A first-class devotee does NOT fall down!
You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A Spiritual Master must be liberated.
Madhya 22.71
It should be understood that a madhyama-adhikari, a second-class
devotee, is fully convinced of Krsna consciousness but cannot support his convictions with sastric reference. A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with sastric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the sastras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT A FIRST-CLASS DEVOTEE WILL FALL DOWN, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY MIX WITH NONDEVOTEES TO PREACH. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an uttama-adhikari, a first-class devotee.
Bg 9.3
There are three divisions of Krsna conscious men. In the third class are those who have no faith. If they are engaged in devotional service
officially, for some ulterior purpose, they cannot achieve the highest
perfectional stage. Most probably they will slip, after some time. They may become engaged, but because they haven’t complete conviction and faith, it is very difficult for them to continue in Krsna consciousness. WE HAVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN DISCHARGING OUR MISSIONARY ACTIVITY THAT SOME PEOPLE COME AND APPLY THEMSELVES TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH SOME HIDDEN MOTIVE, AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE ECONOMICALLY A LITTLE WELL SITUATED THEY GIVE UP THIS PROCESS AND TAKE TO THEIR OLD WAYS AGAIN. It is only by faith that one can advance in Krsna consciousness. As far as the development of faith is concerned, one who is well versed in the literatures of devotional service and has attained the stage of firm faith is called a first-class person in Krsna consciousness. And in the second-class are those who are
not very advanced in understanding the devotional scriptures but who
automatically have firm faith that krsna-bhakti or service to Krsna is the best course and so in good faith have taken it up. Thus they are superior to the third-class who have neither perfect knowledge of the scriptures nor good faith but by association and simplicity are trying to follow. THE THIRD-CLASS PERSON IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MAY FALL DOWN, BUT WHEN ONE IS IN THE SECOND-CLASS OR FIRST-CLASS HE DOES NOT FALL DOWN. One in the first-class will surely make progress and achieve the result at the end. As far as the third-class person in Krsna consciousness is concerned, although he has faith in the conviction that devotional service to Krsna is very good, he has no knowledge of Krsna through the scriptures like Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Sometimes these third-class persons in Krsna consciousness have some tendency toward karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, and sometimes they are disturbed, but as soon as the infection of karma-yoga or jnana-yoga is vanquished, they become second-class or first-class persons in Krsna consciousness. FAITH IN KRSNA IS ALSO DIVIDED INTO THREE STAGES AND DESCRIBED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. FIRST-CLASS ATTACHMENT, SECOND-CLASS ATTACHMENT, AND THIRD-CLASS ATTACHMENT ARE ALSO EXPLAINED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM IN THE ELEVENTH CANTO. Those who have no faith even after hearing about Krsna and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy, find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional service. For them there is very little hope in gaining perfection.
Thus faith is very important in
the discharge of devotional service.
TLC 11
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 will eventually be eligible for promotion to the second or first-class position. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45-47) 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 Krsna and nothing but Krsna. The second-class devotee places his full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, makes friends with the pure devotees, favors innocent persons and avoids those who are atheistic or opposed to 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 is not cultivated in 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.
Madhya 16.74
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that if an observer
immediately remembers the holy name of Krsna upon seeing a Vaisnava, that Vaisnava should be considered a maha-bhagavata, a first-class devotee. Such a Vaisnava is always aware of his Krsna conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and this love is without adulteration.
Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization.
