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By Sankirtana Das<\/strong> (ACBSP)<\/p>\n Wikipidia defines Vaisnavism as \u201cone of the major Hindu denominations.\u201d This definition is misleading. To be a Vaisnava transcends any religious, social or ethnic designation. A Vaisnava can come from any caste, or any racial or ethnic group. Bhaktivinoda Thakura referred to this as \u201cthe principle of natural brotherhood.\u201d This depicts a state when people give up their biases, hatreds, and separatist religious mentalities. And only then, Bhaktivinode explains, \u201cthe people of all castes and countries will spontaneously chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord together.\u201d <\/p>\n The way of the Vaisnavas is glorious and should not be seen in terms of birth, but in terms of one having attained a unique, spiritual consciousness. These devotees wander in this world as agents of God\u2019s love. They desire only to awaken those who are sleeping in the darkness of ignorance and help them reestablish their loving relationship with God. Unfortunately, the suffering, conditioned souls don\u2019t realize that they are sleeping. They are all too accepting of the \u201creality\u201d of their dreams. <\/p>\n Srila Prabhupada writes, \u201cA Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava, or devotee of the Lord, his life is dedicated for the benefit of the people. . . They don’t care for personal comforts. Because they love K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, or God, therefore they love all living entities, because all living entities are in relationship with K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. So similarly, you should learn. This K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness movement means to become Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava and feel for the suffering humanity. ” Lecture, Los Angeles, December 9, 1968<\/p>\n This was clearly described by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who encouraged the Vaisnavas to not consider who is fit or who is unfit, or who is worthy or unworthy to receive this divine gift. 500 years ago Lord Caitanya mandated to not discriminate between the faithful and the faithless, the rich or poor, the brahmana or sudra, and the chosen or the unchosen. The Vaisnavas are all merciful, and thus Caitanya\u2019s movement is transcendental to all mundane considerations.<\/p>\n God\u2019s house is big enough for everyone. The only stipulation is that one chants the empowered, holy names of God found in religious traditions all over the world. As is described in the CC ADi 7\/26: \u201cThe Krishna consciousness movement will inundate the entire world and drown everyone, whether one be a gentleman, a rogue or even lame, invalid or blind.\u201d<\/p>\n But a word of caution: a Vaisnava does not feel superior for having this intimate knowledge. Another important quality inherent in Vaisnavas is humility. Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains, \u201cOne should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.\u201d <\/p>\n This humble mentality provides the devotee with a means to continue to chant, day after day and year after year. In the early part of the 20th<\/sup> century, the exalted Vaisnava, Vamsidasa Babaji, was asked about the essence of religion. He explained it this way: \u201cBe kind to all beings, chant the holy names with great attention, and serve the Vaisnavas. This is true religion. There is nothing else.\u201d <\/p>\n The Srimad Bhagavatam, text 3\/25\/21, offers us additional insights: \u201cThe symptoms of a s\u0101dhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.\u201d In his purport, Srila Prabhupada begins to explain: \u201cA sadhu, as described above, is a devotee of the Lord.\u201d <\/p>\n These are all Vaisnava characteristics. There is no difference between a Vaisnava and a sadhu. Prabhupada explains that in their compassion, the Vaisnavas take great risks in presenting the transcendental teachings of bhakti yoga \u2013 loving devotion to Krishna. He gives the examples of Jesus Christ, Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu as devotees who were personally attacked. Prabhupada continues the purport, \u201cBut still they were tolerant because their mission was to deliver the fallen souls. One of the qualifications of a s\u0101dhu is that he is very tolerant and is merciful to all fallen souls. He 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Sri Isopanishad, text 6, reiterates this point of the Srimad Bhagavatam in a slightly different way: \u201cHe who sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being.\u201d<\/p>\n Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas naturally develop all good qualities. He or she is someone intoxicated with love of God and simply wants everyone to feel that ecstatic experience for themselves. The Vaisnavas are demanding of themselves, but patient with others. <\/p>\n In the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam 2\/4\/18, Prabhupada offers a solution to the ills of the world: the politicians and leaders must allow themselves to be guided by the good counsel of the Vaisnavas, \u201cthen certainly there would be a great change in the world situation by the purifying propaganda of the devotees, as shown by Lord Caitanya.\u201d<\/p>\n Prabhupada explains, \u201c<\/strong>We do not ask anyone to first change his position and then come to us. Instead, we invite everyone to come with us and simply chant Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Hare K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Hare Hare\/ Hare R\u0101ma, Hare R\u0101ma, R\u0101ma R\u0101ma, Hare Hare, because we know that if one simply chants and hears the topics of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, one\u2019s life will change; he will see a new light, and his life will be successful.\u201d Purport SB 4\/7\/44\/<\/p>\n The Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas are transcendental to brahminical culture, the caste system, and even to varnashram-dharma. The Vaisnavas have attained the highest understanding of the Vedic literatures and are free from the tight knot of the false ego. A Vaisnava only desires the highest benefit and welfare for all living beings, even for his enemies. Anyone who becomes a Vaisnava, regardless of their birth or previous activities, should be considered higher than a brahmana.<\/p>\n The Vaisnavas are non-envious and realistic because they have reestablished their relationship with the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. They do not wish to be famous or influential, nor are they interested in attaining the heavenly planets. If they can serve their worshipful Lord, they do not mind to endure millions of births or even reside in hell. <\/p>\n Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the inclusiveness of Vaisnava culture in his Tattva Viveka-Tattva Sutra: \u201cAll the types of beneficence to others, like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, and so on, are included in bhakti… <\/em> charity of medicines, clothes, food, water, shelter, etc., during adversities, teaching of academic and spiritual educations, etc., are the activities included in the devotional culture.\u201d<\/p>\n And Narottama Das Thakur sings: <\/p>\n \u201cO Vaisnava Gosvami, please be merciful to me. <\/p>\n There is no one except you who can purify the fallen souls.<\/p>\n Where does anyone find such a merciful personality <\/p>\n By whose mere audience all sins go far away?\u201d<\/p>\n And thus, one of the great open secrets in Krishna Consciousness is that one can make rapid advancement by serving and honoring the Vaisnavas. <\/p>\n Sankirtana Das is a longtime resident of New Vrindaban Community and an award-winning author and storyteller. His most recent book, Hanuman\u2019s Quest, is acclaimed by scholars and has received a Storytelling World Resource Honors. For more info about his work see www.Mahabharata-Project.com<\/em><\/p>\n
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By Sankirtana Das<\/strong><\/p>\n