 |
A person who considers demigods like Brahma and Shiva to be on an equal
level with Narayana is to be considered an offender and an atheist.
Padma Purana |
In the teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu, there are two principal instructions: developing a taste for the chanting of the Lord’s holy names and displaying compassion for the fallen souls. The greatness of a Vaishnava depends on the extent to which he possesses these qualities... All good qualities of a Vaishnava automatically manifest in a Vaishnava who endeavors for these two qualities.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Sri Chaitanya-shikshamrita 1.7 |
In Vaishnava philosophy there is no spirit of material enjoyment and there is no concept that material objects are enjoyable; rather than the attitude of enjoyment, the attitude of service is prominent.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura,
Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.195, commentary |
Instead of worshipping Lord Vishnu, people have been educated to worship matter. According to the direction of modern society, men think they can advance in civilization by manipulating matter to build skyscrapers, big roads, automobiles, and so on. Such a civilization must certainly be called materialistic because its people
do not know
the goal of life.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.1.14,purport |
And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering me alone at
once attains my nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Lord Sri Krishna,
Bhagavad-gita 8.5 |
One who sees that the living entities and the Supreme Lord are always distinct is
very dear to the Lord.
Padma Purana (quoted by Srila Madhvacharya) |
In Vaikuntha [the spiritual world] nothing exists but devotional service, rendered through sankirtana [collective glorification of the Lord] and in many other forms. It goes on incessantly, with great enthusiasm, spreading the ecstasy of pure love.
Lord Shiva,
Sri Brahad-bhagavatamrita 3.50 |
The gopis spoke thus: Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogis and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10/82.48
(The Gopis speaking to Lord Krishna at the Kuruksetra solar eclipse) |
After many, many births and deaths one achieves the rare human form of life, which, although temporary, affords one the opportunity to attain the highest perfection. Thus, a sober human being should quickly endeavor for the ultimate perfection of life as long as his body, which is always subject to death, has not fallen down and died. After all, sense gratification is available even in the most abominable species of life, whereas Krishna consciousness is only possible for a human being.
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.29
( The Avadhuta brahmana to Kind Yadu) |
One who was taken his birth as a human being in the land of India (Bharata-varsa) should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.
Chaitanya Charitamrita. Adi-lila 9.41
( Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) |
Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,
I offer my
respectful obeisance.
Chaitanya Charitamrita. Adi-lila 14.1
(Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami) |
|
In this age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
Chaitanya Charitamrita. Adi-lila 17.22
(Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) |
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