Because he knows that Krsna consciousness is the basis of knowledge and
action, he sees everything connected with Krsna. Such a person is able to chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly. Such a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava has the transcendental eyes to see who is sleeping under the spell of maya, and he engages himself in awakening sleeping conditioned beings by spreading the knowledge of Krsna consciousness. He opens eyes that are closed by forgetfulness of Krsna. Thus the living entity is liberated from the dullness of material energy and is engaged fully in the service of the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can awaken others to Krsna consciousness and engage them in duties whereby they can advance. It is therefore said in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Six, verse
279):
lohake yavat sparsi’ hema nahi kare
tavat sparsa-mani keha cinite na pare
“One cannot understand the value of touchstone until it turns iron into
gold.” One should judge by action, not by promises. A MAHA-BHAGAVATA CAN TURN A LIVING ENTITY FROM ABOMINABLE MATERIAL LIFE TO THE LORD’S SERVICE. THIS IS THE TEST OF A MAHA-BHAGAVATA. Although preaching is not meant for a maha-bhagavata, a maha-bhagavata can descend to the platform of madhyama-bhagavata just to convert others to Vaisnavism. ACTUALLY A MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS FIT TO SPREAD KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, but he does not distinguish where Krsna consciousness should be spread from where it should not. He thinks that everyone is competent to accept Krsna consciousness if the chance is provided. A neophyte and intermediate devotee should always be anxious to hear the maha-bhagavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikari and become first-class devotees. Symptoms of a first-class
devotee are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.45):
sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed
bhagavad-bhavam atmanah
bhutani bhagavaty atmany
esa bhagavatottamah
When teaching Sanatana Gosvami, the Lord further said:
sastra-yuktye sunipuna, drdha-sraddha yanra
‘UTTAMA-ADHIKARI’ SE TARAYE SAMSARA
“If one is expert in Vedic literature and has full faith in the Supreme
Lord, then he is AN UTTAMA-ADHIKARI, A FIRST-CLASS VAISNAVA, A TOPMOST
VAISNAVA WHO CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD AND TURN EVERYONE TO KRSNA
CONSCIOUSNESS.” (Cc. Madhya 22.65) With great love and affection, the
maha-bhagavata observes the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional
service and the devotee. He observes nothing beyond Krsna, Krsna
consciousness and Krsna’s devotees. The maha-bhagavata knows that everyone is engaged in the Lord’s service in different ways. He therefore descends to the middle platform to elevate everyone to the Krsna conscious position.
NOTE: UTTAMA-ADHIKARI is on the topmost level PREMA (love of Godhead)stage. Now just see the extremely high level of Bhava which considered just a PRELIMINARY STAGE OF LOVE OF GODHEAD.
Adi 7.83
In this verse it is explained that one who chants the Hare Krsna mantra
develops BHAVA, ECSTASY, WHICH IS THE POINT AT WHICH REVELATION BEGINS. It is the PRELIMINARY STAGE in developing one’s original love for God. Lord Krsna mentions this bhava stage in the Bhagavad-gita (10.8):
aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam
budha bhava-samanvitah
“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.”
NoI 7
ALTHOUGH MAYA MAY BE PRESENT, IT CANNOT DISTURB A DEVOTEE ONCE HE
ATTAINS THE BHAVA STAGE. This is because the devotee can see the real
position of maya. Maya means forgetfulness of Krsna, and forgetfulness of Krsna and Krsna consciousness stand side by side like light and shadow. If one remains in shadow, he cannot enjoy the facilities offered by light, and if one remains in light, he cannot be disturbed by the darkness of shadow.
SB 3.27.6
Bhavena, or bhava, is a very important factor in the practice of yoga or in any spiritual process. Bhava is explained in Bhagavad-gita (10.8). Budha bhava-samanvitah: one should be absorbed in the thought of love of Krsna.
When one knows that Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the
source of everything and that everything emanates from Him (aham sarvasya prabhavah), then one understands the Vedanta aphorism janmady asya yatah (“the original source of everything”), AND THEN HE CAN BECOME ABSORBED IN BHAVA, OR THE PRELIMINARY STAGE OF LOVE OF GODHEAD.
Note: BEFORE reaching the stage of BHAVA one is considered as NEOPHYTE.
Bs 5.38
The Syamasundara form of Krsna is His inconceivable simultaneous
personal and impersonal self-contradictory form. True devotees see that
form in their purified hearts under the influence of devotional trance. The form Syama is not the blue color visible in the mundane world but is the transcendental variegated color affording eternal bliss, and is not visible to the mortal eye. On a consideration of the trance of Vyasadeva as in the sloka, bhakti-yogena manasi etc., it will be clear that the form of Sri Krsna is the full Personality of Godhead and can only be visible in the heart of a true devotee, which is the only true seat in the state of trance under the influence of devotion.
When Krsna manifested Himself in Vraja, both the devotees and nondevotees saw Him with this very eye; but only the devotees cherished Him, eternally present in Vraja, as the priceless jewel of their heart. Nowadays also the devotees see Him in Vraja in their hearts, saturated with devotion although they do not see Him with their eyes. The eye of devotion is nothing but the eye of the pure unalloyed spiritual self of the jiva. The form of Krsna is visible to that eye in proportion to its purification by the practice of devotion. WHEN THE DEVOTION OF THE NEOPHYTE REACHES THE STAGE OF BHAVA-BHAKTI THE PURE EYE OF
THAT DEVOTEE IS TINGED WITH THE SALVE OF LOVE BY THE GRACE OF KRSNA, WHICH ENABLES HIM TO SEE KRSNA FACE TO FACE. The phrase “in their hearts” means Krsna is visible in proportion as their hearts are purified by the practice of devotion. The sum and substance of this sloka is that the form of Krsna, who is Syamasundara, Natavara (Best Dancer), Muralidhara (Holder of the Flute) and Tribhanga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.
