Hare Krsna,
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada & Srila Gopal Krishna Maharaj.
Excerpts from the discussions of Sri Ramananda Roy with Lord Chaitanya; questions by Lord Chaitanya and answers by Sri Ramananda Roy :
"What is the highest standard of education?"
The highest standard of education is to know the science of Krishna. The standard of material education is sense gratification, but the standard of spiritual education, especially the highest standard, is to know the science of Krishna. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Fourth Canto, 29th Chapter, 47th verse, it is stated that work which pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the highest standard of work, and the science or knowledge which places one in full Krishna Consciousness is the highest standard of knowledge. Similarly, Prahlad Maharaj, while instructing his childhood friends at school, also stated that hearing or chanting of the Lord, remembering, worshiping, praying, serving, making friendship with Krishna and offering everything to Him, is to be understood as the highest standard of spiritual knowledge.
"What is the highest standard of reputation?"
If a person is famous by a reputation of Krishna Consciousness, he is to be called the most famous man in the world. In other words, if a man is known as Krishna conscious, he is the greatest, most famous of men. In the material world, everyone is after three things: he wants his name to be perpetuated, he wants his fame to be broadcast all over the world, and he wants some profit out of his material activities. But he does not know that all this material name, fame, and profit belong to this temporary body; and, as soon as the body is finished, all name, fame and profit are finished. Due to ignorance, everyone is after name, fame and profit in connection with this body. Real fame is if one attains Krishna Consciousness in this very life.
According to Srimad Bhagwatam, there are twelve authorities, all great devotees of the Lord: Brahma, Narada, Lord Shiva, Manu, Kapila, Prahlad, Janaka, Bhisma, Sukadeva Goswami, Bali, Jamaraja and the Kumaras. In the Bhagavad Gita it said, "Anyone who understands that Vasudeva is everything and surrenders to Him is the most learned and wise man."
"What are the most valuable riches in this world?"
One who has love for Radha Krishna has the most valuable jewel, the greatest riches. One who is too much addicted to material sense gratification, or to material wealth, has no such value. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Maharaj Dhruva sought out the Supreme Lord because he wanted to get highest kingdom, but when he saw Krishna he said, "I am so pleased that I don't want anything." In the Bhagavad Gita, it is also stated that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or is elevated to the Supreme State of love of Godhead, then there is nothing more to aspire to. Although such devotees can obtain anything they desire from the Personality of Godhead, still, a pure devotee does not ask anything from God.
"What is the most painful existence?"
Separation from a pure devotee is the most painful existence in human society. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Third Canto, 30th Chapter, it is stated that if somebody tries to become happy simply in association with society, friendship, and love without Krishna Consciousness; he is in the most distressed condition, bereft of the association of a pure devotee. The association of a pure devotee is more desirable than life itself, and in separation from the association of the devotee, not even a second is passed happily.
"Out of so many so-called liberated souls, who is actually liberated?"
The person who is completely saturated with devotional love of Radha and Krishna is to be considered the best of all liberated persons.
"There are many songs; which song do you think the best of all?"
Any song which describes the Pastimes of Sri Radha and Krishna is the best song. The conditioned soul is such that everyone is captivated by sex life; all the material fiction-dramas and novels-are descriptions of love between a man and woman. As people have so much attraction for this literature, Krishna therefore appeared on this material world and displayed His transcendental loving affairs with the Gopis, and there is an immense literature dealing with the transactions between the Gopis and Krishna. Anyone who takes shelter of this story of Radha and Krishna enjoys actual happiness. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, 33rd Chapter, it is said that the Lord, in order to show His actual life, displayed His Pastimes at Vrindaban; and any intelligent person who tries to understand the Pastimes of Radha and Krishna is the most fortunate. And that sort of song and story is the highest in the world.
"What is the most profitable thing in this world, the essence of all auspicious events?"
There is nothing so profitable as the association of pure devotees.
"What do you recommend a person think of?"
One should always think of the Pastimes of Krishna. This is Krishna Consciousness. Krishna has multiple activities, One should think of all those Pastimes, always; that is the best meditation, and the highest ecstasy. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Second Canto, 2nd Chapter, it is confirmed by Sukadeva Goswami that people should always think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; not only think of Him-one should hear and chant the Name, Fame, and Glories of the Supreme Lord.
"What is the best type of meditation?"
One who always meditates upon the Lotus Feet of Radha and Krishna is the best meditator." Srimad Bhagwatam confirms this in the First Canto, 2nd Chapter, wherein it is stated: "It is only the Supreme Personality of Godhead Who is the Master of all devotees, Whose Name we should always be chanting, and Who should be always thought of in meditation, and worshipped regularly."
"Where should a person live, giving up all other pleasures?"
one should give up all other pleasures and should live in Vrindaban, the place where Lord Krishna had so many Pastimes. In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, 47th Chapter, it is said by Uddhava that it is best to live at Vrindaban, even as one of the plants or creepers of the land; where the Supreme Lord was, and where the Gopis went, worshipping the Supreme Lord, the ultimate Goal of all Vedic knowledge.
"What is the best subject to hear of?"
The best subject matter to hear of is the Pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Actually, when the Pastimes of Radha and Krishna are heard from the right source, one becomes at once a liberated soul. But sometimes it happens that people do not hear the Pastimes of Radha and Krishna from a person who is a realized soul. And they are therefore sometimes misguided. It is stated in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, 30th Chapter, that one who hears about the Pastimes of Krishna with the Gopis will attain to the highest platform of devotional service, and he will be freed from the material lust which is overwhelming everyone's heart. In other words, the actual result of hearing the Pastimes of Radha and Krishna is to get rid of all material lust.
"Who is the most worshippable deity?"
The transcendental couple, Sri Radha and Krishna? is the ultimate Object of worship. Who are devotees of Radha and Krishna are the most fortunate persons in the world.
Hare Krishna
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