When we take the proper cure for a disease, we usually see results, some improvement. Similarly, when we follow the path of Krsna consciousness, how do we know we're making progress? "Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja, the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava."
Krsnadasa Kaviraja lists the following twenty-six good qualities of a Vaisnava, or signs of spiritual health:
(1) He is very kind to everyone (kindness not limited to human beings; includes animals, plants, bugs... Not killing unnecessarily. A vegetarian.)
(2) He does not quarrel with anyone ( peaceful, controls anger, tolerant, forgiving)
(3) He is truthful (fixed in the Absolute Truth, accepts Krishna as the highest goal of life, cultivates spiritual knowledge, is honest, does not speculate or gamble)
(4) He is equal to everyone (does not see anyone as “friend” or “enemy”)
(5) He is faultless (careful not to make offenses, is rightly situated in his constitutional position of service to Krishna despite the human tendency to make mistakes, )
(6) He is magnanimous (charitable, hospitable, shares...),
(7) He is mild (well mannered, gentle, has people skills....).
(8) He is always clean. (internally in the heart and externally the body...)
(9) He is without false proprietorship. (nonpossesive, without material possession, does not covet or steal, non envious...)
(10) He works for everyone’s benefit. (a well wisher to all, a benefactor to all living entities, a preacher of the science of Krsna)
(11) He is satisfied (very peaceful, happy, content.... )
(12) He is always surrendered to Krsna (completely attached to Krsna, accepts Krsna as He is; obedient, dependent on Krsna alone, fearless...)
(13) He has no material hankering (has no material desires, free from lust...)
(14) He is simple, (meek, free from material endeavor...)
(15) He is fixed (steady, tolerant, determined...)
(16) He is self controlled ( has conquered the sensual activities, in control of the six enemies of the mind, celibate..)
(17) He does not eat more than required. (to maintain body and soul together, a balanced eater, moderate in eating...)
(18) He is sober, (sane, takes no intoxication, is not influenced by the Lord’s illusory energy. never mad after material identity, never bewildered...)
(19) He is respectful (offers respect to everyone, mannerly, always respectful to others..)
(20) He is humble (does not desire nor demand respect for himself, prideless...)
(21) He is grave. (serious..)
(22) He is compassionate (sympathetic, merciful....)
(23) He is friendly. (via six loving exchanges...)
(24) He is poetic. (appreciates, keeps, reads, recites, and memorizes scripture; writes realizations...)
(25) He is expert. (in all activities, knows the art of work, works nicely and attentively, has a service attitude...)
(26) He is silent. (speaks only about Krishna or things in relation to the Lord and His service, lives and meditates upon all that is studied and heard from sadhu and sastra)
The above was taken from these sources: Sb11.11 summary, SB 5.18.12 purport: . Also see SB 2.3.13 purport SB 3.15 .25 purport, SB 4.20.16 purport, Madhya 20 lecture
26 DIVINE QUALITIES ALSO LISTED IN GITA 16.1-3:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
HERE'S A MATCH UP OF THESE QUALITIES WITH THE ONE LISTED ABOVE:
Krsnadasa Kaviraja lists the following twenty-six good qualities of a Vaisnava, or signs of spiritual health:
(1) He is very kind to everyone (kindness not limited to human beings; includes animals, plants, bugs... Not killing unnecessarily. A vegetarian.)
(2) He does not quarrel with anyone ( peaceful, controls anger, tolerant, forgiving)
(3) He is truthful (fixed in the Absolute Truth, accepts Krishna as the highest goal of life, cultivates spiritual knowledge, is honest, does not speculate or gamble)
(4) He is equal to everyone (does not see anyone as “friend” or “enemy”)
(5) He is faultless (careful not to make offenses, is rightly situated in his constitutional position of service to Krishna despite the human tendency to make mistakes, )
(6) He is magnanimous (charitable, hospitable, shares...),
(7) He is mild (well mannered, gentle, has people skills....).
(8) He is always clean. (internally in the heart and externally the body...)
(9) He is without false proprietorship. (nonpossesive, without material possession, does not covet or steal, non envious...)
(10) He works for everyone’s benefit. (a well wisher to all, a benefactor to all living entities, a preacher of the science of Krsna)
(11) He is satisfied (very peaceful, happy, content.... )
(12) He is always surrendered to Krsna (completely attached to Krsna, accepts Krsna as He is; obedient, dependent on Krsna alone, fearless...)
(13) He has no material hankering (has no material desires, free from lust...)
(14) He is simple, (meek, free from material endeavor...)
(15) He is fixed (steady, tolerant, determined...)
(16) He is self controlled ( has conquered the sensual activities, in control of the six enemies of the mind, celibate..)
(17) He does not eat more than required. (to maintain body and soul together, a balanced eater, moderate in eating...)
(18) He is sober, (sane, takes no intoxication, is not influenced by the Lord’s illusory energy. never mad after material identity, never bewildered...)
(19) He is respectful (offers respect to everyone, mannerly, always respectful to others..)
(20) He is humble (does not desire nor demand respect for himself, prideless...)
(21) He is grave. (serious..)
(22) He is compassionate (sympathetic, merciful....)
(23) He is friendly. (via six loving exchanges...)
(24) He is poetic. (appreciates, keeps, reads, recites, and memorizes scripture; writes realizations...)
(25) He is expert. (in all activities, knows the art of work, works nicely and attentively, has a service attitude...)
(26) He is silent. (speaks only about Krishna or things in relation to the Lord and His service, lives and meditates upon all that is studied and heard from sadhu and sastra)
The above was taken from these sources: Sb11.11 summary, SB 5.18.12 purport: . Also see SB 2.3.13 purport SB 3.15 .25 purport, SB 4.20.16 purport, Madhya 20 lecture
26 DIVINE QUALITIES ALSO LISTED IN GITA 16.1-3:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
HERE'S A MATCH UP OF THESE QUALITIES WITH THE ONE LISTED ABOVE:
- fearlessness; surrendered to Krishna
- purification of one's existence; no material hankering
- cultivation of spiritual knowledge; silent
- charity; magnanimous
- self-control; controls his senses
- performance of sacrifice; works for everyone's benefit
- study of the Vedas; poetic
- austerity; does not eat more than necessary
- simplicity; simple
- nonviolence; kind
- truthfulness; truthful
- freedom from anger; does not quarrel
- renunciation; is without false proprietorship
- tranquility; equal to everyone
- aversion to faultfinding; faultless
- compassion for all living entities; compassionate
- freedom from covetousness; satisfied
- gentleness; mild
- modesty; sober
- steady determination; fixed
- vigor; expert
- forgiveness; respectful
- fortitude; gravity
- cleanliness; clean
- and freedom from envy; friendly
- and from the passion for honor; humble
