Krishna Consciousness: Love and Beauty

By Srila B. R. Sridhar dev-Goswami Maharaj

What is Krishna consciousness? Krishna consciousness means real love and
beauty. Real love and beauty must predominate; not selfishness, or exploitation.
Generally, whenever we see beauty, we think that beauty is to be exploited, but
actually, beauty is the exploiter, beauty is the master, and beauty is the
controlling principle.
And what is love? Love means sacrifice for others. We should not think that
sacrifice is to be exploited by us. Who is to be the recipient of sacrifice? Is it our
party? No. We are in the group of those who sacrifice themselves: the
predominated negative party, Mahabhava’s party. The underlying principle of
love is sacrifice, but sacrifice for whom? And who is the beneficiary? Love is
the beneficiary. Everyone should contribute to the center, but no one should
draw energy from there. “Die to live.” With this spirit we should combine and
work for real love and beauty.
 
BANNER OF LOVE
 
And beauty will be victorious in the world. Love will be victorious in the world.
We will sacrifice everything to see that the banner of divine love will flutter all
over the world, for a particle of that divine love will be able to keep peace and
distribute peace in all directions. Just as fighting soldiers dedicate everything,
and give their lives so their countrymen will benefit in the future, we should
sacrifice our lives and work to bring real peace for everyone.
In Vrindavan, the land of Krishna, the standard of sacrifice is unlimited.
Devotees there are willing to risk everything for Krishna. If that principle of
sacrifice is enthroned, then peace will automatically follow.
Krishna consciousness should be enthroned above all other conceptions. All
other conceptions are meant to be subservient to Krishna consciousness. The
ideal of Vrindavan, Krishna’s abode, is above all other ideals. In theistic
comparison, the conception of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s lila is above all
other conceptions. There, theism reaches its zenith. That is our highest goal, and
step by step, that should be explained, thought out, accepted, and preached.