When Shrila Prabhupada was asked, how can one identify your devotees, Prabhupada replied, “They are perfect gentlemen.”
Interestingly, the only primary quality in a devotee that our acaryas mention is “krsnaika sarana”. The rest all are termed as “secondary qualities”.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Harinam Cintamani that if this singular quality of surrender to Krishna is present, then, by the chanting of the Holy Names, all other qualities will gradually manifest in the devotee.
kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa haya svarūpa-lakṣaṇa |
taṭastha lakṣaṇe anya guṇera gaṇana
svarūpa lakṣaṇa sei ha-ita ha-ila |
gāite gāite nāma anya guṇa āila ||20||
anya guṇa-gaṇa tāi taṭastha gaṇana |
avaśya vaiṣṇava dehe habe saṅghaṭana
Surrender to Krishna is an internal state of consciousness, whereas the exhibition of good qualities is an external manifestation.
Do we really need to bother about external qualities?
The internal state of consciousness itself gets manifested in the external behavior. There are multiple instances wherein the Supreme Lord was pleased by the qualities of a devotee.
1] The Pracetas pleased the Lord by their co-operation, more than their rigid austerities and worship under water.
2] Dhruva Maharaja pleased the Lord by his qualities, more than his austere worship.
yasya prasanno bhagavān
guṇair maitry-ādibhir hariḥ
tasmai namanti bhūtāni
nimnam āpa iva svayam
(SB 4.9.47)
Dhruva pleased the Supreme Lord by his “gunas” or qualities, and “maitry-adhibhih”, meaning friendliness and similar things. Maitreya doesn’t mention about his surrender, or his astute worship of the Lord.
3] Krishna Himself speaks about the “qualities” that please Him:
In Bhagavad Gita, from 12.13-20, there is a mention of various qualities that please Krishna, the first few being – non-envy, friendship to others, compassion, etc.
What gave Mahaprabhu pleasure?
Lord Caitanya, who came to teach us the process of surrender, demonstrated through his own life, and through the life of his associates the value of exhibiting good qualities and being a perfect gentleman or lady.
Mahaprabhu was pleased by the humility of Rupa and Sanatana in their first meeting. It charmed Mahaprabhu’s heart. The simplicity of Parameshwari Modaka, another devotee of Lord Caitanya, endeared him to Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu glorified the qualities of Rupa Goswami to Ramananda and Sarvabhauma, he examined them if they felt joyful or unhappy in Rupa’s glorification.
sārvabhauma-rāmānande parīkṣā karite
śrī-rūpera guṇa duṅhāre lāgilā kahite
Just to examine Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya, the Lord began to praise the transcendental qualities of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī before them. CC Antya 1.106
Mahaprabhu showcased through his personal example what pleased Him. Humility, non-envy, deriving pleasure in other’s success were a few things amongst many others that gave Mahaprabhu immense pleasure.
Surrender and Vaishnava Qualities
What is the use of a surrendered and austere life when it is displeasing to devotees? What is the use of a strict regulated life with perfect sadhana, if there is no intimacy in relationships? What is the use of simply holding on to our “opinions”, if the only result is rift amongst devotees?
When Prabhupada said, “My devotees are perfect gentlemen.”, he wished that we exhibit the external qualities of a devotee, than mere show of superficial surrender. Therefore, one of Prabhupada’s last instructions was, “You can show your love for me by how you co-operate with one another.” Prabhupada didn’t talk of surrender here. Actually, surrender means to surrender to the instructions of guru. If guru’s pleasure lies in something else, then one must be ready to surrender (let go) our previous conceptions and surrender (fully accept) to guru’s instructions.
Surrendering to Krishna is definitely an essential element for a devotee. At the same time, as a preaching mission, we must analyze our words, behavior and actions, if they are pleasing to the eyes and minds of devotees and our gurus. There have been instances of devotees (extremely strict in their own sadhana) speaking some hurtful statements or showing unruly behaviour on some occasions. This has led to heartburns, devotees going far away from the association, and shattering of faith in the lives of devotees.
When our surrender gets decorated with genuine Vaishnava qualities, such a devotee is liked by everyone, and he or she can transform the hearts and lives of many others. Before speaking or acting, if we simply ask a question to ourselves, “Will this be pleasing to my spiritual master or to Srila Prabhupada?”, we can remain safe and secure in all circumstances. And we can thus ensure the grace of Vaishnavas in our lives.
