Defining the Most Perfect
Perfection is often seen as an elusive or subjective concept. However, in the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a clear, absolute definition of what it means to be "most perfect." Drawing from the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he delineates perfection in terms of the practitioner, the process, and the Supreme Lord Himself. Ultimately, to be most perfect is not to be flawless in a material sense, but to be perfectly connected to the Perfect Person, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Verdict of Gita
When Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa to distinguish between the worshippers of the impersonal Brahman and the devotees of the personal form, Kṛṣṇa gives a decisive answer. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites Bhagavad-gītā (12.2), where the Lord declares that he who fixes his mind on the personal form of God and worships with great faith is "considered by Me to be most perfect." This statement settles the debate between the personalists and impersonalists, establishing the devotee as the highest transcendentalist.
- The Blessed Lord said: He whose mind is fixed on My personal form, always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith, is considered by Me to be most perfect.
- Krsna clearly says that he who concentrates upon His personal form and who worships Him with faith and devotion is to be considered most perfect in yoga.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect.
Most Perfect Form of God
While God is one, He manifests in different degrees of completeness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the theological hierarchy of the Lord's appearances. When Kṛṣṇa is in Mathurā, He is "perfect"; in Dvārakā, He is "more perfect"; but in Goloka Vṛndāvana, as the young cowherd boy (kiśora-mūrti), He is "most perfect" (pūrṇatama). In this form, all His transcendental qualities and sweetness are fully exhibited. Consequently, the name "Kṛṣṇa," meaning "all-attractive," is considered the most perfect name of God.
- When He (Krsna) exhibits Himself in fullness, He is appreciated by great learned scholars as most perfect. When He exhibits Himself in lesser degrees, He is called very perfect. And when He exhibits still less, He is called perfect.
- God may have many thousands of names, but the most perfect name which we can give to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is Krsna. Krsna means "All-attractive." God must be all-attractive. It is not that God is attractive for a certain class of men and not attractive for others.
- Although the Lord is one in His various forms (advaitam acyutam anadim), still His form as the young enjoyer of the gopis and companion of the cowherd boys (kisora-murti) is the most perfect form.
Perfection of Process
To reach the most perfect goal, one needs the most perfect process. Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the method of receiving knowledge from higher authorities—the descending path or avaroha-panthā—as superior to direct perception. He states that the Gītā should be accepted as the "most perfect presentation of Vedic knowledge." Furthermore, for purification, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is the "most perfect process of atonement" because it uproots the very desire to sin, unlike ritualistic atonements.
- Out of the three methods of acquiring knowledge, the Vedas say that the third method, that of receiving knowledge from higher authorities, is the most perfect. Direct perception is always imperfect, especially in the conditional stage of life.
- The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one's heart completely.
- There are many different processes of becoming detached: karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, dhyana-yoga and many other processes. But the most perfect process is bhakti-yoga.
Perfect Beings in Creation
In the material creation, Śrīla Prabhupāda points to Lord Brahmā as the standard of perfection. As the first created being and supreme administrator, Brahmā possesses seventy-eight percent of the Lord's attributes in full, making him the "most perfect living being" within the universe. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that even the most perfect devotee, like Prahlāda Mahārāja or the Gosvāmīs, never thinks of themselves as perfect. Their perfection lies in their constant hankering to serve better.
- The most perfect of living beings is Brahma, the supreme administrator of one universe. He possesses seventy-eight percent of the attributes in full.
- The first creation is the most perfect or intelligent living being. This is our theory. Not theory; it is the Vedic evidence. And he got full knowledge from the Supreme.
- The more you think as imperfect, the more you make actual progress in Krishna Consciousness. This hankering after perfection is seen in even the most perfect devotees. So we should never think of being perfect at any stage.
Conclusion
True perfection is not about becoming God, but about becoming His pure servant. Śrīla Prabhupāda summarizes that the "most perfect way of life" is simply to be devoted to Kṛṣṇa's service while honestly executing one's duties. By following the most perfect process of chanting and hearing, guided by the most perfect philosophy of the Bhāgavatam, any human being can attain the most perfect platform of life—love of Godhead.
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