Why Kṛṣṇa is Very Dear to Wise Men
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that true wisdom goes far beyond academic scholarship or physical age. A wise man realizes his actual identity as an eternal spirit soul and understands that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of this pure, unadulterated knowledge, the wise man completely surrenders to the Lord, seeking nothing but the opportunity to serve Him with genuine love and devotion.
The Mark of a Wise Man
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a true wise man perfectly understands the difference between the temporary material body and the eternal spirit soul. He sees beyond the external lump of matter and recognizes that his real identity is spiritual. Because he knows that he is subordinate and finite, he naturally dovetails his consciousness with the infinite Supreme Spirit, Kṛṣṇa.
- A wise man who seeks Krsna knows perfectly well that he is spirit soul, or Brahman, and that Krsna is the supreme spirit soul, or Para-brahman.
- The wise man is he who has thoroughly understood that he is spirit soul and not simply a body.
- One who understands before death that the body is simply a lump of matter is called a wise man. He sees the soul through the eyes of knowledge. Those who are on the gross platform, who are like animals, can see neither the soul nor Bhagavan.
- Because he (a wise man) realizes that he is spirit and that Krsna is the supreme spirit, he knows that his intimate relationship should be with Krsna, not with this body.
The Surrender of the Wise
After many lifetimes of philosophical research and austerities, a genuine truth-seeker reaches the ultimate conclusion of all knowledge. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that when a person finally becomes a pure jñānī, they realize that Vāsudeva, or Kṛṣṇa, is the cause of all causes. Understanding this supreme fact, the wise man immediately surrenders unto the Lord without waiting for another birth.
- In Bhagavad-gita Krsna says that after many births, when one comes to the platform of real knowledge, he "surrenders unto Me." Why is this? Vasudevah sarvam iti. The wise man realizes that - Vasudeva (Krsna) is everything.
- It is said in Bhagavad-gita that after many, many lives of philosophical research the wise man ultimately comes to the point of knowing that Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is everything, and therefore he surrenders unto Him.
- When the wise man actually becomes wise after many births and whimsical attempts at self-realization, he surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Such a mahatma, or learned person, knows that Krsna, Vasudeva, is everything.
- Understanding this (Krsna is all that is), the wise man will surrender immediately and not wait to take many, many births. He understands that this information is given by the Supreme Lord out of His infinite mercy on the conditioned souls.
The Reciprocation of Love
Because the wise man approaches the Supreme Lord without any material motives or desires for financial gain, Kṛṣṇa declares that such a devotee is exceptionally dear to Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this beautiful relationship as a loving reciprocation. The pure devotee desires nothing but to glorify the Lord, and in return, Kṛṣṇa bestows unlimited spiritual affection upon him.
- Lord Krsna, however, has explained in the Gita that out of these four types of neophytes, the one who is wise is very dear to Him because a wise man, if he is attached to Krsna, is not seeking an exchange of material benefits.
- A wise man who becomes attached to Krsna does not want any return from Him, either in the form of relieving distress or in gaining money.
- There is science, and there is also loving reciprocation. Krsna is very dear to the wise man, and the wise man is very dear to Krsna. Krsna will return our love a thousand-fold.
- The wise man realizes this and does not pray for relief from material miseries. Rather, he prays to glorify God and inform others how great He is. He doesn't pray for his personal interest, for bread, dress or shelter.
Transcending Material Illusions
An intelligent person recognizes that material sense gratification is fleeting and ultimately leads to misery. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that a wise man does not endeavor for unnecessary wealth or bodily comforts. Free from the dictates of lust, or kāma, he chooses to live a simple, uncomplicated life, focusing his entire energy on pleasing the Supreme Lord.
- An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.
- Everyone is working in the material world due to lust (kama), but the wise man is free from the dictations of this lust (kama-sankalpa-varjitah). How is this possible.
- The Gita says that a wise man is not bewildered by this, for he knows what is what. Why then should he bother himself attaining material wealth.
- He (a wise man) concludes that in the human form of life he should not endeavor for unnecessary necessities, but should live a very simple life, just maintaining body and soul together.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly defines the ultimate standard of human intelligence. A truly wise man does not base his life on the flickering happiness of the material senses, nor does he attempt to approach God for temporary, selfish benefits. By deeply understanding the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he completely surrenders to Vāsudeva, recognizing Him as the supreme cause of all causes. In this surrendered state, the wise man experiences the highest perfection of life: a pure, eternal, and reciprocal loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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 Wise Men. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.