Returning to the Eternal Religion 257

they have experienced in many births the miserable disease of material
life and have become disgusted. Therefore they are seeking higher
knowledge—they are seeking something better—and when they find
Krsna and surrender unto Him, they become mahdtmas, who are actually
situated in knowledge. This material world is just like a prison house; it is
a punishing place meant to bring us to that point of becoming disgusted,
surrendering at last to Krsna, and going back to our original nature of
eternal life in bliss and complete knowledge. Therefore it is to the credit
of these devotees that they have done what is sudurlabhah, very rare
among all men in human society.

By surrendering to Krsna one will find the final object in which to in-
vest his love: God. Love of God is present in everyone, just like fire in an
unlit match, but it is covered over. But if one somehow or other develops
his dormant love of God, and Krsna becomes his supreme adorable ob-
ject, supreme friend, supreme master, or supreme lover, than he shall
never again become disappointed or unhappy. Rather, because his loving
propensity is rightfully placed:

mac-citta mad-gata-prana
bodhayantah parasparam

kathayantas ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca

The devotee whose life is surrendered to Krsna is always enjoying ‘‘great
satisfaction and bliss,’ and he is constantly enlightened, always positive,
not negative, as you say [Bg. 10.9]. The advanced devotee is the friend of
everyone. The yoga-yukto visuddhatma, purified soul engaged in loving
devotional service to Krsna, is sarva-bhitatma-bhiitatma, dear to every-
one, and everyone is dear to him. In another place Krsna claims that yo
mad-bhaktah sa me priyah, His devotee, who is very dear to Him, advesta
sarva-bhitanam maitrah karuna eva ca, is not envious but is a kind friend
to all living entities. The devotee is supposed to be, furthermore, equal to
everyone (panditah sama-darsinah). He never discriminates, saying,
‘*This one is good, this one is bad.”’ No.

These are descriptions of the more advanced stages of Krsna con-
sciousness that devotees get by development of mature knowledge. At
present many of our students are young boys. They are learning gradu-
ally, and the process is so effective, certain, and authorized that if they
stick to it they will come to the right point, as you say, of loving. But that
love is not material, so it should not be judged on the false, sentimental
