View source for Simply appreciation of the greatness of God, that is good, in God consciousness, but that is not love

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{{terms|"Simply appreciation of the greatness of God, that is good, in God consciousness, but that is not love"}}
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[[Category:Simply]]
[[Category:Appreciating God]]
[[Category:God's Greatness]]
[[Category:That Is]]
[[Category:Good]]
[[Category:God Consciousness]]
[[Category:That is Not Love]]
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="EveningDarsanaAugust91976Tehran_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="251" link="Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran" link_text="Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran">
<div class="heading">Simply appreciation of the greatness of God, that is good, in God consciousness, but that is not love. The love stage is different.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran|Evening Darsana -- August 9, 1976, Tehran]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Definition of love, you can explain what is definition of love.</p>
<p>Parivrājakācārya: I can explain the definition of bhakti.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, you bring another word. But explain it, what is love. In Vedic language you get every definition. Love means two persons, both of them; beloved and the lover, is it not? The first condition of love means there must be two persons. What do you think? There must be two persons when there is question of love.</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: Yes, it's a reciprocation.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Ah. Otherwise where is love? What is this? Unless there are two persons, where is the question of love? Try to understand one step by step.</p>
<p>Ali: Does that mean one loses himself? Personality?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: What does he say?</p>
<p>Parivrājakācārya: Does that mean that one loses himself?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Why? Then where is love? Why shall I lose? I exist, you exist, then there is love. If I am lost, then with whom there will be to love?</p>
<p>Ali: I didn't mean losing the existence, but losing the self-importance.</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: Self-interest.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That is very important thing. That is important, yes. But love means two persons, there is exchange. Giving something, taking something, feeding something and to eat something, and speaking everything, no secrecy, and to know everything of the other person. When these things are transacted, then there is love. Dadāti pratigṛhṇāti bhuṅkte bhojayate caiva guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati. If I love you and if I have got some secrecy, I don't disclose to you, that is not perfect love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. This is one of the basic principles. I shall invite you to eat with me and I shall accept your invitation to eat with me. I shall give you some presentation, you shall give me some presentation. In this way love develops. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there. Otherwise, where there is question of love? To appreciate God is great, that is not love. That is simply appreciation. But when we actually give everything to God and take everything from Him, you talk with Him of your mind, He talks with you. You give Him to eat and whatever He gives you eat. In this way there is question of love. Simply appreciation of the greatness of God, that is good, in God consciousness, but that is not love. The love stage is different.</p>
<p>Ali: How can one understand God's love?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: This is the process, I've described. We have got Deity of the Lord, we offer foodstuff prepared very nicely, and whatever leftover is there, we eat. We dress very nicely with flowers, with ornaments; we give Him a nice place to sit down, to sleep. He also looks after our comfort. In this way, exchange of love.</p>
<p>Ali: Just like when there is a mutual understanding, then...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, there must be practical display.</p>
<p>Ali: Practical display.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, simply understanding will not do. That is not love, that is appreciation.</p>
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