Qualities of a Devotee

In Praise of Srila Prabhupada

10 Mar 2021 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Pure Devotee, Qualities of a Devotee, Srila Prabhupada Tags: 26 qualities of a pure devotee, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Ajitananda das, divine qualities, Krishna, pure devotee of Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada

I posted this some years ago, but this morning I happened upon it again, and so enjoyed it, we thought we would post it again. In this treatise Ajitananda Prabhu describes how Srila Prabhupada perfectly displayed the twenty-six qualities of a pure devotee of Lord Krishna.

In Praise of Srila Prabhupada
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by Ajitananda dasa
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His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who successfully distributed the message of Lord Krsna throughout the world, was not an ordinary conditioned soul, governed by the harsh laws of material nature. Although to the unenlightened he may have appeared to exhibit commonplace characteristics, it is evident through the careful study of his life and activities, that Srila Prabhupada perfectly displayed the twenty-six qualities of a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. We learn from Vedic literature that one who possesses these qualities is necessarily free from material bondage, and enjoys an eternal position in the intimate association of the Supreme Lord. Such a great soul is very rarely found within this material realm, and owing to his unparalleled purity and exalted status, he is worshipable by the entire world. Individually, and as a collective society of aspiring devotees, we must always strive to appreciate Srila Prabhupada’s divine qualities, teach this application to others, and perform all of our devotional activities for his satisfaction. This treatise is an imperfect but hopeful attempt to please Srila Prabhupada by illustrating, in a practical way, how he perfectly displayed the twenty-six qualities of a pure devotee of Lord Krsna.

British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read

25 May 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Divine and Demoniac Natures, Donald Trump, Qualities of a Devotee Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, as it is, Bhagavad-gita, british, British writer, Divine and Demoniac Natures, Donald Trump, Nate White, troll

Although I don’t normally do political posts from this page, we are living in difficult times, in the midst of a modern viral pandemic, and we see that our political leader has no transcendental vision and does not know what is actually beneficial for human society.

British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read
by Nate White

“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:

A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

A Sankirtan Story

13 Jun 2019 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Locanananda das, Qualities of a Devotee, Sankirtan, Uncategorized Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, Locanananda das, Lord Jagannatha, Rathayata, sankirtan, sankirtan party, Yajna Purusa das

locanananda

The following is a very nice story which appeared as a Back to Godhead Magazine Article back in 1998. It was written by Locanananda dasa and he recounts the true events that occurred while out chanting on a hot summers day, in the streets of New York City.

Near Death While Out Chanting
by Locanananda Dasa
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1998 Vol. 32, No. 2

Devotees are ready to take risks to assist the Lord in His mission
“All Glories to Sri Krsna sankirtana, the chanting of the holy names of the Lord,” Yajna Purusa Dasa and I recite as the D train makes its way toward midtown Manhattan. “Sankirtana cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years …”
We’re leading a party of twenty-five enthusiastic devotees to Fifth Avenue, where Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra parade will take place in just a few days. More and more devotees have been arriving daily from all over the country to attend the festival, and our kirtana party is becoming more powerful and impressive. Jaded New Yorkers who have “seen it all” cannot help but notice our ecstatic chanting and dancing. The holy name is entering their hearts.

New Years Resolution

02 Jan 2018 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of a Devotee

“A New Year’s resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year’s resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings.” (Wikipedia definition)

Every year it seems I make the fruitless attempt to write down my New Year’s Resolutions, vowing to do less of this and more of that. But this year, I am just going to try to be a better human being. I am just going to try to develop the qualities of a devotee, which are 26 in number, and try to get myself free from material entanglement and go Back Home, Back to Godhead.

The Twenty-Six Qualities of a Devotee

The Lord is satisfied by the development of the transcendental qualities of the living entities and not by artificial performance of sacrifices and mystic yoga. In other words, unless one is fully qualified to become a pure devotee of the Lord, one cannot expect to be liberated from material entanglement.

These qualities of a devotee, twenty-six in number, are listed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

1) Kind to Everyone, 2) Does not Quarrel with Anyone, 3) Fixed in the Absolute Truth, 4) Equal to Everyone, 5) Faultless, 6) Charitable, 7) Mild, 8) Clean, 9) Simple, without Material Possession, 10) Benevolent, 11) Peaceful, 12) Completely Attached to Krsna, 13) Has no Material Hankering, 14) Meek, 15) Steady, 16) Self-controlled, 17) Does not Eat More than Required, 18) Sane, 19) Respectful, 20) Humble, 21) Grave, 22) Compassionate, 23) Friendly, 24) Poetic, 25) Silent, 26) Expert

Srila Prabhupada’s Humility

22 Nov 2016 2 Comments

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Padmapani das, Prabhupada Connection, Pure Devotee, Qualities of a Devotee, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, advanced in spiritual knowledge, disciple, humility of Srila Prabhupada, pure devotee, qualities of Srila Prabhupada, quotes by Srila Prabhupada, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada

click on image to enlarge

Srila Prabhupada’s Humility
by Padmapani das

“Although my Guru Maharaja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all.” (Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965)

