most confidential instruction in the #i#Bhagavad-gītā#/i# (18.64–65), wherein He tells Arjuna:
#dl##dd##i#sarva-guhyatamaṁ bhūyaḥ śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#iṣṭo 'si me dṛḍham iti tato vakṣyāmi te hitam#/i##/dd##/dl#
#dl##dd##i#man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo 'si me#/i##/dd##/dl#
"My dear Arjuna, you are My affectionate friend and relative, and therefore I am imparting to you this most confidential knowledge for your benefit. Just become always mindful of Me, become My constant devotee, become My constant worshiper, and become a soul surrendered to Me. Only in this way will you be sure to achieve My abode. Because you are My very dear friend, I hereby disclose to you this most confidential knowledge."
#$p#Such a direct instruction from Kṛṣṇa is more important than any Vedic injunction or regulative service. There are certainly many Vedic injunctions, ritualistic and sacrificial performances, regulative duties, meditative techniques, and speculative processes for attaining knowledge, but Kṛṣṇa 's direct order—"Just give up everything else and become My devotee, My worshiper"—should be taken as the final order of the Lord and should be followed. If one is simply convinced of this direct order of the Lord in the #i#Bhagavad-gītā#/i#, becomes attached to His devotional service, and gives up all other engagements, one will undoubtedly attain success. To confirm this statement, in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (11.20.9) Kṛṣṇa says that one should follow other paths of self-realization only as long as one is not convinced of His direct order to become His devotee. It is the conclusion of #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# and #i#Bhagavad-gītā#/i# that the direct order of the Lord is to give up everything and engage in devotional service.
#$p#Firm conviction that one should execute the order of the Lord is known as faith. One who has faith is firmly convinced that simply by rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa all other activities are automatically performed, including ritualistic duties, sacrifices, #i#yoga#/i# and the speculative pursuit of knowledge. In fact, devotional service to the Lord includes everything. As stated in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (4.31.14):
#dl##dd##i#yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā#/i##/dd##/dl#
"By watering the root of a tree, one automatically nourishes the branches, twigs, leaves and fruits, and by supplying food to the stomach, one satisfies all the senses. Similarly, by rendering devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically satisfies the requirements for all other forms of worship and all other spiritual processes." One who is faithful and firmly convinced of this is eligible to be elevated as a pure devotee.
#$p#There are three classes of devotees, according to the degree of conviction. The first-class devotee is conversant with all kinds of Vedic literature and at the same time has the firm conviction mentioned above. He can deliver all others from the pangs of material miseries. The second-class devotee is firmly convinced and has strong faith, but he has no power to cite evidence from revealed scriptures. The third-class devotee is one whose faith is not very strong, but by the gradual cultivation of devotional service he can be promoted to the second- or first-class position. It is said in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (11.2.45) that the first-class devotee always sees the Supreme Lord as the soul of all living entities. Thus in seeing all living entities, he sees Kṛṣṇa and nothing but Kṛṣṇa. The second-class devotee places his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, makes friends with pure devotees, shows favor to innocent persons and avoids those who are atheistic or against devotional service. The third-class devotee engages in devotional service according to the directions of the spiritual master, or engages out of family tradition, and worships the Deity of the Lord, but he has not cultivated knowledge of devotional service, and he does not know a devotee from a nondevotee. Such a third-class devotee cannot actually be considered a pure devotee; he is almost in the devotional line, but his position is not very secure.
#$p#One can thus conclude that when a person shows love for God and friendship for devotees, displays mercy toward the innocent and is reluctant to associate with nondevotees, he may be considered a pure devotee. By developing devotional service, such a person can perceive that every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme. In each and every living entity he can see the Supreme Person, and therefore he becomes highly developed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. At this stage he does not distinguish between the devotee and the nondevotee, for he sees everyone as being engaged in the service of the Lord. Such a pure devotee continues to develop all great qualities while engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service. As stated in #i#Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam#/i# (5.18.12):
#dl##dd##i#yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā#/i##/dd#
#dd#sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ#i##/i##/dd#
#dd##i#harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā#/i##/dd#
#dd##i#mano-rathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ#/i##/dd##/dl#
"One who attains pure, unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Lord develops all the good qualities of the demigods, whereas a person who doesn 't develop such service is sure to go astray despite all his material qualifications, for he hovers on the mental platform. Thus his material qualifications are valueless."
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