Category:Aptitude
Theme Analysis
In the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, aptitude is discussed on two levels: the ontological status of the soul and the practical application of individual talents. Ontologically, the individual soul (jīva) is distinct from the Lord because the soul has the aptitude to be subordinated by nescience and material contamination, whereas the Lord is always free. However, the soul also possesses a dormant aptitude for serving the Absolute Truth, which can be uncovered by the mercy of the spiritual master. Unlike material knowledge, which requires personal ability and a "researching aptitude," spiritual knowledge depends on mercy. Practically, Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages devotees to dovetail their natural aptitudes—whether for hearing, reading, or learning languages—into the service of Kṛṣṇa. He warns that impersonalism kills this natural aptitude for devotion, whereas Kṛṣṇa consciousness purifies and engages it.
- The Marginal Position: The soul is taṭasthā, meaning it has the aptitude to either stay in the pure state or become contaminated by matter. This distinguishes the jīva from God.
- Utilization of Talent: Natural inclinations, such as an aptitude for languages or hearing stories, should not be suppressed but utilized in preaching and hearing Kṛṣṇa's pastimes.
- Mercy vs. Ability: Material advancement depends on personal researching aptitude, but spiritual progress relies on the mercy of the guru.
- Varieties of Rasa: Every devotee has a specific spiritual aptitude for a particular relationship with the Lord, and Kṛṣṇa reciprocates with them accordingly.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Aptitude - The Soul's Tendency to Serve.
Subcategories
This category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total.
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Pages in category "Aptitude"
The following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total.
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- For advancement of material knowledge there is a need for personal ability and researching aptitude, but in the case of spiritual knowledge, all progress depends more or less on the mercy of the spiritual master
- From the womb of Matrka, the wife of Aryama, were born many learned scholars. Among them Lord Brahma created the human species, which are endowed with an aptitude for self-examination
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- I have noted that you also have the aptitude for Bengali language, so you can learn this nicely and then you will be able to preach in Bengal in the native language. It would be very effective. Also, you can chant the Gita-Gan in Bengali
- I requested Pradyumna to learn Sanskrit very seriously. He has got the aptitude, and I hope he may come out very successful
- Impersonalism and voidism kills the natural aptitude of devotion which is lying dormant in everyone's heart
- It is said that Lord Krsna, in relation with His devotees, accepts all kinds of devotional service according to the aptitude of the devotee. In this way, Krsna reciprocates to a devotee's needs
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- The aptitude for hearing and reading is better utilized in hearing and reading of the Lord's activities. This will give one all-around benefit.
- The conditioned soul has a natural aptitude to hear something about other conditioned souls in the form of fiction, drama and novel. That inclination to hear something about others may be utilized in hearing the pastimes of the Lord
- The soul is fundamentally pure but he has an aptitude to come to the impure state of material contamination. He is therefore called tatastha or marginal. He has got the liberty of staying within the pure state or becoming contaminated. That is his choice
- There are different kinds of devotees who have different aptitudes and relationships with the Supreme Lord. Any one relationship with the Lord is as good as any other because the central point is Krsna
- These three Deities (Sri Radha-Madana-mohana, Sri Radha-Govindadeva and Sri Radha-Gopinathaji) are the life and soul of the Bengali Vaisnavas, or Gaudiya Vaisnavas, who have a natural aptitude for residing in Vrndavana
- This (perpetual freedom from all material contaminations) distinguishes the Lord from the individual, common living entities who have the aptitude for being subordinated by nescience and thus becoming materially designated