introduction 5

to the sun and moon in that They dissipate the darkness of the material world. In
this instance both the sun and moon have risen together, and it is proper to offer
obeisances directly to Lord Caitanya and Nityananda.

In the Western world where the glories of Lord Caitanya are relatively unknown,
one may inquire, ‘‘Who is Krsna Caitanya?’’ The scriptural conclusion in answer to
that question is that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Generally in the
Upanisads the Supreme Absolute Truth is described in an impersonal way, but the
personal aspect of the Absolute Truth is mentioned in the /Sopanisad, where, after
a description of the all-pervading, we find the following verse:

hiranmayena patrena
satyasyapihitam mukham

tat tvam pusann apayrnu
satya-dharmaya drstaye

“O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your
dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure
devotee.” (Sri [Sopanisad, Mantra 15)

The impersonalists do not have the power to go beyond the effulgence of God
and arrive at the personality from whom this effulgence is emanating. At the end
of Sopanisad, however, there is a hymn to the Personality of Godhead. It is not that
the impersonal Brahman is denied; it is also described, but that Brahman is con-
sidered to be the glaring effulgence of the body of Caitanya. In other words, Krsna
Caitanya is the basis of the impersonal Brahman. It is also stated by Krsna in
Bhagavaa-gita that the impersonal Brahman rests on Him (brahmano hi pratisthaham,
Bg. 14.27). The Paramatma, or Supersoul, which is present within the heart of
every living entity and within every atom of the universe, is but the partial repre-
sentation of Caitanya. Krsna Caitanya is therefore the basis of Brahman and the
Supreme Personality of Godhead as well. As the Supreme He is full in six opulences:
wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. In short, we should
know that He is Krsna, God, and nothing is equal to or greater than Him. There is
no superior to be conceived. He is the Supreme Person.

It was Ripa Gosvami, a confidential devotee taught for more than ten days
continuously by Lord Caitanya, who wrote:

namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsndya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah

“I! offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya
who is more magnanimous than any other avatara, even Krsna Himself, because He
is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given—pure love of Krsna.”’

It is not that Caitanya teaches a long and elaborate path to God realization. He
iscompletely spiritual, and He begins from the point of surrender to Krsna. He does
not pursue the paths of karma-yoga or jfana-yoga or hatha-yoga but begins at the
