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Intermediate devotees

Expressions researched:
"intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee" |"intermediate devotee" |"intermediate devotees" |"intermediate or inferior devotee" |"intermediate or second-class devotee" |"intermediate, second-class devotee"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 3

The intermediate devotee understands who God is.
SB 3.24.46, Purport:

There are three kinds of devotees—the neophyte devotee, the intermediate devotee and the advanced devotee. The neophyte devotee does not understand the techniques of devotional science, but simply offers devotional service to the Deity in the temple; the intermediate devotee understands who God is, who is a devotee, who is a nondevotee and who is innocent, and he deals with such persons differently.

SB Cantos 10.14 to 12 (Translations Only)

SB 11.2.46, Translation:

An intermediate or second-class devotee, called madhyama-adhikārī, 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.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Madhya-lila

One who has attained the intermediate stage is not very advanced in śāstric knowledge, but he has firm faith in the Lord.
CC Madhya 16.72, Purport:

"One who has attained the intermediate stage is not very advanced in śāstric knowledge, but he has firm faith in the Lord. Such a person is very fortunate to be situated on the intermediate platform." (CC Madhya 22.67)

rati-prema-tāratamye bhakta-taratama

"Attraction and love for God are the ultimate goal of devotional service. The degrees of such attraction and love distinguish the different stages of devotion—neophyte, intermediate and perfectional." (CC Madhya 22.71) An intermediate devotee is greatly attracted to chanting the holy name, and by chanting he is elevated to the platform of love. If one chants the holy name of the Lord with great attachment, he can understand his position as an eternal servant of the spiritual master, other Vaiṣṇavas and Kṛṣṇa Himself. Thus the intermediate Vaiṣṇava considers himself kṛṣṇa-dāsa, Kṛṣṇa's servant. He therefore preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness to innocent neophytes and stresses the importance of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. An intermediate devotee can identify the nondevotee or motivated devotee. The motivated devotee or the nondevotee are on the material platform, and they are called prākṛta. The intermediate devotee does not mix with such materialistic people. However, he understands that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everything related to Him are on the same transcendental platform. Actually none of them are mundane.

An intermediate devotee should always be eager to hear the mahā-bhāgavata and serve him.
CC Madhya 16.74, Purport:

A neophyte and an intermediate devotee should always be eager to hear the mahā-bhāgavata and serve him in every respect. The neophyte and intermediate devotees can gradually rise to the platform of uttama-adhikārī and become first-class devotees.

According to one's faith, one is classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee.
CC Madhya 22.64, Translation and Purport:

“A faithful devotee is a truly eligible candidate for the loving service of the Lord. According to one's faith, one is classified as a topmost devotee, an intermediate devotee or an inferior devotee.

The word śraddhāvān (faithful) means understanding Kṛṣṇa to be the summum bonum—the eternal truth and absolute transcendence. If one has full faith in Kṛṣṇa and confidence in Him, one becomes eligible to discharge devotional service confidentially. According to one's faith, one is a topmost, intermediate or inferior devotee.

He who has firm faith is called an intermediate or second-class devotee.
CC Madhya 22.68, Translation and Purport:

“"He who does not know scriptural argument very well but who has firm faith is called an intermediate or second-class devotee."

This verse appears in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.18).

The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service.
CC Madhya 22.73, Translation and Purport:

“‘An intermediate, second-class devotee shows love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is friendly to all devotees and is very merciful to neophytes and ignorant people. The intermediate devotee neglects those who are envious of devotional service.

This is also a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.46). This statement was made by the great sage Nārada while he was speaking to Vasudeva about devotional service. This subject was originally discussed between Nimi, the King of Videha, and the nine Yogendras.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that one who has full love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who maintains a good friendship with the Lord’s devotees is always callous to those who envy Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s devotees. Such a person is to be considered an intermediate devotee.
CC Madhya 22.74, Purport:

This verse is also from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.47). Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that one who has full love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who maintains a good friendship with the Lord's devotees is always callous to those who envy Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa's devotees. Such a person is to be considered an intermediate devotee. He becomes a first-class devotee when, in the course of advancing in devotional service, he feels an intimate relationship with all living entities, seeing them as part and parcel of the Supreme Person.

Page Title:Intermediate devotees
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti
Created:21 Dec 07,
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=2, CC=6, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:8