Unity amongst devotees: a proof that we are coming close to the transcendental platform
Often, we strive to worship the Lord, or the spiritual master, while stepping over the heads of everyone around us, but this attitude is not very pleasing to the Lord.
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In his purport to SB 4.30.3, Prabhupāda explains that although anyone can offer prayers to the Lord, we can please the Lord very easily by attentively repeating the prayers offered by great devotees, such as the prayers of the Brahma-saṁhitā. Prayers composed by great devotees are especially powerful, because not only does the Lord become satisfied by remembering His pure devotees, but by repeating the prayers of great devotees, we can gradually come to understand their devotional sentiments.
One example of this is the Pracetas, the ten sons of King Prācīnabarhi, described in the fourth canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. They were blessed by Lord Śiva, who taught them the Rudra-gītā, his personal prayers to the Lord.
At the end of ten thousand years of severe austerities performed by the Pracetās, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared before them to reward their austerities.
The Lord appeared on the shoulder of Garuḍa, in a form with eight arms, complete with all opulences. The Lord was satisfied with the Pracetas for their perfect recitation of the prayers of Lord Śiva, their dedication in the practice of devotional service, and many other factors, but the point he specifically mentioned when He met them was their sincere dealings with each other:
“My dear sons of the King, I am very much pleased by the friendly relationships among you. All of you are engaged in one occupation — devotional service. I am so pleased with your mutual friendship that I wish you all good fortune. Now you may ask a benediction of Me.” (SB 4.30.8)
This is surely a lesson for us. Often, we strive to worship the Lord, or the spiritual master, while stepping over the heads of everyone around us, but this attitude is not very pleasing to the Lord. Disrespecting or sidelining others to try to gain evidence is still a manifestation of our ego. Just as a materialistic person fights others to improve one’s position in the material world, we may jump over others to try to improve our position in the hierarchy of a group or spiritual institution. Kṛṣṇa doesn’t care about fame or position; He cares about the way we interact and cooperate with other devotees, serving and supporting them in their service and spiritual development.
As Prabhupāda explains in his purport to the same verse: “Since the sons of King Prācīnabarhiṣat were all united in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the Lord was very pleased with them. Each and every one of the sons of King Prācīnabarhiṣat was an individual soul, but they were united in offering transcendental service to the Lord. The unity of the individual souls attempting to satisfy the Supreme Lord or rendering service to the Lord is real unity. In the material world such unity is not possible.”
Unity is one of the symptoms of an elevated standard of devotional service. It is not possible between people influenced by the material modes. The only way to remain united is when our goal is one: to serve Kṛṣṇa to the best of our ability. Even in the transcendental platform, there are sometimes disagreements due to different desires or opinions in serving the Lord, but these divergences in the spiritual platform don’t lead to disunity.
There is one more interesting point in this description: After receiving the darśana of the Lord and being thus blessed, the Pracetas offered their heartfelt prayers to the Lord. These prayers are full of meaning, conveying the devotional ecstasy of the brothers. It is described that they offered these prayers in a faltering voice, due to ecstasy.
What did they say? Here are the main points:
a) Although the Lord appears to be involved in the material creation, appearing as Lord Viṣṇu and also indirectly as Lord Śiva and Brahma to take charge of the three material modes, the Lord is never affected by them. Similarly, devotees who fix their minds on the Lord remain unaffected by the modes. Even if they appear to execute material activities as part of their devotional service, they remain fully transcendental, free from material desires and a sense of proprietorship. A materialist sees the world as a place of enjoyment and thus becomes entangled, but a devotee sees everything as energy of the Lord, and thus uses everything in His service.
b) There are many forms of Viṣṇu. Which one is supreme? In addressing the Supreme Lord, the Pracetas use the world vāsudevāya kṛṣṇāya, indicating that Krsna is the original personality of Godhead, and all Viṣṇu expansions are His plenary portions or portions of His plenary portions. The Lord is all attractive and the source of all qualities. This means He also has a transcendental intellect. In which is it engaged? Hari-medhase: the Lord is always planning ways to deliver the conditioned soul from the clutches of māyā. For this purpose, He comes in different incarnations and entrusts His devotees with unlimited powers, so they can assist Him in His mission.
c) Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme and the source of all incarnations. All His opulences are fully spiritual. Similarly, He possesses many qualities, but they are all fully transcendental. How then can the material world sprout from Him? Krsna expands into Mahā-Viṣnu, Whom expands into Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣnu, from Whom the universal lotus flower from which Brahma appears. Viṣnu is non-different from Krsna; therefore, one may say the lotus sprouts from Krsna’s abdomen. The Lord is also present in everyone’s heart; therefore, He is also Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣnu, the Supersoul. He guides all living entities, making them forget or remember Him, as they desire. Janmādy asya yataḥ: The Absolute Truth is He from whom everything emanates. This Absolute Truth is Krsna.
d) Krsna appears in numerous incarnations to annihilate the demons and re-establish the principles of dharma. In this way, the Lord benefits both the pious and the impious. He is merciful to all. If He is so merciful even to the demons, liberating them from material conditioning and placing them in His transcendental effulgence, what to say about His devotees?
e) The soul is infinitesimal, and there are an unlimited number of us. Still, even though the soul is so small, the Lord is personally present with all of us and knows all our desires. The Lord thus loves everyone and thinks about everyone. No one is left behind. Even when we become covered by deep ignorance, the Lord continues to make plans to deliver us. Even if a materialist has his desires satisfied, what to say about devotees? Being present in the hearts of His devotees, the Lord understands our sincerity and makes all arrangements so that we can attain success.
f) When a devotee is fully engaged in the service of the Lord, he feels so satisfied that there is no need for any separate benediction, just as when one takes shelter of a transcendental pārijāta tree (a kalpa-vṛkṣa), he can get anything he desires to his full satisfaction, and therefore, there is no need to approach any other tree.
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