Chapter 7: The Grand Victory of Love

Devotion is above all. Śaraṇāgati, surrender, is the highest property of everyone. Surrender to Him, and He may graciously make His name known to us, and we will be able to know Him.

In the Upaniṣads, it is said, yam evaiṣa vṛnute tena labhyaḥ: whoever He chooses to make Himself known to can know Him. Otherwise, no one can know Him against His will. He has reserved all the right of not being exposed to the senses of anyone and everyone. He is so high, He can do that. If He does not wish to make Himself known, no one can know Him — whenever He wishes to make Himself known to someone, they can know Him. This is His position.

On the order of his Gurudeva Devarṣi Nārada, the scripture Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was given by Vedavyāsa as the conclusion of his teachings. After giving the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Mahābhārata, Bhagavad-gītā, etc., the last gift of Vedavyāsa in the world of scriptures was Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And the message of the Bhāgavatam is that beauty is above all — not knowledge or justice. Mercy is above justice. Affection, love, beauty, charm, harmony — these are above all, and this absolute conception of the ultimate reality is in the Kṛṣṇa conception.

Beauty is above knowledge and power. Knowledge is above power, and above knowledge is beauty, charm, love. That is the supreme. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has declared, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam: the Kṛṣṇa conception of Godhead is the most original conception of the Absolute. This is the prime declaration of the Bhāgavatam: the Lord, as Beauty, is above all. And below Him is awe, reverence, power, etc.

And Mahāprabhu Śrī Chaitanyadeva pointed out, «Go to the beautiful — Reality the Beautiful — He is your highest attainment. Hanker neither for power nor knowledge, but hanker for service of the Beautiful, and thereby, you will be taken in and given entrance into the land of the Beautiful.» This is the highest realisation. Don’t waste your energy by engaging yourself in any other pursuits, but go straight — jñāna-śūnyā-bhakti. By the help of sādhu-saṅga, take the name of the Lord and try to march straight onwards to the Kṛṣṇa conception of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is our highest achievement, and this is given by Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu recommended, «Don’t waste your energy for anything else. Utilise your energy for the Kṛṣna conception of Godhead.»

So we try to make our progress in this line, and at the same time we also ask our friends to try to embrace this life. The fulfillment of life for every particle of existence of this world can be found here.

March towards universal good. Wherever and whoever you are, it does not matter. Take your course towards Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the highest fulfillment of the life for everyone. You are only to turn your face towards Him and march, and the Sweet Absolute, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, will welcome you. This is the campaign of the Gauḍiya Vaiṣṇavas.

Śrīla Rupa Goswāmī described Kṛṣṇa in a scientific way: akhila-rasāmṛta-mūrtiḥ. Our hearts are hankering for satisfaction and happiness of different types, but He is the emporium of all such rasas, flavours of ecstasy. All types of rasas are in Kṛṣṇa and He is the personification of them all, so everyone can find his corresponding place in Him alone, and nowhere else. He is Kṛṣṇa — akhila-rasāmṛta-mūrtiḥ. All our necessary satisfaction is personified in Him. So only He can say, «Give up everything and come to Me, and you won’t have to repent. You wall find your highest satisfaction.» No one else has ever said such a thing in any place. Only Kṛṣṇa has said this, and Mahāprabhu pointed it out. «Go directly that side and don’t go any other way, but march straight for the Kṛṣṇa conception — that is your home.»