The Characteristics of a Sādhu Who Acts as a Universal Well-wisher
The conditioned souls wander through the material universe seeking genuine friendship and shelter. Illuminating the path of deliverance, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that only the Supreme Lord and His pure devotees are the actual friends of every living entity.
The Supreme Lord as the Ultimate Benefactor
Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, declares in the Bhagavad-gītā that He is the supreme friend and well-wisher of everyone. Unpacking this profound truth, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord constantly accompanies the individual soul as the Supersoul, providing guidance and sanctioning their desires. Realizing this intimate relationship is the key to attaining lasting peace in an otherwise chaotic material existence.
- A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace.
- The Supreme Lord is also described as suhrdam ("ever well-wisher"). The Supreme Lord is always a well-wisher, just like a father or mother. Despite all the offenses of a son, the father and mother are always the son's well-wisher.
- Simply by understanding these three facts: that the Supreme, Visnu, is the proprietor of the entire creation, that He is the best well-wishing friend of all living entities, and that He is the supreme enjoyer of everything one becomes peaceful and happy.
- O my friends, sons of the asuras, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Supersoul feature always exists within the cores of the hearts of all living entities. Indeed, He is the well-wisher and friend of all living entities, and there is no difficulty in worshiping the Lord.
- One's so-called husband, relative, son, father or whatever cannot actually be a well-wisher. The only actual well-wisher is Krsna Himself, as Krsna confirms in Bhagavad-gita (BG 5.29): suhrdam sarva-bhutanam.
The Pure Devotee as the True Friend
Because a pure devotee is in direct communion with the Supreme Lord, they naturally adopt His compassionate qualities. Describing the heart of a Vaiṣṇava, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a devotee is tolerant, merciful, and completely devoid of false ego. By dedicating their lives to distributing the process of devotional service, they become the most exalted benefactors within human society.
- A pure devotee of the Lord automatically develops all godly qualities, and some of the prominent features of those qualities are as follows: 2) a well-wisher to all, satisfied, surrendered to Krsna, without hankering, simple.
- Devotees are always tolerant, forbearing and very merciful. They are the well-wishers of every living entity. They follow the scriptural injunctions, and because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful. These are the decorations of devotees.
- Bali said, "I also desire that if I have to associate with anyone, I may associate only with Your (Krsna's) pure devotees and no one else, for Your pure devotees are always well-wishers of all living entities."
- The word sauhrdam ("friendliness") is very significant in this verse (SB 7.6.24). People are generally ignorant of Krsna consciousness, and therefore to become their best well-wisher one should teach them about Krsna consciousness without discrimination.
- Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahatma and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy.
The Benevolent Guidance of the Spiritual Master
The bona fide spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Supersoul, acting exclusively to rescue the conditioned soul from the material quagmire. Emphasizing this vital relationship, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the guru takes on the immense responsibility of guiding his disciples. Through strict instructions and boundless affection, the spiritual master remains the student's ever well-wisher.
- Because you are a teacher of Vedanta philosophy, you are the master of all the people in the world and their well-wisher as well. You are also the benefactor of all kinds of sannyasis.
- I write at the end of my letters to my disciples, "Your ever well-wisher", and as such, I cannot become otherwise than being ever well-wisher of my disciples, even though he may leave me.
- From my part as I am your ever well-wisher I wish that you may preach Krishna Consciousness to the students of the entire western world.
- From the first time I saw you I have been your constant well-wisher. At his first sight of me Srila Prabhupada also saw me with such love. It was in my very first darsana of Srila Prabhupada that I learned how to love.
- The money and society is yours. You can spend in any way but it is my duty to give you guidance as ever well wisher.
Real Versus Illusionary Well-wishers
Under the spell of bodily identification, people falsely assume that their family members and politicians are their greatest friends. Correcting this misconception, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that these material relationships are temporary arrangements bound by the laws of nature. A true well-wisher does not simply cater to the body but actively works to stop the suffering of repeated birth and death.
- Society, friendship, love and well-wishers are all simply results of being packed in different bodies. One should know this well and try to get out of this bodily encagement into which one is thrown birth after birth.
- Actually, you are not the daughter of Vidarbha, nor is this man, Malayadhvaja, your well-wishing husband. Nor were you the actual husband of Puranjani. You were simply captivated in this body of nine gates.
- In familial affairs, there was always misunderstanding between fathers, mothers and sons, between well-wishers, and between brothers. Even between husband and wife there was always strain and quarrel.
- When King Puranjana was being dragged with great force by the powerful Yavana, out of his gross ignorance he still could not remember his friend and well-wisher, the Supersoul.
- The nature of a woman, as personally described by Urvasi, is to establish false friendship with someone and then seek new male companions, one after another, even if this means giving up the company of a sincere well-wisher.
Universal Compassion Towards All Living Entities
The consciousness of a pure Vaiṣṇava is expanded to include the spiritual well-being of all living entities, not just human society. Pointing out this exalted vision, Śrīla Prabhupāda states that a genuine sādhu feels the suffering of others as their own. They harbor no enmity, maintain peace even amidst opposition, and perform the highest relief work by freely distributing love of Godhead.
- He (a sadhu) is merciful because he is the well-wisher of all living entities. He is not only a well-wisher of human society, but a well-wisher of animal society as well.
- Give up your demoniac nature and act without enmity or duality. Show mercy to all living entities by enlightening them in devotional service, thus becoming their well-wishers.
- This is the most exalted qualification, to become well-wisher of all living entities, not that we open hospitals for the human being and we send the cows to the slaughterhouse or poor animals should be slaughtered.
- Vidura never became an enemy of Dhrtarastra but continued to be his well-wisher, and at the last stage of his life, it was Vidura only who proved to be his real friend. Such is the behavior of Vaisnavas like Vidura: he desires all good even for his enemies.
- It is the greatest relief work for all human society, and the workers thereof are the greatest well-wishers, for they follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, who is the greatest friend to all living entities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that material relationships are fraught with illusion and cannot provide ultimate safety or happiness. The Supreme Lord, residing in the heart as the Supersoul, is the original and supreme friend. By taking shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and the pure devotees, who act as selfless well-wishers, one can safely cross the ocean of material existence and return to the spiritual world.
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 Well-wisher. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.