Contact with Kṛṣṇa - The Direct Path to the Supreme
In the material world, we are constantly seeking contact with things that bring us pleasure, yet we continually end up frustrated. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that true, eternal joy can only be found by contacting the Reservoir of all pleasure, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Through the sublime process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we do not have to rely on slow, indirect methods of spiritual realization; we can take the direct "lift" of devotional service and immediately associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Direct "Lift" to the Absolute
Many yoga systems attempt to reach the Absolute Truth step by step, which can take many lifetimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the special gift of Lord Caitanya's movement is that it bypasses these indirect methods, immediately connecting the sincere soul directly with Kṛṣṇa.
- If you take the lift of bhakti, then immediately you come in contact with Krsna directly, instead of going by step by step by step.
- Our method is directly to connect you. That is the special gift of Lord Caitanya - immediately to contact him with Krsna. Because ultimately you have to come to that point, Krsna consciousness.
- It is said, govindaya namo namah: (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.21) "I offer my respectful obeisances to Govinda." The Krsna consciousness movement is so sublime that it puts one directly in contact with Govinda.
- Contacting Krsna is open for all living beings, including the sudras, vaisyas, women and even those lower than the lowborn sudras, so what to speak of the high-class men like the qualified brahmanas and the great self-realized kings.
Contact Through Transcendental Sound
Because God is absolute, He is non-different from His name. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that by simply vibrating the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, we instantly come into direct, personal contact with the Supreme Lord and His internal energy.
- He (Lord Caitanya) informed us that the Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead can descend also in transcendental sound vibration, and thus, when you chant Hare Krsna mantra offenselessly, we immediately contact Krsna and His internal energy.
- It is the question of my appreciation, or my realization. That will depend on my purity. Otherwise this Krsna sound and Krsna, non-different. Therefore if we vibrate sound Krsna, then I am immediately in contact with Krsna.
- If we vibrate sound Krsna, then I am immediately in contact with Krsna, and if Krsna is whole spirit, then immediately I become spiritualized.
- So we have no connection with Krsna. But if we chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, immediately our first chance to contact Krsna begins.
The Supreme Sterilizing Agent
Contact with Kṛṣṇa acts as a powerful purifying force. As Śrīla Prabhupāda notes, even if someone approaches the Lord with material or seemingly sinful motives, the sheer power of divine contact sterilizes their consciousness, freeing them from the cycle of birth and death.
- The soul is originally pure and so also the senses. By material contamination the senses assume the role of imperfection and impurity. By revival of contact with the Supreme Pure, Lord Krsna, the senses again become freed from material contaminations.
- They (the gopis), according to Vedic principle, it is sinful (going to a young man). But because it was related with Krsna, they became purified. That means any way, if one comes in contact with Krsna, he becomes purified. Even though he's sinful.
- Somehow or other if we come in contact with Krsna, by the mercy of Krsna's confidential devotees, then our life becomes success. That is described here. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. Then this transmigration of the soul stops.
- The worship of the Deity of Krsna in the temple is also direct contact with Govinda. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau.
Contact Through Separation
The highest, most profound form of spiritual contact does not even require physical proximity. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals the sublime teaching of Lord Caitanya: by intensely feeling the agony of separation from Kṛṣṇa, a devotee actually achieves the most intimate, direct association with Him.
- To acquire this strong feeling of separation is the teaching of Lord Caitanya and His direct disciplic succession of Gosvamis. When we are not in physical contact with Krsna, we can associate with Him like the gopis, through feelings of separation.
- Lord Caitanya exhibited the mode of Srimati Radharani when She was contacted from Dvaraka by Sri Krsna. Such transcendental love is not possible for any common man; therefore one should not imitate the highest perfectional stage exhibited by Caitanya.
- Lord Caitanya's spiritual master had said that the Lord was fortunate enough to have attained love of Godhead. By attaining such transcendental love, one's heart becomes very anxious to attain direct contact with the Lord.
- All were very anxious to have an audience with the Lord, although because of spiritual contact they were never separated from the Lord.
Conclusion
In conclusion, establishing contact with Kṛṣṇa is not an abstract, theoretical concept; it is a practical, scientific reality accessible to every living entity. As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully explains, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is uniquely designed to bypass the arduous, step-by-step methods of mystic yoga, acting as a direct "lift" to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because the Lord is absolute, one who offenselessly chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra or worships the Deity is immediately thrust into direct contact with Him. This divine touch acts as the ultimate sterilizing agent, burning away all material contamination and sinful reactions, regardless of one's initial motives. Ultimately, the perfection of this science is realized in the mood of the gopīs and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: by cultivating a profound, burning desire to serve the Lord, a devotee achieves the most intimate and unbroken contact through the ecstasy of separation, ensuring their permanent return to the spiritual sky.
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 Contact with Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.