Approaching Devotees of God - The Gateway to the Supreme Lord
While material knowledge can be acquired through personal study, spiritual realization requires a different methodology. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Supreme Lord remains hidden from the arrogant and the academically proud. By studying how great personalities and even the agents of death approach the devotees of the Lord, a sincere practitioner learns that submissive association with a pure soul is the only effective means of attaining Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Necessity of Approaching a Pure Devotee
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not a subject for mental speculation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the only way to understand Kṛṣṇa as He is, is to approach His confidential servants who already have the Lord in their hearts.
- Unless one approaches a pure devotee, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Actual knowledge of transcendental bliss can be bestowed upon anybody by a pure devotee. One cannot attain the perfection of spiritual life simply by following the directions of the Vedas. One has to approach a pure devotee.
- He (Brahma) has described expansions of the Supreme Lord, Govinda, in his Brahma-samhita (5.38), - The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be known by the academic wisdom of the Vedas; one has to approach the devotee of the Lord to understand Him.
- You cannot find out Krsna by simply academic education. Adurlabha atma-bhaktau. But He is available from His devotee. If you approach a devotee of Krsna, he can deliver you Krsna like anything - Here is Krsna. Take it.
The Mood of Humility and Inquiry
One cannot conquer the spiritual master or a devotee through wealth or status. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that a practitioner must approach with genuine humility, for a challenging spirit closes the door to spiritual service and instruction.
- One should approach a Krsna conscious person with all humility and put relevant questions to him. If one goes to challenge him, such a highly elevated Krsna conscious person would not be available for any service.
- If one approaches a transcendental devotee on the strength of one’s material heritage and beauty and does not offer respect to the advanced devotee of the Lord, the Vaisnava devotee may offer formal respects to such a materially puffed-up person.
- Lord Caitanya actually took the subordinate position before Ramananda Raya. This has very great significance. If one is serious about understanding the transcendental nature of Krsna, he should approach a person who is actually enriched with Krsna Consciousness.
- The learned sage Maitreya was sitting in a solitary place on the bank of the Ganges at Hardwar, and Vidura, who was a perfect devotee of the Lord and possessed all good transcendental qualities, approached him for inquiry.
Protection from the Yamadūtas
Surrender to a devotee of God grants immediate immunity from the reactions of sinful life. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the agents of death are strictly forbidden from even approaching a devotee, as such souls have already been rescued from the material world.
- After warning the Yamadutas not to approach the devotees, Yamaraja now indicates who is to be brought before him. He specifically advises the Yamadutas to bring him the materialistic persons who are attached to household life merely for sex.
- Regardless of what you (the Yamadutas) have done this time, henceforward you should not approach such devotees; otherwise you will be killed by the club of Lord Visnu. This is my (Yamaraja's) warning.
- The Yamadutas have given up the dangerous behavior of approaching devotees. For the Yamadutas, a devotee is dangerous.
- My dear servants, please do not approach such devotees, for they have fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are equal to everyone, and their narrations are sung by the demigods and the inhabitants of Siddhaloka.
Attaining Supreme Benediction
Approaching a devotee is not merely a formality; it is the act that triggers divine mercy. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully explains that touching the lotus feet of a self-realized soul is the essential catalyst for spiritual advancement that cannot be achieved through any amount of personal endeavor.
- To attain such an end (Krsna Consciousness), one must touch the lotus feet of the spiritual master. Krsna consciousness cannot be achieved by self-endeavor. One must therefore approach a self-realized, Krsna conscious person and touch his lotus feet.
- If we approach the Supreme Lord or His devotee, or if we are blessed by a devotee, naturally we will automatically achieve the benedictions of the Supreme Lord.
- As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately, anartha apagamah, he'll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he'll forget this idea that "Materially we can advance."
- The preliminary stage of understanding prema, love of God, is to approach a proper pure devotee, accept him as one's spiritual master, and execute regulated devotional service under his guidance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is centered on the proper etiquette of approaching the devotees of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully teaches that the soul's real self-interest is found not in personal struggle or academic pride, but in humble submission to those who are already enriched with transcendental knowledge. By setting aside material heritage and wealth to sincerely inquire from a pure devotee, any conditioned soul can secure protection from the agents of death and receive the ultimate benediction of unalloyed love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Approaching Devotees of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.