According to achintya bhedabheda philosophy started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, we the living entities are qualitatively the same with God but are different quantitatively (i.e. those same Godly qualities are in us but in less amount or in small quantities).
So what are those qualities of God or Krishna, that we also possess? Would love to hear what the Hare Krishnas or ISKCON members have to say.
According to Rupa Goswami, one of the direct disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Krishna exhibits a total of sixty four qualities, of which fifty of them ordinary Jivas can possess. The following are the fifty qualities by pure devotion:
- Beautiful bodily features which automatically attract the eyes, called rucira
- Auspicious characteristics
- Extremely pleasing
- Effulgent
- Strong
- Truthful
- Fluent
- Highly Learned
- Highly intelligent
- Genius
- Artistic
- Clever
- Expert
- Grateful
- Seer by the Authority of the Scriptures
- Pure
- Self-controlled
- Steadfast
- Forbearing
- Forgiving
- Grave
- Self satisfied
- Possessing equilibrium
- Magnanimous
- Religious
- Heroic
- Compassionate
- Respectful
- Gentle
- Liberal
- Shy
- Protector of surrendered souls
- Happy
- Well-wisher to His devotees
- Controlled by love
- All auspicious
- Most Powerful
- All famous
- Popular 40 Partiality to devotees
- Very attractive to all women
- All worshipable
- All opulent
- All honorable
- The supreme controller
- Ever youthful
- Wonderful linguist
- Pleasing talker
- Determined
- Expert judge of time and circumstances
The following are the five qualities that are partially manifested in Brahma and Self-realised Jivas, and fully manifested in Sadashiva:
- Changeless
- All cognizant
- Ever fresh
- Sat-chit-ananda
- Possessing all mystic perfections
The following are the five qualities present in Narayana:
- Inconceivable potencies
- Creative
- The original source of everything
- Liberator of enemies
- Attractor of all liberated souls
Alongside the sixty qualities mentioned above, there are four more qualities which are unique only to Krishna:
61: Performer of all wonderful activities 62: Always surrounded by loving devotees 63: Wonderful player of the flute 64. Exquisite beauty
Source: http://www.radhakunda.com/personalities/krsna_64_qualities.html
Now, that doesn't mean Krishna is limited to only sixty-four qualities in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. There are actually infinite qualities of the Lord and the qualities apart from the ones stated above, are indescribable as the Gaudiya Vaishnava definition of the term "Saguna Brahman" states (Brahman comprising of infinite auspicious/positive qualities).
In Bhagavad-gītā 14.2 we find,
By becoming fixed in this knowledge (of discernment of the guṇas),
one can attain to the transcendental nature like My own.
Thus established, one is not born at the time of creation
or disturbed at the time of dissolution.
The quality of a living entity after liberation, which is the real nature, is explained in this verse. We attain an eternal nature like Krishna's, unaffected by creation and destruction.
In this way we attain oneness of nature with Krishna. But the oneness is only restricted to scope of having an eternal nature free from sorrow, explained later in the same chapter. There are other verses that talk about Krishna's qualities which belong only to him but never to jiva e.g. omniscience.
We find in Bhagavad-gītā 7.26
O Arjuna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows.
