Postgraduate Spirituality
The various religions of the world all stem from one divine source and aim to progress the practitioner to this perfect stage of pure love. Though they vary in culture, ritual and expression, their core spiritual principles are universal. Since the same message was imparted in different historical periods, the externals were adapted while the essence was preserved. You could call it “old wine in new bottles”.
At the same time, religions are not completely identical. Each tradition emphasises different aspects of the Absolute Truth and approaches God with varying degrees of intimacy and closeness. This is where the Vedic scriptures offer something unique. They are replete with fascinating narratives which describe the sacred intricacies of God’s existence: His personality, associates, relationships and daily activities. The sheer volume of detailed information is unfathomable.
Within the Vedic canon, Shrila Prabhupada stressed the study of three particular scriptures:
• Bhagavad-Gita is considered a foundational study in spiritual conclusions. It is the word of God, and firmly establishes essential philosophical truths.
• Shrimad-Bhagavatam is considered a graduate study; the narrations of God that describe the enchanting character of Krishna and His saintly devotees.
• Chaitanya-Charitamrita is considered the postgraduate study in spirituality. It reveals the mind of God – the inner life of Krishna, and the appreciation and attraction He feels when He is conquered by the love of His devotees []. Krishnadasa’s biography is indeed an anthology of pure devotion, lucidly describing the selfless disposition of great Vaishnavas.
Chaitanya-Charitamrita also reveals the deep compassion and munificence of God when He appears as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In our age of spiritual apathy and material allure, His propagation of nama-sankirtan offers living entities a lifeline to experience the profound happiness that comes from a relationship with God. Studying this most accurate, authentic, and philosophical biography of Shri Chaitanya will surely inspire one to take full advantage of this priceless gift.
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