· Visnu and Krsna bhakti

[Guest guest]

>you're pointing this out for my benefit?? i believe the words "not

>interested" were yours! i hope you can see the difference.

 

"Not interested" were the words brought up by someone else in this

conference, which I replied to, and which are the topic of discussion (i.e.

"Devotees should not be interested in Vishnu-bhakti)."

 

If you were the one who wrote the below, then perhaps my message was to

point something out for your benefit:

 

>>i wouldn't go so far as to say i'm not 'interested' in vishnu bhakti, but

>>i'm certainly not pursuing it - i'm pursuing Krishna. shoot me down for

>>being 'ludicrous'.

 

For this writer did several things. Most notably, changing the statement

made by me from "not interested" to something else (i.e. "not pursuing"),

and then implyied that I considered this as "ludicrous". I hope you can see

what is the flaw in this.

 

Therefore it was relevant to point out to you that there was a difference

between the two, for it seemed you failed to notice it. Otherwise you would

not have maintained the "ludicrous" part of my statement.

 

Of course if you could show me where I said "pursuing Krishna is ludicrous"

I would certainly withdraw my statement. But if not, I would expect you not

to mind me pointing out the distinction you seemed to have failed to notice.

 

For further clarification I would repeat my stance. If someone thinks he is

not interested in Vishnu-bhakti, while failing to have developed true

transcendental attachment for a particular form of the Lord, such a

conception is based on illusion.

 

Transcendental attachment to the Lord comes after becoming free from

attachments, fear and anger:

 

vita-raga-bhaya-krodha

man-maya mam upasritah

bahavo jnana-tapasa

puta mad-bhavam agatah

 

Srila Prabhupada's words make it clear that devotees should have interest in

Vishnu-bhakti, i.e. devotion to Vishnu, even though it may not be their

ultimate aim, nor is the Vishnu form their istha-devata, for Vishnu is

Krishna Himself:

 

"The Lord's pastimes in the internal potency are displayed in His activities

in Vrndavana, but His external potential works are directed in His features

of Karanarnavasayi Visnu, Garbhodakasaya Visnu and Ksirodakassya Visnu.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti offers his good counsel to the interested

Vaisnavas when he says that they should not be interested in hearing only

about the Lord's activities (like rasa-lila), but must be keenly interested

in His pastimes in His features of the purusavataras in connection with

srishti-tattva, creational functions, following the examples of Maharaja

Pariksit, the ideal disciple, and Sukadeva Gosvami, the ideal spiritual

master."