Chaitanya's Life And Teachings: From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amritaKṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi
Religion
Chaitanya's Life And Teachings: From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita
Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi
Chaitanya, 1486-1534; Hinduism
The philosopher laughed much and scoffed at the Brahman, saying, "I have
heard that there is a _sannyasi_ in Bengal, an emotionalist, a disciple
of Keshav Bhárati and a fraud on the public. He is named Chaitanya, and
with his emotional band he roams over the country dancing. Everyone who
sees him calls him God. Such is his spell, all beholders are bewitched.
I hear that the great scholar Sárvabhauma Bhattáchárya has turned mad in
this Chaitanya's company. He is a _sannyasi_ in name only, but really a
great wizard. But his stock in trade of sentimentality will not sell at
Kashi! Attend to Vedánta; do not resort to him! The companionship of the
wild man will ruin you in life and death." Grieved at these words, the
Maratha Brahman left the place appealing to Krishna. His mind having
been purged by the Master's sight, he came to Him and unfolded the tale
of his sorrow. The Master smiled. The Brahman continued, "When I first
mentioned you to him, he said that he knew you. When he uttered your
name in the course of his abuse of you, he thrice used the form
_Chaitanya_ without adding Krishna! It grieved me to hear him speak
your name in such a contemptuous manner. Tell me the reason of his
conduct, for my lips uttered Krishna's name as soon as I saw you." The
Master replied, "The philosophers who hold the doctrine of illusion sin
against Krishna. They constantly prate about _Brahma_, _Atma_ and
_Chaitanya_, and cannot utter the name of Krishna, because that is
equivalent to Krishna's self. The name, the image, and the self of a god
are all one; there is no distinction between them; the three are of the
form of soul's bliss (_chidánanda_). Between Krishna's body and
personality, between his name and Krishna himself there is no
difference. In the case of creatures, no doubt, name, body, and
personality are different from one another. _Vide Hari-bhakti-vilas_
xi. 269.
"Therefore Krishna's name, body, and action (_vilás_) cannot be
comprehended by the natural senses; they manifest themselves. His name,
qualities, and antics are the soul's bliss (_chidánanda_) like
Krishna's own form. From delight in God comes the fuller pleasure of
appreciating Krishna's actions (_lilá_), which attract and conquer the
spiritual man. _Vide Bhágabat_, XII. xii. 52.
"From delight in God comes the fuller pleasure (of relishing) Krishna's
merits, which attract the inmost spirit of the soul. _Vide Bhágabat_, I.
vi. 10. Not to speak of Krishna's feet, even the odour of the _Tulsi_
plant captivates the inmost sense of the soul. _Vide Bhágabat_, III.,
xv. 43.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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