liberation
|
Imported quote 15547 "O Lord, the intelligence of those who think themselves liberated but who have no devotion is impure. Even though they rise to the highest point of liberation by dint of severe penances and austerities, they are sure to fall down again into material existence, for they do not take shelter at Your lotus feet." Evidence of this same point is also given in Bhagavad-gita (9.11), wherein the Lord says:
(More...) There are two kinds of liberated souls even in this material body: the soul liberated by devotional service, and the soul liberated by the cultivation of knowledge. The difference is that the liberated soul in devotional service becomes more and more elevated, being attracted by the transcendental qualities of Krishna, whereas the dry speculators who simply cultivate knowledge without any connection with devotional service become fallen on account of their many offences.
(More...) He has no material desires that is how, and beyond karma and jnana. Karma means to perform Sacrifice and yoga and some pious activities so that one can live comfortably in heavenly planets and birth in a house of a Brahman, four things that are available in the world Janma-aisvarya-sruta-sri. Janma means to take birth in good house, this is possible by pious activities, by following karma kanda process, if one has performed very pious activities, they take birth is a rich man's house, very learned Brahmans house, in the house of a demigod, all this happens, there is lot of comforts, lot of money Janma-aisvarya-sruta, they become learned also and they also are very beautiful, these things happen by pious activities, so by karma kanda process, to obtain these four things, they perform many ritualistic activities, but devotional service is beyond fruitive activities, imagine that by good activities you got a birth in heavenly planets, but what is the use. It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Ksine punye punar martya-lokam visanti, when the pious activities are exhausted, then you will have to come back here, God himself also says abrahma-bhuvanal lokaḥ punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Arjuna, if you go to Brahman loka also, in that also you will have to come back here punar avartino 'rjuna, but if you go to my abode you will not have to return to this world again, this is the instruction of the scriptures. That is why, a devotee of Krishna why is he without any material desires, because in this universe, he is not in need of anything. He is not in want of Heavenly planets or Brahma's planet and Patala loka, Nara loka whatever there is he rejects all that, they only want Krishna nothing else, that is why they are free from material desires, they don't want anything, that God give me this, give me that, that is why Devotional service is anyabhilasita-sūnyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam, not mixed devotion, devotion mixed with fruitive work, devotion mixed with jnana, just like there are many, who discuss about knowledge and add devotional service to it, but the objective is that we become one with God, that is not devotional service that is not pure devotional service. Pure devotional service means for all the time one is a servant of God as master and his devotee his servant Nitya-yukta upasate, this is great soul, nitya yukta, nitya means one who is already liberated, such kind of person is also engaged in the service of God, not that I got liberation and now I have nothing to do with God, I am also God, no, this is not pure devotional service, this is mixed devotion. Pure devotional service is this as Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam , karmis want these things, Karmis say, let me have lot of money, let me have a beautiful wife and many people should follow me, this is what karmis want. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam¸ this are the thoughts of a karmi, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu says no I don't want all these things and jnani thinks that I shall be liberated and become one with God, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says mama janmani janmani, because those who are liberated, may be that they become one with God or, there are five kinds of liberations, in that sahujya liberation is that, if one desires he can merge into the bodily effulgence of God, so jnani, thinks that this repetition of material birth and deaths should be finished and merge in the existence of God, this is the thought of a jnani, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu says no mama janmani janmani, if one becomes liberated then how there will be birth again. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says janmani janmani, let me take birth many times there is no worries, but in any birth, I may have unconditional devotion at your Lotus feet, this is my prayer. Just like, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, a Vaisnava Acarhya, he says kita-janma hou jatha tuya dasa, O my Lord I am praying to you, that if I have to take birth again, then give me birth in a place where there is your devotee, even if I become an insect in a devotee's house that is alright and bahir-mukha brahma-janma nahi mora asa, if I get a birth as Brahma and I do not have devotion, such a birth I don't want, that is why the devotees are desireless. To become a devotee is not an ordinary thing, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained that within millions of liberated persons, very few are devotees, it is not a ordinary thing. Many of those who are liberated, in this way, out of millions of them, it is difficult to find one pure devotee of Krsna. The position of a devotee of Krsna is very high, because he purchases God. God is bound in the fist of a devotee, this is devotee's position. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs 5.33], by reading Vedas and Vedanta, and discussing knowledge, what is God one cannot understand, but if one gets association of a pure devotee of the Lord, then he can give you God very easily, this is the power of a devotee. Devotee has so much strength that if you satisfy a devotee, then if he desires, he can take God in his hands, these are the words of the scriptures, Brahma Samhita. It is said in Brahma Sahmita,
