Is Unlimited Nectar Pie in the Sky?

We have stated that through Krishna consciousness one can eventually reach a state of spiritual perfection where he tastes unlimited nectar at every minute. One of our readers in response to this statement expressed his view that this sounds like "pie in the sky". So is this "pie in the sky", or is it a practical reality that by becoming purely Krishna consciousness one can taste unlimited nectar at every minute? For this answer we will not speculate. We will turn instead to the authoritative Vedic wisdom where we will get the topmost enlightened guidance. There are many verses to support In the following verse the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing in His incarnation as the great king Rishabhadeva instructs His one hundred sons:

nayam deho deha-bhajam nr-loke
kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye
tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam
suddhyed yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam

"My dear sons, there is no reason to labor very hard for sense pleasure while in this human form of life; such pleasures are available to the stool-eaters [hogs]. Rather, you should undergo penances in this life by which your existence will be purified, and as a result you will be able to enjoy unlimited transcendental bliss."
--Srimad Bhagavatam 5.22

Unlimited nectar at every minute is also confirmed by Lord Sri Krishna as follows in the Bhagavad-gita:

bahya-sparsesv asaktatma
vindaty atmani yat sukham
sa brahma-yoga-yuktatma
sukham aksayam asnute

"Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme."
--Bhagavad-gita 5.21

Though we may not be able to understand how tasting unlimited nectar at every minute could be a reality, this does not mean that it is an imagination. The realness of it is confirmed in the above verses. Now we simply have to qualify ourselves to experience it.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Guru Must Have Seen Krishna's Universal Form?

I hope that you are in good health, and please receive this message to clarify my ignorance...

Is having seen the universal form of Krishna as described in the Bhagavad-gita a necessary qualification for someone to be a bona fide spiritual master? Or is it not necessary?

Please enlighten me!

Yours faithfully.

Mario E. Rodríguez

Answer: Simply He Must Be a First Class Devotee

It is not necessary for the spiritual master to have seen the universal form of Krishna. His qualifications are described as follows by Srila Prabhupada in the Nectar of Devotion:

The devotee in the first or uppermost class is described as follows. He is very expert in the study of relevant scriptures, and he is also expert in putting forward arguments in terms of those scriptures. He can very nicely present conclusions with perfect discretion and can consider the ways of devotional service in a decisive way. He understands perfectly that the ultimate goal of life is to attain to the transcendental loving service of Krishna, and he knows that Krishna is the only object of worship and love. This first-class devotee is one who has strictly followed the rules and regulations under the training of a bona fide spiritual master and has sincerely obeyed him in accord with revealed scriptures. Thus, being fully trained to preach and become a spiritual master himself, he is considered first class. The first-class devotee never deviates from the principles of higher authority, and he attains firm faith in the scriptures by understanding with all reason and arguments. When we speak of arguments and reason, it means arguments and reason on the basis of revealed scriptures. The first-class devotee is not interested in dry speculative methods meant for wasting time. In other words, one who has attained a mature determination in the matter of devotional service can be accepted as the first-class devotee.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari