Real Love and Beauty

By Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, from The Search For Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Art by Radhe Gendron.

What is Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Kṛṣṇa consciousness means real love and beauty. Real love and beauty must predominate; not selfishness, or exploitation. Generally, whenever we see beauty, we think that beauty is to be exploited, but actually, beauty is the exploiter, beauty is the master, and beauty is the controlling principle.

And what is love? Love means sacrifice for others. We should not think that sacrifice is to be exploited by us. Who is to be the recipient of sacrifice? Is it our party? No. We are in the group of those who sacrifice themselves: the predominated negative party, Mahābhāva’s party. The underlying principle of love is sacrifice, but sacrifice for whom? And who is the beneficiary? Love is the beneficiary. Everyone should contribute to the Centre, but no one should draw energy from there. “Die to live.” With this spirit, we should combine and work for real love and beauty.

And beauty will be victorious in the world. Love will be victorious in the world. We will sacrifice everything to see that the banner of divine love will flutter all over the world, for a particle of that divine love will be able to keep peace and distribute peace in all directions. Just as fighting soldiers dedicate everything and give their lives so their countrymen will benefit in the future, we should sacrifice our lives and work to bring real peace for everyone.

In Vṛndāvan, the land of Kṛṣṇa, the standard of sacrifice is unlimited. Devotees there are willing to risk everything for Kṛṣṇa. If that principle of sacrifice is enthroned, then peace will automatically follow.

Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be enthroned above all other conceptions. All other conceptions are meant to be subservient to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The ideal of Vṛndāvan, Kṛṣṇa’s abode, is above all other ideals. In theistic comparison, the conception of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s līlā is above all other conceptions. There, theism reaches its zenith. That is our highest goal, and step by step, that should be explained, thought out, accepted, and preached.