Love of God means

Expressions researched:
"love of God means"

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

So love of God means six things. This is the difference between other literature and Vedic literature. Here it is said, "love of God," but in the Vedic literature you will find the process of love.

Room Conversation -- April 23, 1976, Melbourne:

Guest (2): What am I giving to God?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Guest (2): Well, I want to give everything...

Prabhupāda: No, no. You want to, but practically what you are giving?

Guest (2): What am I giving now?

Prabhupāda: Yes. I mean to say, anyone. Here.... Here is a process. Just like in our temple they have dedicated everything to God, the life.

Guest (2): Well, we likewise went through a temple, a sacred place, and in there we have made covenants to give everything.

Prabhupāda: So love of God means six things. This is the difference between other literature and Vedic literature. Here it is said, "love of God," but in the Vedic literature you will find the process of love,

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ

smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ

sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

(SB 7.5.23)

Nine different processes. First of all you should hear about the glories of God, śravaṇam. Then you should preach the glories of God. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ. You should always remember God, smaraṇam. Pāda-sevanam: you should worship the Lord by worshiping, giving service to His lotus feet. But if God is imperson, where is feet? And if God is no form, then how you can remember Him?

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Love of God means God's mercy. If God is pleased, He can do anything.

Room Conversation -- April 2, 1977, Bombay:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He says he read a passage of the Bhaviṣya Mahā-Purāṇa written by Vyāsadeva three thousand years before Christ foretelling Jesus Christ's presence in the Himalayas in 78 of the Christian era, and his meeting with King Shalamoyi.(?) Are there any other prophecies in the Bhaviṣya Mahā-Purāṇa or in any other scriptures telling more accurately Jesus Christ's birthday?

Prabhupāda: Everything is accurate there.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: In that particular Purāṇa? He says he is sorry to take your very precious time, and he prays that you answer all of his questions, which you have done. So he thanks you very much for reading this letter and for your expected help. He asks one last question in a P.S., which I think is practically an important question. He says, "To practically follow Jesus Christ for a sincere searcher of the truth who does not recognize and accept the external manifestations of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is it possible to attain love of God?" No.

Prabhupāda: Love of God means God's mercy. If God is pleased, He can do anything. So that pleasure of God can be awakened by love. This is called in Sanskrit kṛpā-siddhi. Perfection out of affection. Out of mercy.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He wants to know whether it is possible to attain that affection of love for God...

Prabhupāda: No, that is not generally...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: ...without taking part in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Prabhupāda: One must follow the regulative principles and refrain from sinful activities. Then it depends on Kṛṣṇa's mercy. You cannot force Him to give you mercy. That is not possible. Mercy is mercy. You have to do your duty, and the mercy depends upon Him.