Following in the Footsteps of God's Devotees - The True Path to Perfection
In the modern world, people are taught to be independent thinkers, to forge their own paths, and to question all authority. While this may be useful in material science, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that applying this independent, speculative mentality to spiritual life is a guarantee of failure. The Absolute Truth cannot be conquered by human logic. The only authorized, infallible method to understand Kṛṣṇa is sādhu-mārgānugamanam—strictly following in the footsteps of the great, recognized devotees of the Lord.
The Futility of Independent Speculation
The Vedic literatures declare that the Supreme Lord is adhokṣaja—beyond the reach of the material senses and the speculative mind. Therefore, trying to understand God through philosophical argument (tarka) is useless. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that to cross the vast ocean of material nescience, we must simply follow the trail left by the mahājanas (great authorities) like Brahmā, Śiva, Nārada, and Prahlāda Mahārāja. By doing so, crossing that ocean becomes as easy as stepping over a puddle made by a calf's hoofprint.
- The Vedic literatures indicate that you have to follow the footprints of great personalities, devotees. Tarko apratisthah. If you want to understand the Absolute Truth by your argument and logic, oh, it is not possible.
- Anyone who follows in the footsteps of recognized devotees, such as Brahma, Siva, the Kumaras, Manu, Kapila, King Prahlada, King Janaka, Sukadeva Gosvami, Yamaraja and their followers in disciplic succession, very easily finds the door of liberation open.
- We have to follow in the footsteps of such devotees (as Siva, Yamaraja, Brahma, the Kumaras, Kapila, etc.), for by this one easy process one can cross the great ocean of nescience just as one might cross a small hole created by the hoof of a calf.
- Guru is mahajana. How he has become mahajana? Because he is following the previous mahajana. That's all. It is not difficult. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. So mahajana... So therefore sampradaya.
Following (Anusaraṇa) vs. Imitating (Anukaraṇa)
There is a grave danger on the spiritual path: the tendency of the neophyte to cheaply imitate the advanced symptoms of a pure devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly distinguishes between anukaraṇa (imitation) and anusaraṇa (following). We must follow the instructions and the mood of the great devotees, but we must never falsely imitate their extraordinary actions.
- The word anukara means - imitating, and anusara means - trying to follow in the footsteps. We should not try to imitate the activities of a maha-bhagavata or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- This is no use, imitation. Anusarana, not anukarana. Anukarana is dangerous. Anusarana. Sadhu-marganugamanam. This is bhakti. We shall try to follow the footsteps of big, big devotees, sadhus.
- Those who are neophytes or even a little progressed in devotional service should not try to imitate the maha-bhagavata. Rather, they should only follow in his footsteps.
- He (Siva) is very great and his renunciation of all material enjoyment is an ideal example of how one should be materially unattached. One should therefore follow his footsteps and be unattached to matter, not imitate his uncommon acts like drinking poison.
The Perfection of the Bhagavad-gītā
To understand the Bhagavad-gītā, one must read it in the exact same spirit as the person who originally heard it. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead without any mundane interpretation, anyone who follows in Arjuna's footsteps will perfectly understand the Gītā and achieve success in life.
- The truth about Krsna is established in this verse (in Bhagavad-Gita 10.15) by the realization of Arjuna, and we should follow in the footsteps of Arjuna to understand Krsna as He is.
- Whoever follows in the footsteps of Arjuna, approaching Krsna in a spirit of devotion, can understand the purpose of Bhagavad-gita as well as all other Vedic literatures.
- If we follow in the footsteps of Arjuna to understand Krsna, then our life will be happy and successful. Sanjaya realized this, and as he began to understand it, he related the conversation to Dhrtarastra.
- Because of the direct instruction of the Lord (Krsna) to Arjuna, anyone who follows in the footsteps of Arjuna is certainly not bewildered.
Awakening Spontaneous Love (Rāgānugā-bhakti)
The ultimate goal of following the rules and regulations (sādhana-bhakti) is to awaken a spontaneous, irrepressible love for Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when a devotee becomes advanced, they naturally desire to follow in the footsteps of the eternal residents of Vṛndāvana—such as Nanda Mahārāja, Mother Yaśodā, the cowherd boys, or the gopīs. This advanced stage is called rāgānugā-bhakti.
- Persons desiring to follow in the footsteps of such eternal devotees of the Lord as the Vrsnis and Vrndavana denizens are called raganuga devotees, which means that they are trying to attain to the perfection of those devotees.
- By spontaneous nature they (the raganuga devotees) become attracted to some of the eternal devotees such as Nanda or Yasoda, and they try to follow in their footsteps spontaneously.
- The vrndavana-vasis - mother Yasoda, Krsna's friends and Krsna's conjugal lovers, the younger gopis with whom He dances - have very intimate relationships with Krsna, and if one follows in the footsteps of these devotees, Krsna is available.
- Either in parental affection or conjugal love, friendship or servitorship (to krsna) - in any way - we must follow in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, not try to become like them. Therefore this description is provided here - in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.9.3.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that there is no need to invent a new philosophy or try to write our own path. By simply reading the authorized scriptures, taking shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, and strictly following in the footprints of the great ācāryas and devotees, any sincere soul can safely cross the ocean of material existence and attain the supreme perfection of loving Kṛṣṇa.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Following in the Footsteps of Devotees of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.