(More...) Imported quote 15555 Meditation means concentration upon the lotus feet of the Lord. Lotus feet indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are impersonalists do not recognize the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore their object of meditation is something impersonal. The demigods express their mature verdict that persons who are interested in meditating on something void or impersonal cannot cross over the ocean of nescience. Such persons are simply imagining that they have become liberated. "O lotus-eyed Lord! Their intelligence is contaminated because they fail to meditate upon the lotus feet of Your Lordship." As a result of this neglectful activity, the impersonalists fall down again into the material way of conditioned life, although they may temporarily rise up to the point of impersonal realization. Impersonalists, after undergoing severe austerities and penances, merge themselves into the Brahman effulgence or impersonal Brahman existence. But their minds are not free from material contamination; they have simply tried to negate the material ways of thinking. That does not mean that they have become liberated. Thus they fall down. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that the impersonalist has to undergo great tribulation in realizing the ultimate goal. At the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is also stated that without devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot achieve liberation from the bondage of fruitive activities. The statement of Lord Krsna is there in the Bhagavad-gita, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam the statement of the great sage Narada is there, and here also the demigods confirm it. "Persons who have not taken to devotional service are understood to have come short of the ultimate purpose of knowledge and are not favored by Your grace." The impersonalists simply think that they are liberated, but actually they have no feeling for the Personality of Godhead. They think that when Krsna comes into the material world, he accepts a material body. They therefore overlook the transcendental body of Krsna. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Avajananti mam mūḍhaḥ. In spite of conquering material lust and rising up to the point of liberation, the impersonalists fall down. If they are engaged just in knowing things for the sake of knowledge and do not take to the devotional service of the Lord, they cannot achieve the desired result. Their achievement is the trouble they take, and that is all. It is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gita that to realize Brahman identification is not all. Brahman identification may help one become joyful without material attachment or detachment and to achieve the platform of equanimity, but after this stage, one has to take to devotional service. When one takes to devotional service after being elevated to the platform of Brahman realization, he is then admitted into the spiritual kingdom for permanent residence in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the result of devotional service. Those who are devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead never fall down like the impersonalists. Even if the devotees fall down, they remain affectionately attached to their Lordship. They can meet all kinds of obstacles on the path of devotional service, and freely, without any fear, they can surmount such obstacles. Because of their surrender, they are certain that Krsna will always protect them. As it is promised by Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita: "My devotees are never vanquished."
(More...) Persons who desire liberation by the cultivation of knowledge are of three kinds: the desirers for liberation; the liberated in this material existence; and the actually self-realized. As for desiring to become liberated, there are many such persons in this world, and sometimes they engage themselves in devotional service for this purpose. It is corroborated also in Srimad Bhagwatam, in the First Canto, Second Chapter [26], that those who actually desire liberation give up all kinds of worship of the demigods, and, without being envious of them concentrate their minds in the worship of Narayan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such persons are engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayan; and when they are in contact with pure devotees, they become engaged in the devotional service of Krishna, and give up the idea of liberation. In the Hari Bhakti Sudhodaya, there is a nice verse in which it is stated: "O great soul, although there are many faults within this miserable life, yet there is one glory-the association of pure devotees. Cultivate such association. By such association our desire for liberation diminishes."
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=2508
|