Note: this is why Srila Prabhupada is warning these lusty devotees not to go power crazy pretending to give diksa(transcendental knowledge which the Uttama adhikari gives that enables one to realize his svarupa with Krishna).AND this is why Srila Prabhupada wanted the RITVIK system—to SAVE them from going to hell.
ACARYA receives VYASA-PUJA not neophyte (kanistha-adhikari).Neophytes
Photos are NOT put on alters either.
74-04-28 Letter: Rupanuga
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja’s genuineness. But in my opinion
he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my Godbrothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. ALL ARE SATISFIED WITH A PLACE FOR RESIDENCE IN THE NAME OF A TEMPLE, THEY ENGAGE DISCIPLES TO GET FOODSTUFF BY TRANSCENDENTAL DEVICES AND EAT AND SLEEP. They have no idea or brain how to broacast the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acarya of
the Gaudiya Math. BUT SRIDHARA MAHARAJA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER OF GURU MAHARAJA, AND HE AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALREADY DEAD
UNNECESSARILY THOUGHT THAT THERE MUST BE ONE ACARYA. IF GURU MAHARAJA COULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS QUALIFIED AT THAT TIME TO BE ACARYA HE WOULD HAVE MENTIONED. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. HIS IDEA WAS ACARYA WAS NOT TO BE NOMINATED AMONGST THE GOVERNING BODY. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP. ACTUALLY AMONGST MY GODBROTHERS NO ONE IS QUALIFIED TO BECOME ACARYA.
SO IT IS BETTER NOT TO MIX WITH MY GODBROTHERS VERY INTIMATELY BECAUSE INSTEAD OF INSPIRING OUR STUDENTS AND DISCIPLES,THEY MAY SOMETIMES POLLUTE THEM. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very
careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you
all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.
761102SB.VRN Lectures
So in order to know that science, one has to APPROACH A PERFECT TEACHER. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. Here also it is said, gurau hamsa. Hamse gurau mayi. The mayi is also significant. That means, PARAMAHAMSA GURU MEANS, HE’S AS GOOD AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. BECAUSE HE DOES NOT DEVIATE from the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the symptom of guru. GURU DOES NOT DEVIATE FROM THE INSTRUCTION OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.
Bg 4.42 P Transcendental Knowledge
A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS IN THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION FROM TIME ETERNAL, AND HE DOES NOT DEVIATE AT ALL from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-gita have come down to the earthly kingdom. One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and BEWARE OF SELF-INTERESTED PEOPLE AFTER PERSONAL AGGRANDIZEMENT WHO DEVIATE OTHERS FROM THE ACTUAL PATH.
“A person acting in the service of Krsna with his body, mind and words IS A LIBERATED PERSON, EVEN WITHIN THE MATERIAL WORLD.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187) Therefore, one is forbidden to regard the guru as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matir. .. naraki sah). THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, OR ACARYA, IS ALWAYS SITUATED IN THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF LIFE.
69-06-10. Letter: Mukunda
Your next question, whether the Spiritual Master was formerly a conditioned soul, ACTUALLY A BONAFIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS NEVER A CONDITIONED SOUL.
69-06-10. Letter: Mukunda
You are correct when you say that when the Spiritual Master speaks it should be taken that Krishna is speaking. That is a fact. A SPIRITUAL MASTER MUST BE LIBERATED.
About the Author
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Hare Krishna Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisnces
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Prabhu, how does one know that he’s in which stage? If I’m always thinking of Krishna and how to serve Krishna then I’m in second in stage?
Actual devotee does not think he is a devotee.
Hare Krishna Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Since it is said the neophyte devotees cannot distinguish between a devotee and a demon, so when I think that someone is a devotee after seeing his activities, behaviour etc. I may be wrong even if I know the symptoms of a devotee from Srila Prabhupada’s books?
