Considering Kṛṣṇa - The Chasm Between Mundane Fools and Pure Devotees
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, descends to the material world, He perfectly resembles a human being. This presents a profound test for humanity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while foolish materialists use this human-like form to offensively conclude that Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary man, the pure devotees of Vṛndāvana use this very same form to experience the highest, most intimate ecstasies of transcendental love.
The Ignorance of Mundane Calculation
Because the Lord displays human activities, mundane scholars, politicians, and ordinary workers (karmīs) frequently miscalculate His position. Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly references the (Bhagavad-gītā (9.11)) to emphasize that only fools and rascals (mūḍhas) consider the supreme, absolute controller to be a mortal being bound by material laws.
- Avajananti mam mudhah: (Bhagavad-Gita 9.11) because Bhagavan Sri Krsna appeared as a human being, fools and rascals (mudhas) consider Krsna an ordinary human.
- He (Krsna) says in Bhagavad-gita that the foolish deride Him, considering Him a mortal being. He is not a mortal being, nor does He come before us with a body produced of material nature.
- When the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna comes to this planet exactly like a human being, some rascals consider Him to be one of the ordinary humans. One who thinks in that mistaken way is described as mudha, or foolish.
- In Bhagavad-gita, it is clearly stated that only fools and rascals, mudhas, consider the body of Krsna to be the body of a common human being.
- Only the fools consider that Krsna is ordinary human being. He comes to give us lesson what is actually God. God is Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Therefore it is His mercy that He comes before us to show what is actually God.
The Greatest Offense of the Māyāvādīs
The most dangerous misconception comes from impersonal philosophers. Śrīla Prabhupāda severely warns that considering Kṛṣṇa's body to be made of material energy (māyā) is the greatest offense, disqualifying one entirely from understanding the true nature of devotional service.
- A Mayavadi is one who considers the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna to be made of maya and who also considers the abode of the Lord and the process of approaching Him, devotional service, to be maya.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, "Any rascal" - of course, "rascal" he did not say; I say - that. "Anyone who considers the body of Krsna is prakrta" - prakrta means material - that is the greatest offense.
- Foolish persons, unable to understand the spiritual activities of the Supreme Lord, consider Krsna to be a product of this material nature. This is the greatest offense any human being can commit.
- There are many Mayavadi philosophers who consider that Krsna's body is the effect of a concentration of the material mode of goodness, and they distinguish Krsna's soul from Krsna's body.
- In the Brhad-vaisnava Tantra it is clearly mentioned that anyone who considers the form of Lord Krsna to be made of material energy must be ostracized by all means.
The Absolute Purity of Kṛṣṇa's Form
To counteract these atheistic views, one must firmly understand the absolute, spiritual nature of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Kṛṣṇa's body is sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha (eternal, full of knowledge, and bliss); He is completely unaffected by material qualities, even when displaying seemingly contradictory traits.
- His (Krsna's) body is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha (Brahma-samhita 5.1), completely spiritual. There is no material contamination in His body, and one should not consider His body a lump of flesh and bones.
- When Krsna comes within this material world, He does not become affected by the qualities, as we become. Therefore, those who are mudhas, those who are fools, they consider that Krsna is also a human being.
- Akrura continued, "To consider Your Lordship (Krsna and Balarama) one of us, conditioned by the material nature, is a mistake due to our imperfect knowledge."
- Arjuna's putting this (Bhagavad-Gita 4.4) question before the Lord is simply an attempt by the devotee to defy the atheistic attitude of persons who consider Krsna to be an ordinary human being subject to the modes of material nature.
- Contradictory traits in Krsna's person are not at all surprising; one should not consider the characteristics of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to be actually contradictory.
The Transcendental Illusion of Vṛndāvana
Interestingly, the pure devotees of Vṛndāvana also do not consider Kṛṣṇa to be the supreme, majestic God. However, as Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, this is not due to mundane ignorance, but is the result of intense, unalloyed love covering their knowledge of His opulence by the grace of yoga-māyā.
- The Lord's pastimes in the original abode of Goloka Vrndavana are exchanged in that spirit. The friends of Krsna consider Him one of them. They do not consider Him to be of reverential importance. The parents of the Lord consider Him a child only.
- Because of pure love, the devotees of Krsna in Goloka Vrndavana, Vrajabhumi, loved Krsna as an ordinary human being like them. Yet although they considered Krsna one of them, their love for Krsna knew no bounds.
- This verse (CC Madhya 19.204) is quoted from Srimad-Bhagavatam (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.45). Those who are spiritually advanced forget Krsna’s opulence by the mercy of yogamaya. For instance, mother Yasoda considered Krsna an ordinary child.
- The glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are studied through the three Vedas, the Upanisads, the literature of Sankhya-yoga, and other Vaisnava literature, yet mother Yasoda considered that Supreme Person her ordinary child - Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.45.
- All these points (of Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.13-14) considered, Krsna cannot be measured. How then did Yasoda want to measure Him and bind Him? We must conclude that this took place simply on the platform of pure transcendental love. This was the only cause.
The Perfection of Intimate Devotion
When awe and veneration are set aside, the Lord reveals the deepest secrets of His heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa specifically desires this intimate relationship and willingly becomes subordinate to any devotee who lovingly considers Him their friend, son, or equal.
- If one cherishes pure loving devotion to Me, thinking of Me as his son, his friend or his beloved, regarding himself as great and considering Me his equal or inferior, I become subordinate to him.
- Lord Krsna thought: "If one cherishes pure loving devotion to Me, thinking of Me as his son, his friend or his beloved, regarding himself as great and considering Me his equal or inferior, I become subordinate to him."
- In pure Krsna consciousness, without knowledge of the Lord's opulences, a devotee considers Krsna his friend or son. Therefore this devotional attitude is praised even by Sukadeva Gosvami and Vyasadeva, the supreme authority.
- One should have complete faith in the words of Krsna, who says that He is the great well-wishing friend of everyone (suhrdam sarva-bhutanam). A devotee considers Krsna the only friend. This is called sakhyam. Pumsarpita visnau.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.38 the Lord says: Persons who are satisfied with the idea of becoming My adherents alone. They consider that I am their soul, their friend, I am their son, I am their master, I am their well-wisher, I am their God, and I am their supreme goal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding how to properly consider Lord Kṛṣṇa is the very foundation of spiritual realization. If one approaches the Lord with an atheistic or impersonalist mindset, considering His transcendental, human-like body to be a product of material nature, they commit the greatest offense and are entirely barred from spiritual advancement. Conversely, the path of perfection lies in the footsteps of the residents of Goloka Vṛndāvana. By the supreme grace of Kṛṣṇa's internal potency, these exalted souls forget His majestic opulence entirely, considering Him not as the almighty creator, but as their intimate friend, their darling child, or their beloved paramour. It is only in this sublime atmosphere of pure, unmotivated love, devoid of all mundane calculations, that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully captivated, joyfully submitting Himself to the supreme control of His devotees.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Considering Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.