“It is all Krishna’s Grace that He has sent such a nice assistants to me, for executing the mission of my Spiritual Master. Personally, I am nonentity; I have come here on the order of my Spiritual Master, and He has kindly sent you all boys to assist me. So whatever is being done, there is no credit for me, but all the credit goes to my Spiritual Master, because He has arranged everything, and I am simply to abide by His order.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 16, 1968)

“I am just trying to disseminate this message of my Spiritual Master and if there’s any credit for this service, everything goes to Him.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 14, 1969)

27 Apr 2015 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Qualities of a Devotee Tags: 26 qualities of a devotee, A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotees, Does not quarrel with anyone, elevated qualities, Equal to everyone, Fixed in the Absolute Truth, Kind to everyone, liberated from material entanglement, Lord Visnu, Maharaja Prthu, SB 4.20.16, Srila Prabhupada, transcendental qualities, yoga

For some time now I have been meaning to look up the 26 qualities of a devotee and print them out. This was the topic of a discussion we had with a fellow devotee some time back. None of us could exactly remember all 26 qualities, but we were pretty sure that we were not in possession of them all in full. After a little searching we found them, and share them with you.

…These qualities of a devotee,twenty–six in number, are listed as follows: (1) kind to everyone, (2) does not quarrel with anyone, (3) fixed in the Absolute Truth, (4) equal to everyone, (5) faultless, (6) charitable, (7) mild, (8) clean, (9) simple, (10) benevolent, (11) peaceful, (12) completely attached to Krsna, (13) has no material hankering, (14) meek, (15) steady, (16) self-controlled, (17) does not eat more than required, (18) sane, (19) respectful, (20) humble, (21) grave, (22) compassionate, (23) friendly, (24) poetic, (25) expert, (26) silent. (from purport to SB 4.20.16)

Peaceful

03 May 2014 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Pure Devotee, Qualities of a Devotee, Srila Prabhupada, Twenty-Six Qualities of a Devotee Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, peaceful, pure devotee, qualities of a devotee, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Beautiful Transcendental Qualities

click on image to enlarge

I was looking through some pictures this morning of Srila Prabhupada and my attention was drawn to this above image. He looked so peaceful, and I remembered that peacefulness is one of the transcendental qualities of the pure devotee. You can click on link at bottom of post to see the other Beautiful Transcendental Qualities of Srila Prabhupada.

Peaceful

Srila Prabhupada once described the mind of a pure devotee as being very peaceful, like a country pond filled with crystal-clear water, beautiful lotus flowers and swans gliding happily across it. This much desired state of mind is a natural quality of one who is situated in transcendence, at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, far beyond the turbulent material world and senses. Srila Prabhupada was very peaceful due to his own pure Krishna consciousness. Shouldering the immense pressure and responsibility of a worldwide spiritual family, with its concomitant problems, Srila Prabhupada gracefully meted out love, guidance and practical instructions with full composure, never once losing touch with his peaceful Lord Krishna. (from “Srila Prabhupada’s Beautiful Transcendental Qualities” by Ajitananda das)

Devotees of Kṛṣṇa

01 May 2014 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, Qualities of a Devotee Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotees of Krsna, Krsna, Nectar of Devotion, Srila Rupa Gosvami, the devotees of Krishna

click on image to enlarge

Continuing with our series on the Nectar of Devotion, we share with you Chapter 25 entitled “Devotees of Kṛṣṇa”. The Nectar of Devotion is a summary study of Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, which was written in Sanskrit by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda. He was the chief of the six Gosvāmīs, who were the direct disciples of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and has since been translated into English by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

…A person who is always absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called a devotee of Kṛṣṇa….In the Tenth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, verse 32, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is this statement: “How wonderful are the fortunate residents of Vṛndāvana…The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman, has actually become their intimate friend!”

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The Perfectional Stage of Spiritual Life

18 Jan 2014 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of a Devotee, Spiritual Life, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, devotional service, free from false ego, friend to all living entities, non envious, perfectional stage of spiritual life, qualities of a devotee

As devotees, or rather as practitioners of bhakti-yoga, we should be aspiring to act in such a way that all of our actions and words will be an inspiration to others. We are representatives of our spiritual master and Krishna. And as such should try to act according to the instructions given in the Bhagavad-gita.

The perfectional stage of spiritual life which one can experience even while being in the material world is described in the Twelfth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā as follows:

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me-he is very dear to Me. He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress, is very dear to Me. A devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and who does not strive for some result, is very dear to Me. One who grasps neither pleasure or grief who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things, is very dear to Me. One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contamination, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and engaged in devotional service, is very dear to Me. He who follows this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engages himself with faith, making Me the supreme goal, is very, very dear to Me.” (Bg. 12.13-20)

Godly Men Endowed with Divine Nature

19 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of a Devotee, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, charity, compassion, divine and demoniac, divine nature, divine qualities, envy, Fearlessness, qualities of a devotee, renunciation, self-control, Srila Prabhupada, tranquility, vaikuntha man

click on image to enlarge

It is clear from the above photo, that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is not of this world. He was a Vaikuntha Man. He was an extraordinary personality with all the divine qualities as described in following verse…

The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one’s existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor—these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature. (Bg. 16.1-3)

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