Swami Prakashanand Saraswati teaches that genuine devotion to Krishn transcends intellectual analysis and arises from heartfelt longing. By embracing God’s omnipresence and nurturing a deep emotional connection, devotees can experience divine love that surpasses worldly pleasures.
From the teachings of Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, in his own words:
Lord Krishn says in the Gita, “Man-mana bhavmadbhakto,” “Dedicate your heart and mind to Me in faith, confidence and love. Having done this, perform your regular activities and live normally, but always remain dedicated to Me.”
The motivation of your mind and heart should be to receive Gods’ love in this life. In order to do this we need to have a clear concept of what we mean when we say “God”. God in His personified form is omnipresent. His abode, grace and love are also omnipresent.
Many people think the omnipresent form of God exists only as an energy, a Divine power that animates creation. Our minds imagine an abstract existence that is somehow everywhere. We forget that God in His full potential and beauty is omnipresent. God is so near you can never be separated from His loving kindness. He is within you and beside you, so close to your heart and mind that you are unable to express in words. Holding Him in your awareness during your regular meditation, and at various times during the day, develops a loving consciousness of Him. Through remembrance of His ‘presence’ your devotion and dedication will become real and stable.
Five hundred years ago a Supreme Divine Personality appeared on this earth. He was Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a descension of Krishn. During his whole life he distributed the love of Krishn. He did not write any book, because he felt there were enough books available to read and study. He said, “You have to know how to love God, nothing else, and to love God you must forget intellectual analysis.”
Intellectual analysis or psychic transcendence are based on the rationality of your mind, whereas love for God appears only in a devotionally emotional mind, and that love gradually deepens. Any kind of intellectual or technical practice is thus an obstacle on the path of love for God. The consciousness of Divine love dawns in a humble mind when the feelings of your heart are subjected to the loving remembrance of the leelas (Divine actions) of Krishn.
We need to develop a longing for Godhead personality, desiring His love and vision. These feelings of devotion draw Him close to us. But, the true affinity for God is not something we can achieve on our own. It is a gift which is received with the grace of a living Divine personality, and to receive His grace you only have to sincerely desire God with no worldly ambitions.
The words “Divine love” have been used so much by various cults, cultures, sects and religious teachers in the world that it has lost its real meaning. In Sanskrit language Divine love is called “Prema bhakti” or “Prem ras”, which is the highest attainable bliss of Krishn love. It is not just a feeling, but is something deep and rich, something luscious, which a Saint experiences with his whole being. A reflection of that Divine sweetness experienced by a dedicated devotee surpasses all the worldly happinesses.
When we reach a certain stage in divine love consciousness, the experience of Divine love and beauty slowly grows in our mind and stays in our heart. This experience of ‘bhao’ is unbelievably great. Only then, are we able to guess a little about the greatness of the power of Divine love and the Divine beauty of Krishn.
Through selfless devotion anyone on this earth can find Krishn love. Krishn does not exclusively belong to any religion, cult, culture, or nationality, so devotion to Krishn is like following a universal religion and accepting a universal truth, because Krishn is that eternal truth “satyam param dheemahih” (the Bhagwatam, first canto), which your soul, your inner conscience was longing for since eternity.
The definition of the word ‘Krishn’ and its relative Divine status will be explained in the coming issue.
Conclusion: Swami Prakashanand Saraswati illuminates the essence of divine love by emphasizing that true devotion manifests through sincere mental and emotional connection with Krishn. By fostering a deep, heartfelt longing for God and embracing His omnipresence, one can experience the profound sweetness of divine love, which surpasses all worldly pleasures and brings one closer to the ultimate truth.