He lost his faith in Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya's sankirtana movement because he didn't see "miracles."
He sent me this video so I could see what kind of miracles he had expected from Hare Krishna but didn't see:
LIFE WITHOUT LIMBS
Indeed the man in the video is a miracle. He has spiritual strength and has been able to become detached from identifying himself with the body. His faith in a Pure devotee, Jesus, has allowed him to realize the Lord within the heart. He is spirit filled. This is real. And those that make that connection with Jesus will also become spirit filled. That is the preaching of Jesus. Very simple and direct. Offering liberation. Salvation. This is attractive to people since people are suffering so much from identification with the material body and mind and are unable to access the Lord within their own heart. It is a miracle.
Beyond the miracle of salvation is devotional service. Actually salvation is a by product of devotional service and can be automatically achieved by becoming conscious of Krishna. Becoming conscious of Krishna offers infinitely more than liberation or salvation alone. After salvation what are the eternal activities? What is the spiritual world like? Who is there in the spiritual world with God? What is God like? etc. These are available in Krishna consciousness with salvation as a by-product.
In either case, Jesus or Krishna consciousness, the path is only available by the mercy of a Pure devotee... Either Jesus or the pure representative of the disciplic succession coming directly from Krishna. In either case the living representative is there. The enlightened spirit-filled followers of Jesus who carry the message of salvation and lberation by living example, or the followers in line of disciplic succession from Krishna who are living representatives of Krishna due their being filled with the spirit of pure devotion.
So Holy Ghost or Divine Spirit of Devotion. Both are good. Of the two the Divine Spirit of Devotion is the Lord's personal pleasure energy. Therefore there are an infinity of loving moods and exchanges available. Eternal unlimited bliss not just for the devotee like the concept of heavenly delight for one's own pleasure alone but for Krishna and the devotees together to share in ecstasy.
The pure devotees have put their realizations into writing. "Bhagavad gita", "Srimad Bhagavatam", "Chaitanya Charitamrta" are especially for us now. But to unlock the devotional potency that is in them requires the mercy of a pure devotee.
A pure devotee is someone in whom Krishna is fully manifest. Paramatma is there in the heart of everyone but in the heart of the pure devotee that Paramatma is expanded into Krishna Himself who is attracted by the pure love and devotion of that devotee. Krishna is fully manifest there inside the pure devotee.
Jesus is a servant of the Lord. He has a specific service. Offer salvation. He does not give devotional service. God Himself remains somewhat of a mystery and loving relationship with God is limited to a vague idea of a Father who supplies everything.
Lord Chaitanya is the most recent incarnation of the Lord Himself and is giving the highest mood of loving exchange. Person to person. Eye to eye. Cheek to cheek. So to speak. The Personality of Godhead. Salvation is automatically included.
Of all devotional service hearing and chanting are the most important. The Mahamantra is the sound incarnation of Krishna. But also reading the writings left for us by the pure devotees and repeating what we are reading. It is not for just mental learning. Hearing and chanting is itself devotional service and pleases the Lord within the heart.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
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