144 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

Thirty-fifth Chapter, 11th verse, in which it is stated. “O just see how the cranes
and swans on the water are singing the glories of the Lord! And they are medi-
tating, standing in the water, worshipping the Supreme Lord.” There is another
verse in Srimad Bhagwatam, Second Canto, Fourth Chapter, in which it is stated:
“Even the aborigines and uncivilized human beings like Kiratas, Huns, Andhra,
Pulinda, Pukksa, Abhira, Kank, Yuvana and Khasa, and many other human
beings in the lower species of life—all can be purified simply by taking center of
the pure devotees.” So Sukadeva Goswami offered his respectful obeisances
unto the Lord, Vishnu, Whose devotees can work so wonderfully.

Another meaning of Driti is to realize oneself as elevated. In that position
one feels himself free from all miseries, and is elevated to the highest standard
of life. Therefore, all devotees of Krishna in full Krishna Consciousness are free
from all kinds of material pleasures. They are full with the service of the Lord,
and they are always jolly, being engaged in such transcendental service. They
are experienced men of happiness. They are so happy that they do not even
desire to be promoted to the spiritual planets, because they are happy in every
sphere of life. Being fully in the transcendental service of the Lord, they do
not desire any material things or material sense pleasures. There is another verse
spoken by the Goswamis in which it is stated, “Persons who have fixed up their
moving senses in the service of the Supreme Lord can be called peaceful.”

And so, Atmarama means that even the birds, even the beasts, even the
fools—everyone—becomes attracted by the transcendental qualities of Krishna,
and they engage in His service, and therefore become liberated.

Still another meaning of Atma is “intelligence.” One who has special intel-
ligence is also called Atmarama. Such Atmaramas with special intelligence are
of two kinds: One is the learned sage, and another is the fool, one without
book knowledge. But both of them may have the opportunity of associating
with the pure devotee. The foolish Atmaramas can also give up everything,
and in pure devotional service engage themselves in Krishna Consciousness.
In the Srimad Bhagwatam, it is said that the Lord is the Origin of everything,
and that everything emanates from Him. Anyone who is actually intelligent
can understand the Supreme Lord Krishna as the Source of everything, and thus
engages himself in His service. There is another verse in Srimad Bhagwatam,
Second Canto, Seventh Chapter, 45th verse: “What to speak of persons who
are intelligent enough by study of the Vedas—even less intelligent persons,
like the woman, the laborer class and the Huna savarapi, the birds, the beasts—
everyone can achieve the highest perfectional stage of life.” It is stated in the
Bhagavad Gita, Tenth Chapter, 1oth verse, that when a person becomes highly
