Open Book Assessment
Personal application
The differences between the beauty of the Lord and the fleeting ,temporary
material beauty of this material world.---
In this world we certainly see beauty in nature, objects, and people. However, nature has its ugly
side, objects become less attractive with repeated viewing, and people lose their physical beauty
with age. All beauty in the material world is inherently temporary.
Is there a permanent beauty by which one never becomes satiated? Yes. The scriptures inform us
of an eternal spiritual world where the people and objects are eternally fresh and beautiful. Srila
Prabhupada writes, “The law of satiation acts materially, but there is no scope for it in the
spiritual realm.” (Bhagavatam 1.11.25, Purport) Never will the passage of time deteriorate the
beauty of the spiritual realm, because time has no influence there.
The prime example of spiritual beauty is Krishna.
nityam nirikshamananam
yad api dvarakaukasam
na vitripyanti hi drisha
shriyo dhamangam achyutam
“The inhabitants of Dvaraka were regularly accustomed to look upon the reservoir of all beauty,
the infallible Lord, yet they were never satiated.” (Bhagavatam 1.11.25)
Elsewhere Srila Prabhupada writes, “The most beautiful object in the material world may be
compared to the blue lotus flower or the full moon in the sky, but even the lotus flower and the
moon were defeated by the beauty of the bodily features of Lord Krishna. . . .” (Bhagavatam
3.2.13, Purport)
The results of being attracted to each of them.
Things that appear beautiful in this world are not necessarily beneficial for us. To believe that a
temporary thing can give us permanent happiness is unfavorable to our wellbeing. Therefore the
scriptures repeatedly mention that attachment to the temporary beauty in this world is entangling,
binding one to the cycle of repeated birth and death.
The beauty of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, however, is eternal, as are His
other main opulences: strength, fame, wealth, knowledge, and renunciation (Vishnu Purana
6.5.47). All living entities in their pure state are attracted to that eternally beautiful person –
Krishna. In our impure state that attraction is diverted to material beauty, a reflection of spiritual
beauty. Temporary, material beauty satiates and entangles us, while permanent, spiritual beauty
elevate us and never satiates us. Bhakti-yoga consists of worshiping the transcendentally
beautiful Krishna and thus elevating oneself from the material realm to the spiritual realm.
How to maintain the attraction to the Lord by the concept of 'Higher Taste'.
The attraction to the beauty of the lord is through the hearing in association of the
devotees is possible. Right example for this is mother Rukmini..she was hearing
the different pastimes of the the lord through aural reception , then she fall in love
with him. …mother Rukmini says in the letter “Sri Rukmiṇi said [in her letter, as read
by the brahmana]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears
of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which
fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O
Kṛṣṇa.
O Mukunda, You are equal only to Yourself in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge,
youthfulness, wealth and influence. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all mankind.
What aristocratic, sober-minded and marriageable girl of a good family would not choose You as
her husband when the proper time has come?”
so those who would like maintain attraction to the lord by the concept of Higher
taste then they should recite and remember the lord’s beauty from scriptures like
Brahma-Samhita.
Personal relevance --- personal steps being taken to develop the higher taste and
develop attraction to the Lord.---
Although descriptions of Krishna’s beauty are fascinating, we may rightfully wonder how we
can overcome our own attraction to the world’s enticements and achieve the coveted vision of
Krishna’s spiritual beauty. We can begin by remembering that even the flickering beauty of this
world has its origin in Krishna. The sunrise, the fragrant flower, the taste of water, or anything
else of value can remind us of Krishna and thus act as an agent for our spiritual enlightenment.
Furthermore, by hearing and chanting about Krishna in the company of devotees and by
worshiping His Deity form in the temple, we can accelerate our spiritual advancement. This
combination of pleasurable devotional activities will very surely and effectively raise us to the
platform of pure love for Krishna, enabling us to view Him face to face and enjoy the nectar of
His moonlike beauty.
