138 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

tive stumbling block for realization of the Supreme Lord. But, somehow or
other, if somebody comes to Krishna and begins to hear about Him, Krishna
is so kind that He awards him His Lotus Feet as a center for the devotee. Such
a devotee or transcendentalist forgets everything and engages himself in the
devotional service of the Lord.

For anyone who comes to the Lord in devotional service, or in full Krishna
Consciousness, the reward is the Supreme. Once engaged for the Supreme,
he will no longer ask for anything, as does the distressed man and he who
desires material possessions. The method of devotional service, the service
itself, association with pure devotees in the causeless mercy of the Lord—these
three things can act so wonderfully that, whether the devotee is a distressed
soul or in want of material possessions or inquisitive—or even if he is a wise
man cultivating knowledge—he can give up all activities, and his mind becomes
absorbed in Krishna.

The summary is that, henceforward, whatever meaning would apply
for all the words in the Aftmarama verse will be meant only for Krishna.

So far, Lord Chaitanya has spoken only of the introduction to the Atmarama
verse. Now he will explain its real position:

In the cultivation of knowledge there are two kinds of transcendentalists.
One of them is the worshipper of the impersonal Brahman, and the other is the
desirer of liberation. Monists worship the impersonal feature of Brahman,
and therefore they are called the worshippers of Brahman. The worshippers
of Brahman are divided into three further stages: the neophyte practitioner,
one who is absorbed in Brahman realization, and one who has actually realized
himself as Brahman. If devotional service is added, the knower of Brahman
can then become liberated. Otherwise, there is no possibility.

Anyone who is fully engaged in devotional service in Krishna Conscious-
ness is understood to be already a soul realized in Brahman. Devotional service
is so strong that one is attracted to Krishna even from the process of Brahman
worship. The Lord awards such a devotce the perfection of a spiritual body,
and he is eternally engaged in the transcendental quality of Krishna. When
he understands and becomes attracted by transcendental qualities, he whole-
heartedly becomes engaged in devotional service. For example, the four Kuma-
ras and Sukadeva Goswami were liberated souls from the very beginning,
and still, later in life, they became attracted to the Pastimes of Krishna—and
they became devotees. Devotees like the four Kumaras—one of whom, Sanaka
Kumara, was attracted by the flavor of the flowers offered to Krishna—were
all attracted by the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and thus became
