“whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence”–SP

Hare Krsna

Below Srila Prabhupada nicely explains what whatever intelligence we

have, that comes from God, and that amount is manifested according to

our ability which comes from surrender to Him. He also explains that the love of God or Krsna we are looking for, only comes after thorough study of sastra when we know HOW great is the Lord. This sentiment is called bhava, which develops into prema, or full love of Godhead.

The last item is Prabhupada explainging how one should select a spiritual master by whose order carrying or following we do not make mistakes !!

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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Lectures July 19 1976 NY CC Mad 20.111

So whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence; that is God’s intelligence. Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca [Bg.15.15]. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. That intelligence is coming, but the intelligence, why you’ll find different? So just like the bulb. There are fifteen–candle–power, there is fifty-candle–power, hundred-candle–power—according to the bulb, the energy is exhibited. Similarly, according to our power of reception, we can exhibit our intelligence, merit. But actually it is coming from God. Anything… The same principle. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1], the Vedānta philosophy, “Absolute Truth means the original source of everything.” Everything may be of different varieties, but the original source is Kṛṣṇa.The devotee, he can understand. By the grace of God he can understand wherefrom the energy is coming, how it is acting.… Iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ. Bhajante mām.This thing can be understood by the budhā. Budhā means one who is very intelligent, one who is in awareness of everything. He is calledbudhā. Bhāva–samanvitāḥ: “Oh, it is coming from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Then they become more and more a devotee. That is stated in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta:

siddhānta baliyā citte nā kara alasa
ihā ha–ite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa

Sentiment is no… Sentiment is bhāva, but that is after full knowledge. When you can understand Kṛṣṇa is so great, so powerful, then your devotion increases immediately. Thereforewe have to study śāstras for understanding His position, and if we understand Kṛṣṇa, then we become liberated person immediately. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janmanaiti. Janma karma ca me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. So those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they should study Kṛṣṇa scientifically, not by sentiment. After full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, when you become absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s form, that is called bhāva. Budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ.

So that bhāva stage does not come immediately. You have to practice gradually.

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu–
saṅgo ‘tha bhajana–kriyā
tato ‘nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt
tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ
athāsaktis tato bhāvaḥ
[Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]

There are stages. So, this is the beginning………..

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Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 2: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.7-11 — New York, March 2, 1966 : 660302BG.NY :

Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? .. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.