Hare Krishna Aman
Practically everyone is a demon in Kali-yuga Prabhu. So why bother worrying about others. Let us work on eradicating our own demonic qualities. Lord Caitanya is patita-pavana, the deliverer of the most fallen. So we also have to show mercy to the demons by delivering Krishna consciousness to them. The example is Jagai and Madhai, the biggest demons, but Lord Caitanya delivered Krishna consciousness to them.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
“When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, He ushered in the era for the sankirtana movement. It is also said mat for ten thousand years this era will continue. This means that simply by accepting the sankirtana movement and chanting the maha-mantra, the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga will be delivered. After the battle of Kuruksetra, at which Bhagavad-gita was spoken, Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years, of which only 5,000 years have passed. Thus, there is still a balance of 427,000 years to come. Of these 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the sankirtana movement inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to the Krishna consciousness movement, chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and thus be delivered from the clutches of material existence and return home, back to Godhead.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.5.23, Purport)
Does this mean that after 10000 years the mahamantra will no longer be effective or available? What about the Sankirtan movement? Is the mahamantra always effective? Will Srila Prabhupada always be available to the people of this planet to give shelter to them? I think my basic question is will the process of krishna consciousness always give results of knowledge and liberation no matter what the circumstances? Please answer all the questions. Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna
Mahamantra is always there and always effective but after 10,000 years the situation on this planet will be so degraded and so demonic that it will not be possible to push on the sankirtan movement. So after 10,000 years it will not be possible for the sankirtan movement. So the point is we have got the opportunity now to be fully engaged in Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement, but we are not doing that. We are wasting our time in maya…
So we should take full advantage of the great opportunity we have at the moment and follow in Srila Prabhupada’s footsteps and push Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtana movement all over the world now, when it is very easy to do…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
What about this question? “Will Srila Prabhupada always be available to the people of this planet to give shelter to them?”
Thank you and Hare Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada is available now for you. So please take advantage of Srila Prabhupada’s association now and chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day.
Sir, with all due respect, I feel concern for those coming after us and am curious to know what will become of them. Will they have SP or some other guru? Hare Krishna.
Be concerned about yourself. You have Prabhupada. Take full advantage of the association of Srila Prabhupada and become a pure devotee of Krishna and preach. Everything is pointless and useless if we don’t become pure devotees of Krishna ourselves. It is all theoretical speculation and nonsense. We have to become pure devotees of Krishna and preach ourselves…
Dear Madhudvisa Das,
I really like reading your articles and especially your comments on krishna.org as they delineate the finer aspects of Srila Prabhupada’s philosophy and answer the specific questions people pose from their daily lives. I only wanted to confirm this – do you completely source your answers from SP’s books or is there a little thinking/assuming/logic/reasoning involved in your answers?
I ask because I directly copy/paste your answers/comments to some friends I’m preaching to. I’ve told them to read SP’s books but keep sending them your comments as little snippets of information that will hold their interest and motivate them to educate themselves on this philosophy. So what I meant to ask is that can I be completely sure that your answers are coming fully and directly from information in SP’s books? Since I haven’t read all of SP’s books yet (only 2) I can’t really provide my friends with answers on say, questions about marriage and how to work for krishna. But I find those answers from your articles and comments and give that without editing. That should be the same as finding the answers from SP’s books, yes? Sorry if the question is rude, I have honest intentions of keeping my friends engaged in reading SP’s books and advancing in Krishna consciousness. And yes, I am reading SP’s books too.
What is your opinion on this? Should I instead google a lot and then find the answers on prabhupadabooks.com? Although I’ve noticed a few significant differences from SP’s original books and that website (from Teachings of Lord Caitanya in particular).
Regards and many thanks for your service to SP,
Hare Krishna.
I suggest you read and comprehend Srila Prabhupada’s books.
I suggest over and over again that you should chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and READ SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS AT LEAST 1-2 HOURS A DAY.
What I am writing is just to try to encourage you to READ SRILA PRABHUPADA’S books.
It is not meant to replace your READING FROM SRILA PRABHUPADA’S books…
And if you do these things [read Prabhuapda’s books, chant at least 16 rounds every day, follow the 4 regulative principels] then gradually you will become Krishna conscious, and when your are Krishna conscious you will be able to preach and explain things to people. But unless we are Krishna conscious ourselves and following the principles ourselves and reading Prabhupada’s books ourselves and chanting at least 16 rounds ourselves we have no power or potency to preach or explain Krishna consciousness to others.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu
Is a 2nd class devotee also a pure devotee?
Yes, can be. If the desire is pure, he may not be so advanced, but his desire is to simply serve Krishna and Srila Prabhupada and is trying his best to follow all the instructions that is pure devotee.
It is a question of motivation. Many come to spiritual groups with material motivations. They want to be a famous preacher, a guru, a religious leader, etc. So this is actually materialism. It is demonic actually. To pretend to be a spiritual person for fulfilling some personal materilistic desire…
But if one has a pure desire to follow and serve Srila Prabhupada and is really trying his best to do it under the proper guidance, that is pure devotee, even though he may not be yet very advanced.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhuji
Dandavat Pranam
I have this desire to become famous preacher it seems sometimes and I suffer because of this please forgive me if I have done some offences unto you. Please keep giving me your association so that I can advance and preach according to the orders of Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna Aman
You have not done any offenses to me and I give you all the blessings I can if I have any power to give any blessings.
