Lord Caitanya's Approving - Standards of Pure Devotional Service
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as His own devotee, established the highest standards for advancing in pure spiritual life. Throughout His earthly pastimes, He demonstrated perfectly what principles, behaviors, and philosophical conclusions are to be accepted, and which are to be strictly rejected. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Lord Caitanya approved of authorized processes such as the congregational chanting of the holy names, sincere preaching by anyone regardless of their birth, and the authentic association of pure devotees. At the same time, the Lord completely rejected false renunciation, imitation of advanced spiritual stages, and speculative philosophical interpretations of the Vedic scriptures. By carefully studying Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings regarding what the Lord accepted and rejected, sincere seekers can safely navigate the path of self-realization without falling into the traps of illusion.
Approving Sincere Preachers and Devotees
Lord Caitanya did not consider one's material background, caste, or birth when evaluating a devotee's spiritual standing. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that anyone who deeply understands the science of the Absolute Truth receives the Lord's full approval to act as a spiritual master and preach globally.
- Son or anyone, if he knows the science of Krsna, he becomes guru. This is the Vedic system. It doesn't matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved this.
- It doesn't matter you Europeans, Americans, not born in brahmana family. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's approval. If you try to understand the science of Krsna and if you behave properly, you can teach about Krsna all over your country, all over the world.
- Krsna Himself associates with devotees who are chanting His holy name, and there is no need to be unhappy over not being able to enter a certain temple. Such dogmatic prohibitions were not approved by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Those who were thought unfit to enter the Jagannatha temple were daily visited by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and this indicates that Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve of the prohibitions.
Approving Authentic Spiritual Processes
The process of devotional service must be executed according to the authorized methods passed down through the disciplic succession. Lord Caitanya approved the fundamental practices of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam (hearing and chanting), and He recognized the timeless path of perfection walked by exalted personalities.
- This process of sravanam kirtanam (SB 7.5.23) - hearing and chanting - was approved by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Lord Caitanya, therefore, approved the process of hearing from realized devotees about the pastimes of the Lord.
- Following in the footsteps of Lord Brahma, any person, even up to this day, can attain the same perfection by following the path of the paramahamsa as recommended herein. Lord Caitanya also approved of this method of self-realization for men in this age.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved of all the methods employed in cooking and offering food to Krsna.
Disapproving False Renunciation and Imitation
While the Lord was compassionate, He was extremely strict regarding the behavior of those in the renounced order of life, known as sannyāsa. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Lord Caitanya acted like a thunderbolt against cheating behaviors, mundane imitation of advanced ecstasies, and accepting spiritual titles without genuine qualification.
- So while the Lord approved of householders having regulated sex, He was like a thunderbolt with those in the renounced order who tried to cheat by the method known as "drinking water under water while bathing on a fast day."
- In the present age there are many persons who accept the renounced order of life but who are not spiritually advanced. Lord Caitanya did not approve of one's accepting sannyasa without having perfect knowledge of Krsna consciousness.
- One should not try to imitate Haridasa Thakura at the beginning of one's transcendental life. One must first become very mature in devotion and thus receive the approval of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- The gaura-nagaris, who place Lord Caitanya in the position of enjoyer and themselves as His enjoyed, are not approved by Lord Caitanya or by Lord Caitanya's followers. Instead of being blessed, the foolish imitators are left completely apart.
Disapproving Speculative Interpretations
The Absolute Truth must be accepted as it is without unauthorized linguistic manipulation or impersonal speculation. Lord Caitanya fundamentally rejected Māyāvādī commentaries on the scriptural codes, demanding that the original, devotional meaning of the texts be preserved.
- As far as Lord Caitanya was concerned, He said that He did not understand the explanation of Bhattacarya not because it was too difficult for His understanding but because He did not approve of the Mayavadi interpretation.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu approved of a sannyasi’s reading the Vedanta-sutra, or Brahma-sutra, but He did not approve the Sariraka commentary of Sankaracarya.
- He (Bhattacarya) was not authorized to change a word in Srimad-Bhagavatam (from mukti-pade to bhakti-pade), as Sri Caitanya will explain. Although the Bhattacarya changed the word in his devotional ecstasy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve of it.
- Brahma meditated for one hundred years before he could understand the supreme cause of all causes, and then he wrote the Brahma-samhita, which is approved and recognized by Lord Caitanya and in which he sings, govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami.
Conclusion
Lord Caitanya's approvals and disapprovals perfectly map the safe route back to Godhead. He accepted the sincere devotional service of anyone, regardless of material designations, while thoroughly rejecting philosophical speculation, false prestige, and artificial renunciation. Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly highlights these standards to protect devotees from deviating. By adhering to what Lord Caitanya approved, and strictly avoiding what He condemned, humanity can successfully adopt the genuine process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Caitanya's Approving. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.