11:
Three Levels of Devotees
One becomes qualified as a devotee on the elementary platform, the intermediate platform and the highest platform of devotional service according to the development of his sraddha [faith]. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.64)
The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. (Nectar of Instruction Text 5 purport)
1. Uttama-adhikari (beyond darkness)
The most advanced devotee sees within everything the soul of all souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Consequently he sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord and understands that everything that exists is eternally situated within the Lord. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45)
Uttama-bhakti, or unalloyed devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, involves the rendering of devotional service in a way that is favorable to the Lord. This devotional service should be free from any extraneous motive and devoid of fruitive karma, impersonal jnana and all other selfish desires. (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11)
One who is expert in logic, argument and the revealed scriptures and who has firm faith in Krishna is classified as a topmost devotee. He can deliver the whole world. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya Lila 22.65)
Vision
- Sees Lord Krishna everywhere and everything within Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.13.7 purport)
- Doesn't see anything in the universe as _____________, because he sees everything as the expanded potency of the Lord.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Just as a lusty man sees sensuous women everywhere, he sees Krishna consciousness everywhere (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Correctly sees that just as he is suffering from separation from Krishna, so all the living entities are suffering due to ___________ _____ _________. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
Desire
- Overwhelmed by the desire to see the Lord, to serve and associate with the Lord, so much so that he is attracted to nothing else (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Always thinking of how to expand the Krishna consciousness movement. (Nectar Of Instruction 5, purport)
- No interest in anything but ________ _________.
(Nectar Of Instruction, 5 purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.42 purport)
Behaviour
- Out of love becomes angry when the Lord is offended (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Offers respect to all living entities, sees himself as the most _____
- Can present conclusions with perfect discretion (Nectar of Devotion)
- Strictly follows the rules and regulations (Nectar of Devotion)
- Sincerely obeys the bona fide spiritual master (Nectar of Devotion)
- Never _________ from the principles of higher authority (Nectar of Devotion)
- Avoids blaspheming others (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
Qualities
- Free from the tendency to ______ separately from the Lord. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Empowered to inspire and elevate the devotees in other levels (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Expert in studying the scriptures and putting forward arguments in terms of scripture. (Nectar of Devotion)
- Perfectly understands the ultimate goal of life (Nectar of Devotion)
- Knows that Krishna is the only object of __________ and ______. (Nectar of Devotion)
- Has attained the realised state of unalloyed Krishna consciousness. (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
- Fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself
- Has firm _____ in the scriptures
- Has attained mature determination (Nectar of Devotion)
- Heart is completely _______ (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
- The association and service of such a maha-bhagavata most desirable. (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
2. Madhyama-adhikari (middle)
An intermediate or second-class devotee, called madhyama-adhikari, offers his love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a sincere friend to all the devotees of the Lord, shows mercy to ignorant people who are innocent and disregards those who are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46)
A person whose conclusive knowledge of the sastras is not very strong but who has developed firm faith in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and who is also undeterred in the execution of his prescribed devotional service should be considered a madhyama-adhikari. Such a person is very fortunate. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.67)
Vision
- Discriminates according to the four categories:
- The _______ (he ___________, serves, and loves)
- The ___________ (he develops ___________)
- The ___________ (he wants to ______ and uplift)
- The __________ (he ________)
- Discriminates according to a living entity's particular position (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Discerns between devotees and nondevotees (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Discerns between an innocent man and a man who is not. (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Knows that Krishna is God (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Sees the Lord as the cause of all causes and the chief goal of everyone's _________ propensity. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Sees the ____________ as his only friends within this morbid world (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Cannot perceive the presence of the Supreme Lord within all living beings (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Realisation of the all-pervading feature of the Supreme Lord is imperfect. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Has a general sense that everyone is ultimately meant to be a __________ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Aware that everything belongs to the _______ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
Desire
- Wants to develop love for Krishna. (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Wants to avoid wasting _______ without serving Krishna. (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Wants to live in _____ _______ (e.g. ___________, _________ and _________, places where ________ lived). (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Eager to bring innocent people within the shelter of Vaisnava society. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Eager to preach to the innocent conditioned souls (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
Behaviour
- Avoids associating with the self-proclaimed enemies of God (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport) and the atheistic class of men so that he will not become disturbed or polluted by their association. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Indifferent to those who are ___________ of the Supreme Lord. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Will not associate with those who are ____________ to the message of the Supreme Lord, Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Seriously engages in the service of the Lord (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
- May be sometimes unable to offer __________ on the strength of revealed scripture to an opposing party. (Nectar of Devotion)
- Avoids feelings of hatred (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Fulfills the Lord's mission stated in Bhagavad-gita 4.8.
- Extends himself as the right hand of the uttama-adhikari, vowing to work for the _______ of others and offering to help in ___________ love of Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- Tries to use ___________ in the service of Krishna (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
Qualities
- Has a special ______ for chanting the Hare Krishna mantra (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Staunchly faithful (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport).
- Although not expert in arguing on the strength of revealed scripture, he has firm _____ in the objective and in the procedure of devotional service unto Krishna (Nectar of Devotion and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.71 purport)
- A candidate for further advancement in devotional service. (Nectar of Instruction 5 purport)
- Never becomes _______ of another living entity (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.46 purport)
- May become ___________ by association with atheistic men. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
3. Kanistha-adhikari (unsteady)
A devotee who faithfully engages in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not behave properly toward other devotees or people in general is called a prakrta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee, and is considered to be in the lowest position. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47)
One whose faith is soft and pliable is called a neophyte, but by gradually following the process, he will rise to the platform of a first-class devotee. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.69)
Vision
- Mistakens his material expertise as a sign of ___________. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Does not necessarily recognize the decision of the revealed scripture. (Nectar of Devotion)
- Unaware that Krishna is ___________, the He has the power to exist ________ a church or temple (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Unaware that other devotees are more advanced. Cannot understand the exalted position of the devotees. Entire knowledge of the Lord is limited to the ______. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- In the bodily concept of life (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Sees devotional service merely as the religious aspect of life and thinks that life has many enjoyable and worthwhile non-devotional aspects. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Sees himself as the middle point. Others are a ___________ in his service to Krishna.
Behaviour
- Does not properly distinguish between ___________ and _____________and therefore never worships the pure devotees of the Lord (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Engages especially in worshiping the Supreme Lord in the temple, but is indifferent to the Lord's ___________. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Worships the Deity in the temple (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport); simply concentrates on the Deity (Teachings of Lord Kapila 15)
- Does not properly respect other devotees; sometimes because of his false pride, he criticizes the more advanced devotees of the Lord, neglects them or simply has no understanding of their exalted position. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- In the name of compassion or kindness, approves of the nondevotional activities of materialistic men. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- May fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced or strongly situated. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.71 purport)
Qualities
- Can help ordinary living entities by his ___________, since he at least has the ________ that Krishna is God. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.45 purport)
- Attached to performing religious ceremonies and worshiping the Deity
- Faith is weak and can be changed by someone else with strong ___________. (Nectar of Devotion)
- Rudimentary faith in Krishna (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Puffed up by his own ceremonial worship; cannot imagine that anyone is more pious or religious than he (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Cannot understand the madhyama or uttama standard of devotional service (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Infatuated by the __________ ____________ of so-called great materialistic persons; attracted by __________ __________ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Can be disturbed if a second-class devotee criticizes the nondevotees. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Ignorant of the higher realms of devotional service and the unlimited transcendental bliss of Krishna consciousness (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Useless for practical preaching work unless he comes to a higher platform of understanding. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport)
- Sometimes attracted to karma, jnana, or yoga. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.71 purport)