Teachings of Lord Chaitanya MahaPrabhu

Introduction-3

Actually Chaitanya-charitamrita is not intended for the novice, for it is the post-graduate study of spiritual knowledge. Ideally, one begins with and advances through Srimad-Bhagavatam to the Chaitanya-charitamrita. Although all these great scriptures are on the absolute level, for the sake of comparitive study Chaitanya-charitamrita is considered to be on the highest platform. Every verse in it is perfectly composed. Indeed, Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda are compared to the sun and moon in that They dissipate the darkness of the material world. In this instance both the sun and moon have risen together, and it is proper to offer obeisances directly to Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda.

In the Western world where the glories of Lord Chaitanya are relatively unknown, one may inquire, "Who is Krishna Chaitanya?" The scriptural conclusion in answer to that question is that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Generally in the Upanisads the Supreme Absolute Truth is described in an impersonal way, but the personal aspect of the Absolute Truth is mentioned in the Isopanisad, where, after a description of the all-pervading, we find the following verse:

hiranmayena patrena
satyasyapihitam mukham
tat tvam pusann apavrnu
satya-dharmaya drstaye

"O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee." (Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 15)

The impersonalists do not have the power to go beyond the effulgence of God and arrive at the personality from whom this effulgence is emanating. At the end of Isopanisad, however, there is a hymn to the Personality of Godhead. It is not that the impersonal Brahman is denied; it is also described, but that Brahman is considered to be the glaring effulgence of the body of Chaitanya. In other words, Krishna Chaitanya is the basis of the impersonal Brahman. It is also stated by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita that the impersonal Brahman rests on Him (brahmano hi pratisthaham, Bg. 14.27). The Paramatma, or Supersoul, which is present within the heart of every living entity and within every atom of the universe, is but the partial representation of Chaitanya. Krishna Chaitanya is therefore the basis of Brahman and the Supreme Personality of Godhead as well. As the Supreme, He is full in six opulences: wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. In short, we should know that He is Krishna, God, and nothing is equal to or greater than Him. There is no superior to be conceived. He is the Supreme Person.

It was Rupa Gosvami, a confidential devotee taught for more than ten days continuously by Lord Chaitanya, who wrote:

namo maha-vadanyaya
Krishna-prema-pradaya te
Krishnaya Krishna-Chaitanya-
namne gaura-tvise namah
[Cc. Madhya 19.53]

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other avatara, even Krishna Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given—pure love of Krishna."

It is not that Chaitanya teaches a long and elaborate path to God realization. He is completely spiritual, and He begins from the point of surrender to Krishna. He does not pursue the paths of karma-yoga or jnana-yoga or hatha-yoga but begins at the end of material existence, at the point where one gives up all material attachment. In Bhagavad-gita Krishna began His teachings by distinguishing the soul from matter and in the Eighteenth Chapter concluded at the point where the soul surrenders to Him in devotion. The Mayavadis would have all talk cease there, but at that point the real discussion only begins. It is the Vedanta-sutra which begins: athato brahma jijnasa: "Now let us begin to inquire about the Supreme Absolute Truth." Rupa Gosvami thus praises Chaitanya as the most munificent incarnation of all, for He gives the greatest gift by indicating the highest form of devotional service. In other words, He answers the most important inquiries that anyone can make.

There are different stages of devotional service and God realization. Strictly speaking, anyone who accepts the existence of God is situated in devotional service. To acknowledge that God is great is something, but not much. Chaitanya, preaching as an acarya, a great teacher, taught that we can enter into a relationship with God and actually become God's friend. In Bhagavad-gita Krishna showed Arjuna His universal form because Arjuna was His "very dear friend." Upon seeing Krishna as the Lord of the universes, however, Arjuna actually asked Krishna to forgive the familiarity of his friendship. Chaitanya goes beyond this point. Through Lord Chaitanya we can become friends with Krishna, and there is no limit to this friendship. We can become friends of Krishna not in awe or adoration but in complete freedom. We can even relate to God as His father. This is not only the philosophy of Chaitanya-charitamrita but of Srimad-Bhagavatam as well. There are no other literatures in the world in which God is treated as the son of a devotee. Usually God is seen as the almighty Father who supplies the demands of His sons. The great devotees, however, sometimes treat God as a son in their execution of devotional service. The son demands, and the father supplies, and in supplying Krishna the devotee becomes like a father. Instead of taking from God, we give to God. It was in this relationship that Krishna's mother, Yasoda, told the Lord, "Here, eat this or You'll die. Eat nicely." In this way Krishna, although the proprietor of everything, depends on the mercy of His devotee. This is a uniquely high level of friendship in which the devotee actually believes himself to be the father of Krishna.

However, Lord Chaitanya's greatest gift was His teaching that Krishna can be actually treated as one's lover. In this relationship the Lord is so much attached that He expresses His inability to reciprocate. Krishna was so obliged to the gopis, the cowherd girls of Vrndavana, that He felt unable to return their love. "I cannot repay your love," He told them. "I have no more assets to return." Thus devotional service is performed on this excellent platform, and knowledge of the devotee's relationship to Krishna as lover and beloved was given by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was never given by any previous incarnation or acarya. Thus Rupa Gosvami wrote of Chaitanya: "Devotional service itself is the highest platform, the glorious platform which You have contributed. You are Krishna in a yellow complexion, and You are Sacinandana, the son of mother Saci. Those who hear Chaitanya-charitamrita will keep You in their hearts. It will be easy to understand Krishna through You." Thus Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to deliver Krishna. His method of deliverance was not meditation, fruitive activities or scriptural study, but love.

Continued...