Spiritual stalwarts

Expressions researched:
"spiritual stalwart" |"spiritual stalwarts"

Renunciation Through Wisdom

Many spiritual stalwarts have commented upon pure devotional service

Renunciation Through Wisdom, 2.6: Undeviating concentration on the Supreme Lord is the first sign of pure devotion. In other words, a pure devotee is one who wards off all desires and thoughts not related to unflinching devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Many spiritual stalwarts have commented upon pure devotional service. For example, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the foremost of the great spiritual preceptors in the time of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, wrote in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11]:

anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà

jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam

ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-

śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttama

[Cc. Madhya 19.167]

One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.

It is strongly recommended that one simply follow in the footsteps of spiritual stalwarts

Renunciation Through Wisdom, 5.1: It is strongly recommended that one simply follow in the footsteps of spiritual stalwarts who act according to the scriptural injunctions and the spiritual guidelines given by saintly souls and guru.

Lord Caitanya is the unchallenged spiritual stalwart who propagated the process of surrender to Kṛṣṇa

Renunciation Through Wisdom, 5.1: Only by the Lord's mercy can one fathom the Supreme Godhead. That same Supreme Personality benignly reveals the truth about Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā. This text is the essence of all the Vedic scriptures and is the synthesis of all conflicting "isms." Lord Caitanya is the unchallenged spiritual stalwart who propagated the process of surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the conclusion of all the Bhagavad-gītā's teachings. Those who follow in His footsteps are the real yogīs and devotees.