The Nectar Of Devotion / Study 1

Hare Krishna!
I want to share my realizations and understanding of

The Nectar Of Devotion 

by His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

I humbly welcome the readers to share their realizations on the subject matter so that I can be benefited by it and other readers may get an added perspective.  What appears within the quotes is the actual line/s from the book and it is displayed in BLUE.  What follows is my understanding/realization.

Quote:

"Anyone who knows the science of Krishna and is engaged in the service of the Lord is accepted as being in a higher position than a person born in the family of a brahmana."

This DOES NOT mean that any one who "knows" the science of Krishna may have a life style that is in any way worse than a brahmana (and yet think that he is a Vaishnava!)  On the CONTRARY, it means that a person who knows the science of Krishna will have a lifestyle that will be BETTER than a brahmana!

How is he better than a brahmana?  It is like this: a Krishna Conscious person will have first class thoughts, words and deeds (including cleanliness of mind and body) and hence he naturally becomes better than a brahmana!  Many times Srila Prabhupada has mentioned that a devotee (Vishnu bhakta) among other things, is also a first class gentleman.  And who is a gentleman?  One who is clean, dressed appropriately,  speaks politely or softly but firmly, always exhibits impeccable behaviour, courteous to everyone and knows the etiquette of interactions with others.   Further, above everything else, he will never be an impostor or hypocrite but is always truthful and keeps up his commitment/word - such a person can be referred to as a gentleman!  So, a devotee means first class gentleman and hence, naturally, he will be better than a brahmana.

But many devotees think: "I am Krishna Conscious.  I am chanting.  I am distributing books. I am therefore pleasing Krishna and Prabhupada." (up to here, the statement is correct) THEREFORE,  (now, the beginning of the wrong understanding!) "It does not matter whether I take bath on a daily basis or wash my legs after I evacuate" or come up with arguments like "There is no need for me to do achamana before I do my gayathri japa - it is only for the pujaris" or "What I wear is not any body's concern, for, what is important is whether I am chanting or not."  Yes, certainly these are correct in one sense....... 

BUT, do you know the real reason why we think as above? It is because, we want to be devotees - we are prepared to do a lot of things to be a devotee, but, we are NOT PREPARED to do ALL the things to be a REAL devotee! Why? Because, we are either lazy - not prepared to walk that "extra mile" or are naive to think our little effort is sufficient to deliver the full result!  In other words, we are using the above thought process to actually justify our laziness!

THEREFORE, it is better if we can actually think in this way: "Why don't we chant, distribute books AND be clean at the same time!"  Why don't we chant and distribute books AND dress appropriately at the same time!"  This will certainly take us quicker towards our goal - that of attaining perfection in our devotional service to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

Quote: 

"The principle of Lord Chaitanya's movement in educating and elevating everyone to the exalted post of gosvami is taught in The Nectar of Devotion."

Here it is explained as to what is the purpose of the NOD.  That is, if ANYONE follows whatever is given in the NOD then, he automatically graduates to be a gosvami.  Do not say that there is no need for me to become a gosvami - I will just remain a humble book distributor or a pujari!  NO! We MUST endevor to become a gosvami by simply following the principles of the NOD.  This, in fact, is the purpose of Lord Chaitanya's movement itself!!!  This is the conclusion of SP - not mine!

A friend told me once, that by denying to become a gosvami, we are actually defeating the purpose of Lord Chaitanya's mission!  Here, there is no need to take a so called humble position and declare "Oh I don't want to be a gosvami!"  Rather, one must understand the desire of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada and should therefore endeavor to become a gosvami.  Of course, we should not call ourselves a gosvami - it is for others to tell "Oh! he is such a nice devotee!"

My friend Sevatula Prabhu pointed out to me an important instruction of Srila Prabhupada from the Preface of The Nectar of Instructions.  Here is the quote:

"Advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness depends on the attitude of the follower. A follower of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should become a perfect gosvāmī..........One who wants to become a perfect devotee of Kṛṣṇa must become a gosvāmī. Go means "the senses," and svāmī means "the master." Unless one controls his senses and mind, one cannot become a gosvāmī.........One should follow these instructions very strictly. Then it will be easier to make one's life successful."

Therefore, my dear friends, let us all try to become gosvamis - not by imitation but by following the instructions of the original gosvamis!

Here is another instruction from Srila Prabhupada which indicates the importance of being a brahmana - by qualification, not by nomenclature!  This is from the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1:

"One must therefore acquire brahminical qualities or be perfectly situated  in the quality of goodness in order to chant the Gayatri mantra successfully and then attain to the stage of transcendentally realizing the Lord, His name, His fame, His qualities and so on."

Thus, it is clear from the above instruction, that devotees should try to acquire brahminical qualities.  This further means that we have to follow brahminical culture and live the pure life of a brahmana if we have to attain a stage where Krishna will allow us to come face to face with Him.  So, this should serve as one more impetus to become brahminical in our thoughts words and deeds. Hare Krishna.