Prabhupāda: Generally kṛṣṇa-prema is the highest stage.
Guest (2): Is it right to say that kṛṣṇa-prema is the perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
Prabhupāda: Perfect is always. That is the highest stage. That we cannot relish. Just . . . all the rasas in relationship with Kṛṣṇa is perfect. But according to different devotees' taste . . . that I already told. Everyone says: "My relationship with Kṛṣṇa is the best."
Everyone thinks. But it is for the outsider to consider that "This stage, conjugal love, this is better than the Kṛṣṇa's relationship with His servants or with the trees and . . ." That is our calculation. But in the Kṛṣṇa field . . . that is called absolute. Every taste is as good than the other. That is oneness, absolute.
Haṁsadūta: So Prabhupāda, a neophyte devotee, he may think it might be very nice to be Kṛṣṇa's friend, but he may actually be a blade of grass, and be fully satisfied when he comes to that stage.
Prabhupāda: No. If he thinks like that, then he should cultivate that knowledge in that way. Yes. That is described in The Nectar of Devotion and Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Haṁsadūta: But that may not be his actual position. It may be something else.
Prabhupāda: No. But when, at the time of devotional service, if such impetuses come, that means he has got such relation. It is to be developed. That's all. That means the actual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is coming out gradually. It is being developed. So one has to develop it, following the footsteps of the Kṛṣṇa's friends in Vṛndāvana. These are described here. Yes. Not directly. No.
You cannot say that, "I have become Sudāmā." No. You have to follow the footsteps of Sudāmā. "I have become Mother Yaśodā." No. You have to follow the footsteps of Mother Yaśodā. That is real position. And as soon as you say: "I am Yaśodā," "I am Su . . ." then it is as good as the Māyāvādīs say "I am God." You see? So dāsa-dāsānudāsa. That process should be followed.