Swami Prakashanand Saraswati on Material, Devotional and Divine Love

Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, a revered spiritual master, devoted his life to guiding seekers toward true love for Krishn. His teachings emphasize the difference between worldly attachments and divine devotion, showing how real bliss begins only when the soul turns to God. In the sections below he explains the contrast between material, devotional, and divine love.

According to Swami Prakashanand Saraswati..

If a soul who is longing for God realization finds a real Saint, he receives his vibrations. These are received on the base of his own effort, faith, dedication, surrender and longing. This becomes the devotional experience of a devotee. This blissfulness is different from the experiences of this world, because it is related to Krishn, not the world.

You experience enjoyment through your senses. Such experiences have their own character. Devotional love also has its own character. Both are experienced on the base of emotions, yet one refers to the material field, the other, to the devotional field. What you receive from them differs. If the object of love is a worldly person, you will receive the benefit of the qualities of that person. Any amount of sincere love in the world will only give you a material consequence.

In the Divine world, what matters is who you love, not the mode or style of love. In the material world, the mode can be good or bad. For example, you love your wife this is good, acceptable; you have an affair - this is bad, morally unacceptable. Whether the mode is good or bad, if you love, attachment is the cause. Still, moral laws stress right attachment. The effect of worldly attachment is worldly qualities. The effect of spiritual attachment is devotion, devotional qualities. There is a science behind this.

Your mind has a quality of receiving and giving. When you are attached to anyone, you receive the vibrations of that person naturally in your mind, whether he is physically close or far. When you think of that person, you are in union with that person mentally, and you receive his qualities. For example, if a spiritual guide has no Divine power, his devotees will not receive devotional blissfulness merely on the basis of their faith. Just as with every morsel you eat, your sensation of fullness grows, so through devotion you immediately receive some blissfulness. If you, the path, and your Guide are right, you receive an immediate effect. This experience happens immediately, and it is called bhao bhakti.

When bhao rises in the heart, your heart melts and a few tears come. When you are intellectual, your heart is very hard and your mind is filled with negativities. It melts only in worldly emotions. Divine affinity melts the heart and from this you receive devotional experiences.

Both devotional and material emotions are experiences on the emotional level. The pleasure received from worldly attachments and emotions excites your conscious and subconscious mind and develops anxiety-filled desire that disturbs your peacefulness. It has been compared to heat. Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji compares bhao to moonlight. Affinity and love for Krishn cools your anxieties, quiets your stress and gives you peace. The experience of devotional love that arises from your devotion, the Grace of your Spiritual Master and your dedication starts from the base of your mind.

Roop Goswami explains there are three kinds of devotees: (1) those with a good heart, but no understanding, (2) those with some understanding, and (3) those who have perfect philosophical under-standing. The last group is the best. They know, "This is my path." With such unshakable faith, they will find Krishn one day.

Conclusion

Through Swami Prakashanand Saraswati’s wisdom, we learn that while worldly love brings temporary results, devotional love opens the door to eternal peace and true happiness with Krishn. His teachings remind us that with faith, surrender, and the grace of a genuine Saint, the soul can rise beyond material bonds and taste divine bliss.