We should not want to be a great preacher. We should want to become a great servant of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. These people who want to become great preachers miss the point. It is not about us becoming great, it is all about letting the people know that Krishna is great and that we all should surrender to Krishna and serve Krishna.
So the point is we have to first save ourselves, unless we ourselves are liberated, free from the clutches of the modes of material nature, we have no power to free others. There is a line in one of the purports of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, ‘the bound can not free the bound, the rescuer has to be liberated.’
If someone is tied up with ropes himself he is not able to free others who are tied up with ropes. He first has to get free himself, then he can help the others get free.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhuji!
I will always remember you for the mercy you have shown upon me! You have shown me the right path that leads to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna….I will always serve you with the best of my ability.
Hare Krishna Prabhu.
I heard from Srila Prabhupada that even if one wants to come down to the material world from Vaikuntha, he can come by his free will. So is it not necessary to go back to God? If one wants enjoy in this material world, God has no issues?
Hare Krishna Aman
It is not possible to enjoy in this material world. The material world is suffering only. The idea that we can enjoy in the material world is maya, illusion.
The thing is there is some fleeting so-called pleasure in the material world, but it is temporary, so temporary. You are a young man at the moment, but your youth will only last a few years and you will see that as you get older the material body gets ugly and deteriorates. But in your heart you will still feel like a young man, but you will look like an old man, and people will treat you like an old man. It is miserable. No one wants to get old, but in the material world we are trapped in these material bodies that get old, get sick and die. It is all suffering.
So you can not be happy in the material world. We can only be happy in the spiritual world.
So it is not really that anyone in the spiritual world wants to come to the material world. The standard of life in the spiritual world is so much better than the standard of life in the material world. But the thing is Krishna gives us all a limited amount of independence. So even in the spiritual world we can use that independence. And that independence basically boils down to we can serve Krishna or we can reject Krishna.
We all have the same qualities as Krishna, but we have them in a very small quantity. So Krishna is the supreme controller and we are all His eternal servants. But sometimes the servant may envy the position of the master and want to become like him. So actually in reality it is not possible for us to every become the master. We are eternally servants of Krishna. So it is Krishna’s great mercy on us, the rebellious conditioned souls who want to imitate Him, to become the master, that He creates this material world for us to play in.
But no one can be happy in the material world. It is a place of suffering, frustration and death only. Krishna confirms this in Bhagavad-gita. He calls the material world dukalayam asasvatama. It means a place of misery where there is repetition of birth and death, means temporary.
So you can not be happy in the material world. All your plans for enjoyment in the material world will be frustrated. So a thoughtful person, after many, many births of suffering in the material world, comes to realize this, and surrenders to Krishna. Such a great soul is very rare…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu.
Yes. We cannot enjoy in this world. We can only be in illusion that we are enjoying. This thought that I could enjoy independently is Maya. Rather I have to become a pure devotee and deliver the foolish people who are chewing the chewed. Day before yesterday while chanting Hare Krishna I had some thoughts regarding the suffering souls in this world and the words of Srila Prabhupada narrating the statement of Prahlada Maharaja that he will not go to Vaikuntha until he takes with him all the suffering souls of this material world came to my mind and that was very inspiring. We should all hanker for pure devotion of the Lord by serving the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and in this way we will be blessed by pure devotees like Srila Prabhupada and Prahlada Maharaja and in this way we will become eternally happy and make others happy as well. All glories to your service Prabhu. I hope to steadily follow your instructions.
Hare Krishna!
Jai srila prabhupada! Who came directly from the lotus feet of Krishna! To help the fallen souls like me! Jai prabhupaaaad!!!
I verified my horoscope with an astrologer and it was mentioned i d marry the one i am planning to marry and it would be a gandharva vivaha. There was no dosh and the horoscope matching was 23.5 points. I was happy that it is destined by god. Knowing that there was no dosh between us, I was discussing it with my mother on phone, when the krishna photo on my almirah fell back in between the wall and the almirah and the glass cracked slightly. I am very worried. The horoscope was all correct, and the guy is someone whom i really wish to marry and am seeking krishna’s blessings. If krishna did not want me to go to the astrologer, why dint he stop me before going. What does this mean…..
It’s quite clear what it means. There is no need to go to astrologers in Kaliyuga. We only need to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada by reading his books.