S-B 5.19.7, Bg 5.24 and more

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances at the lotus feet of

Srila Prabhupada.

om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

om namo bhagavate vasudevaya

Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.19.7

"One cannot establish a friendship with the Supreme Lord Ramachandra

on the basis of material qualities such as one's birth in an aristocratic

family, one's personal beauty, one's eloquence, one's sharp intelligence

or one's superior race or nation. None of these qualifications is actually

a prerequisite for friendship with the Lord Sri Ramachandra. Otherwise

how is it possible that although we uncivilized inhabitants of the forest

have not taken noble births, although we have no physical beauty and although

we cannot speak like gentlemen, Lord Ramachandra has nevertheless accepted

us as friends?"

Srila Prabhupada perfectly teaches us (partial purport): "In a prayer

to Krsna expressing her feelings, Shrimate Kntidevi called Him akinchana-gochara.

The prefix a means "not," and kinchana "something of this

material world." One may be very proud of his prestigious position, material

wealth, beauty, education, and so on, but although these are certainly

good qualifications in material dealings, they are not necessary for achieving

friendship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who pocesses all

these material qualities is expected to become a devotee, and when he actually

does, the qualities are properly utilized. Those who are puffed up by a

high birth, wealth, education and personal beauty (janmaishvarya-shruti-shri)

unfortunately do not care for developing Krsna consciousness, nor does

the Supreme Personality of Godhead care about all these material qualifications.

The Supreme Lord is achieved by devotion (bhaktya mam abhijanati).

One's devotion and sincere desire to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead

are the only qualifications. Rupa Gosvami has also said that the price

for achieving God's favor in simply one's sincere eagerness to have it

(laulyam ekam mulyam). In the Caitanya-bhagavata it is said

: (Sanskrit ommited)

'Behold the great fortune of the devotee Kholavecha. Lord Brahma and

Shiva shed tears upon seeing his greatness. One cannot attain Lord Krsna

by any amount of wealth, followers, or learning. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

is controlled only by pure devotion.' Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had

a very sincere devotee whose name was Kholavecha Shridhara and whose only

business was to sell pots made of the skins of banana trees. Whatever income

he had, he used fifty percent for the worship of Mother Ganges. and with

the other fifty percent he provided for his necessities. On the whole,

he was so very poor that he lived in a cottage that had a broken roof with

many holes in it. He could not afford brass utensils, and therefore he

drank water from an iron pot. Nevertheless, he was a great devotee of Lord

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a typical example of how a poor man with

no material possessions can become a most exalted devotee of the Lord.

The conclusion is that one cannot attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord

Krsna or Shri Chaitanya Gosani through material opulence ; that shelter

is attainable only by pure devotional service. (Sanskrit ommited) 'One

should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably

and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities

or philosophical speculation. This is called pure devotional service.'

"

***************************************

(from My Relationship With Lord Krsna by H.H.Satswarupa

das Goswami)

Srila Prabhupada is being quoted :

"..."Krsna is within you. As soon as He sees you are very sincere,

doing serioualy, He'll give you all intelligence. Buddhi-yogam dadami

tam. But if you are in doubt whether Krsna is present or not, then

Krsna will not give you intelligence. That is the difficulty. He does not

talk with a nonsense. He talks, but not with the nonsense. If you are above

the nonsensical platform by sincere service, then Krsna will talk with

you from within." (Lecture, June 16, 1972, on S.B. 2.3.20).

You will talk with me, Krsna, but not if I doubt You.

That is the problem. If You had someone worthy to talk to, You would say,

"Go preach in America," or, "Please repair My temple, " or "I am with you."

I can try to serve, and, if You like, You can signal me

from within. Srila Prabhupada told me in 1967 that I would be able to understand

the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita because I was sincere and because

You would receal it. You reveal Yourself in simple ways, in small amounts,

even to devotees who are not so advanced. How else can we stay clear of

maya's intrigues except by Your guidance?..." (p.72)

*****************************************

Bhagavad-gita As It Is 5.24

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna teaches us :

"One whose happiness is within, who is active within, who rejoices

within and is illumined within, is actually the perfect mystic. He

is liberated in the Supreme, and ultimately he attains the Supreme."

Srila Prabhupada perfectly explains : "Unless one is able to relish

happiness from within, how can one retire from external engagements meant

for deriving superficial happiness? A liberated person enjoys happiness

by factual experience. He can, therefore, sit silently in any place and

enjoy the activities of life from within. Such a liberated person no longer

desires external happiness. This state is called brahma-bhuta, attaining

which one is assured of going back to Godhead, back to home."

****************************************

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

your servant...:-)

###############################################################################