Ecstasy can exist by itself. Neither existence nor consciousness are complete in themselves. Consciousness alone hankers for ecstasy. And existence without consciousness is to exist with no purpose. Both existence and consciousness are subservient to ecstasy.
To come to the plane of ecstasy, we shall have to dive deep into reality. We must not be satisfied with the formal, superficial.
Our attitude should be one of humility, and if we think that we are being done wrong, still we should be patient, and under no circumstances should we work for our own position; that should be our aim.
Slow and steady wins the race. Our march towards the infinite is a long journey, not to be finished within a few hours, a few days, or a few years.
Eternal existence, consciousness, and fulfillment (ecstasy) are the three principles of our ultimate destination.
First, we must eliminate this mortal existence. Then, we must satisfy our reason, our consciousness. And finally, we must satisfy our hearts.
We must not allow any ulterior purpose or temptation to induce us to give up our search for Sri Krsna. Let the satisfaction of Guru, Gouranga, Krsna, and the Vaishnavas be our only objective.
Our purity of purpose must always be very scrupulously maintained. We should think, “Alone I shall go on with my duty. I won’t be always searching for someone to come and help me. Let them do their duty. This is my duty.”
We should be conscious that hindrances and obstacles are almost sure to attack us, but we must deal with them with humility and forbearance. So this life is not a life of comfort.
Whatever you do not know about yourself, Krishna knows. What is underground in the innermost subconscious region of your heart, He can also see. If you remember this as you move and live, you cannot but be purified.
At every step towards Him, one feels wonder. We find no end to that feeling. Krishna is infinite; He is the wonderful wonder of wonders.
Though we see many around us falling or retreating, we must go forward.
Progress means eliminating one thing and accepting another.
God works wonders. His ways are filled with miracles. We should be prepared for that. We should be prepared that all the knowledge of this world, all our experience, will prove to be wrong.
It is a defect to want to understand everything about divinity. Knowledge may be a qualification here in this world, but in relation to the transcendental truth of the highest order, the tendency to want to know everything is a disqualification.
We can’t try to apply our reason or our standard of measurement to the movements of the infinite.
Vaisnavas cannot be judged by their garments. One is judged to be a Vaisnava by his internal realization – those who have the real eye to see the internal realization, won’t care for any external dress.
Krishna’s divine movements are kept in reserve by His sweet will: “All rights reserved.” We want to search for some law above His sweet will, but this is inconsistent. It is self-contradictory.
Leaving aside all doubts and suspicions, we shall be most generous in approaching the absolute, free from all inhibitions. We shall approach Him with that spirit, and try more and more to leave aside our past prejudices and precedents, the records of our past experience.
The boundary of the sweet will of the infinite is such that even Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, can be perplexed by Krishna.
In connection with the infinite, you will find that everywhere there is a center, nowhere circumference. But to realize this you must try to live in eternity, in Vaikuntha.
Whatever we may conceive is within the infinite.
There are various types of infinite. The highest conception of the infinite is: He is so beautiful and attractive that He is attracting all to surrender to Him.
The more they achieve, the more they thirst, the more earnestness is found within them. This is the characteristic of the realization of the infinite.
All the other aspects of the infinite; infinite time, infinite space, infinite power, are external. But infinite love which attracts love and self-surrender is the highest type of infinite. And that is Krishna.
Divine Words of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami
