| Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 4 (part 2) |
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The kanistha-Vaisnava "The neophyte devotee (kanistha-adhikari Vaisnava) displays a faith that is formal, even worldly. He worships the Deity but has not developed an interest in serving a Vaisnava sadhu. He is almost a Vaisnava, but is not a real Vaisnava yet, hence he is not able to take full spiritual advantage of sadhu-sanga. A neophyte will have to receive a pure Vaisnava's blessings to advance spiritually. The madhyama-Vaisnava "If a madhyama Vaisnava (intermediate devotee) develops loving affection for Lord Krsna, friendship with Lord Krsna's devotees, compassion for the innocent, and evades the company of atheists, he quickly becomes a pure devotee. He alone becomes eligible to chant the pure name. I exist ... I will always exist
The uttama-Vaisnava "A pure devotee of the highest level sees Lord Krsna manifest everywhere and knows that everything rests in Him. Indeed, he sees that Lord Krsna is his life and soul. He is unconcerned with distinctions of who is a Vaisnava and who is not; his whole life revolves around the holy name. To him, the holy name is the essence of everything. Activities according to a Vaisnava's status "A madhyama- Vaisnava is always engaged in serving sadhus. The madhyama-Vaisnava stage marks the beginning of pure Vaisnavism. He is required to distinguish the Vaisnava from the non-Vaisnava; serving the pure Vaisnava is his necessity. If he neglects to differentiate among the grades of Vaisnavas then he stands to commit Vaisnava-aparadha. He has to continuously evaluate the Vaisnavas and serve the pure Vaisnava. The uttama- Vaisnava does not see any distinction whatsoever between a Vaisnava or a non-Vaisnava, or between enemy and friend; how will he then serve a Vaisnava? How will he distinguish a Vaisnava from the non-Vaisnava? |