Approaching Kṛṣṇa - The Supreme Goal of Human Life
The journey back to the spiritual world is a precise and scientific process. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the conditioned soul cannot reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead through mental speculation or independent effort; one must understand the proper channels, maintain absolute purity, and cultivate the right motives to successfully approach Lord Kṛṣṇa.
The Necessity of a Spiritual Master
A common illusion among transcendentalists is the attempt to bypass the Lord's devotees to reach God directly. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa is only accessible through His authorized representatives; therefore, accepting the shelter of the paramparā (disciplic succession) is mandatory.
- Actually we are puzzled every moment. Therefore it is necessary one should approach to a proper guru. Now Arjuna is approaching Krsna, the first-class guru. First-class guru. Guru means the Supreme Lord. He is guru of everyone.
- We have to receive mercy both from the spiritual master and Krsna. We cannot jump over to Krsna. That is another nonsense. We must approach Krsna through guru. That is parampara system. Krsna is not so cheap thing that you can jump over.
- You cannot approach Krsna directly. That is not possible. You have to go through His devotee. Therefore Krsna sends His devotee, Go and deliver them.
- This (approaching Krsna through the sadhu) is confirmed by the Vaisnava acarya Narottama dasa Thakura: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba. We cannot directly approach Krsna; we have to go through the transparent via media, Krsna's representative.
- The guru does not accept respect from his disciple for his personal self but conveys this respect to Krsna. If we cannot receive the mercy of the guru, Krsna is very difficult to approach directly.
The Prerequisite of Purity
The Supreme Lord is entirely untinged by material contamination. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a living entity who insists on maintaining sinful habits cannot approach Kṛṣṇa; one must undergo the purificatory process of devotional service to enter the presence of the Supreme Pure.
- Arjuna accepted Krsna as the supermost pure. How you can approach the supermost pure without becoming yourself pure? So this is the steppingstone to become pure, because we are contaminated.
- Arjuna says Krsna, param brahma: "Krsna, You are the Supreme Brahman," param dhama, "the supreme resort for everything, and" pavitram paramam bhavan, "and the supreme pure." So nobody can approach Krsna if he's impure. That is not possible.
- Pavitram means purest. So if we want to approach Krsna, then we must observe the purificatory process. Being impure, we cannot touch even Krsna. That is not possible. If we want . . . therefore Lord Caitanya has made it easy.
- We have to be purified. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan (BG 10.12). Because Krsna is pure, we cannot approach Krsna impurely. But if we think of Krsna always and meditate upon Krsna, then we shall be purified.
- Samskarad, by purificatory process. We are pointing out, "Don't do this, do this," "Don't do this, do this." These are all purificatory processes. Without being pure, you cannot approach the supreme pure. Krsna is supreme pure.
Motives for Approaching the Lord
According to the Bhagavad-gītā, four classes of pious men begin the process of devotional service. As the Vedic literature points out, whether one approaches the Lord for relief from distress, for wealth, or for knowledge, the very act of approaching Kṛṣṇa guarantees ultimate purification.
- In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says that a devotee who knows Him perfectly is very dear to Him. Four kinds of pious men take to devotional service. If a pious man is in distress, he approaches the Lord for mitigation of his distress.
- A pious man who is simply eager to know the science of Krsna also approaches the Supreme Lord. Out of these four classes of men, the last is praised by Krsna Himself in the Bhagavad-gita.
- If a pious man is in need of material help, he prays to the Lord for such help. If a pious man is actually inquisitive about the science of God, he approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
- In this verse Krsna says that people approach Him when in distress, in need of money or when actually inquisitive to understand the Supreme Being, or the original source of everything.
- Even if one approaches Krsna with some ulterior motive, one is considered pious. For instance, Dhruva Maharaja initially worshiped Krsna with a motive, but after attaining perfection in devotional service, his ulterior motive vanished.
The Unique Position of Vṛndāvana's Residents
The ultimate proof of bhakti's supremacy is found in the pastimes of Vṛndāvana. As described by the great authorities, while mystic yogīs fail to reach Kṛṣṇa after lifetimes of severe penance, the pure devotees of Vṛndāvana easily approach and capture Him through unalloyed love.
- Mother Yasoda chased Him to all corners, trying to capture the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never approached even by the meditations of great yogis.
- Yogis, mystics, want to catch Krsna as Paramatma, and with great austerities and penances they try to approach Him, yet they cannot. Here (in SB 10.9.9) we see, however, that Krsna is going to be caught by Yasoda and is running away in fear.
- The gopis approached Krsna with lusty desire. Krsna was a very beautiful boy, and they wanted to meet and enjoy His company. But this lusty desire is different from that of the material world.
- Lord Caitanya thus said that the devotional service manifested by the gopis in Vrndavana excelled all other methods of approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Lord is approached by four kinds of pious men (arto jijnasur artharthi jnani ca), but here (in SB 10.8) we see that Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda surpassed all of them.
Lord Caitanya's Compassionate Mission
Recognizing the immense difficulty the conditioned souls of Kali-yuga face in reaching the Absolute Truth, God Himself appeared to demonstrate the process. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa acting as a devotee, systematically teaching humanity how to approach Him.
- Lord Caitanya came to earth simply to preach Krsna-bhakti, love of Krsna. In other words, He is Lord Krsna Himself teaching the living entities the proper way to approach Krsna.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although Krsna Himself, taught us how to approach Krsna as a devotee. It is said, apani acari' bhakti sikhainu sabare.
- A conditioned soul cannot reach the absolute Personality of Godhead by his imperfect endeavor, and therefore it is wonderful that Lord Sri Krsna, in the form of Lord Gauranga, has made it easy for everyone to approach Him.
- The proper process for approaching Krsna was given to humanity by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Rupa Gosvami, His first disciple, appreciated it.
- Conditioned souls who are interested in devotional service should follow in the exemplary footsteps of Lord Caitanya in order to learn how Krsna can be achieved by DS. Thus the Supreme Lord Himself teaches the conditioned soul how He should be approached.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully concludes, approaching Kṛṣṇa is the singular, defining purpose of human existence. The insurmountable barrier between the conditioned soul and the Supreme Lord is not physical distance, but the thick covering of material impurity and false ego. By abandoning the futile attempt to reach God through mental speculation or direct, arrogant demands, and by instead submissively approaching a bona fide spiritual master, the path to the spiritual world is instantly illuminated. Whether one approaches Kṛṣṇa out of material distress or pure inquisitiveness, the purifying fire of devotional service gradually elevates the soul to the supreme standard set by the residents of Vṛndāvana. Ultimately, through the boundless compassion of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who practically demonstrated the science of bhakti, any sincere soul can successfully approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead and attain eternal, blissful life.
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 Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.