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Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the human form of life is a rare opportunity specifically granted to the soul for the purpose of going back to Godhead. While modern civilization often drives individuals toward animalistic pursuits of sense gratification, the real destination of the spirit soul is to meet the Supreme Spirit and live in His eternal association. This journey requires a fundamental shift in consciousness—from asking God for material boons to begging for the opportunity to serve Him. Ultimately, to reside in the spiritual world, one must transcend the temporary material covering and attain a spiritual body suitable for the atmosphere of Kṛṣṇaloka.

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=== The Purity of Intention ===

Most people approach God in times of distress or to ask for their "daily bread," and Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that such persons are indeed pious because they recognize a higher authority. However, this is only the beginning of religious life; true devotional service means going to God not to receive, but to give. A pure devotee does not approach the Lord for material advancement or to solve temporary problems, but rather with the mentality of how to serve and please Him. While approaching the Lord for any reason is better than being an atheist, the highest standard of ''bhakti'' is to be completely free from all material desires.

* [[Vaniquotes:Even one goes to God for praying something material, they're better than those who do not go to God|Even one goes to God for praying something material, they're better than those who do not go to God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone goes to God to beg, "God, give us our daily bread." But one must go to God to give Him. If I do not give bread to Krsna, he will be starving. This is devotee's mentality|Everyone goes to God to beg, "God, give us our daily bread." But one must go to God to give Him. If I do not give bread to Krsna, he will be starving. This is devotee's mentality.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One is going to God for asking something, and jijnasuh, jnani, is eulogized because they do not ask anything. To ask anything from God is not higher standard of bhakti|One is going to God for asking something, and jijnasuh, jnani, is eulogized because they do not ask anything. To ask anything from God is not higher standard of bhakti.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We should not go to God for begging some material benefit. That is not actual devotion. We shall go to God for begging how one can be engaged in His service. That should be the begging - Hare Krsna|We should not go to God for begging some material benefit. That is not actual devotion. We shall go to God for begging how one can be engaged in His service. That should be the begging - Hare Krsna.]]

=== Attaining a Spiritual Body ===

To enter the kingdom of God, one must possess a nature and a form compatible with that transcendental environment. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the analogy that just as one needs the body of a fish to live comfortably in water, one must have a spiritual body to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The soul is currently trapped within subtle and gross material coverings, but through the perfection of devotional service, one can regain their original spiritual identity. This transformation allows the devotee to see and talk with Kṛṣṇa personally, just as one sees and speaks with another person in the material world.

* [[Vaniquotes:When you go to God, you must have a body like God. Just like if you want to enter into the water, then you must have a body like a fish. Otherwise you cannot enter into the water|When you go to God, you must have a body like God. Just like if you want to enter into the water, then you must have a body like a fish. Otherwise you cannot enter into the water.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:I am not this body. I am spirit soul. My destination is how to go to the spiritual world, how to meet the supreme spirit, God, and live with Him in His association|I am not this body. I am spirit soul. My destination is how to go to the spiritual world, how to meet the supreme spirit, God, and live with Him in His association.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Soul is always staying in the subtle body, and the subtle body is left when he goes to God or kingdom of God|Soul is always staying in the subtle body, and the subtle body is left when he goes to God or kingdom of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you become elevated to the perfection of devotional service, you'll go to God and you'll see Him as you are seeing me, I am seeing you. You'll see Krsna. Try to understand|If you become elevated to the perfection of devotional service, you'll go to God and you'll see Him as you are seeing me, I am seeing you. You'll see Krsna. Try to understand.]]

=== The Scientific Path of Bhakti ===

Going to God is not a matter of sentimental rubber-stamping or vague imagination, but a precise spiritual science. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that ''bhakti-yoga'' is like a sharp and swift arrow that goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, bypassing the indirect realizations of the impersonal Brahman or localized Paramātmā. By following the instructions of the Lord situated in the heart and studying the knowledge provided in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', the intelligent person ignores the worship of demigods and goes directly to the source of all benedictions. This process is a factual possibility that was largely unknown in the West until the advent of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

* [[Vaniquotes:The bhakti-yoga system never urges one towards the impersonal Brahman effulgence or to the point of Paramatma realization. This banah, or arrow, is so sharp and swift that it goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead|The bhakti-yoga system never urges one towards the impersonal Brahman effulgence or to the point of Paramatma realization. This banah, or arrow, is so sharp and swift that it goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:An intelligent person never goes to demigods to pray for anything. He goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of all benediction|An intelligent person never goes to demigods to pray for anything. He goes directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of all benediction.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Krsna consciousness idea, is very, very new to them. Krsna, God, can be talked with personally. One can go to God personally. These ideas were unknown in the Western countries. But that is possible. That is a fact|The Krsna consciousness idea, is very, very new to them. Krsna, God, can be talked with personally. One can go to God personally. These ideas were unknown in the Western countries. But that is possible. That is a fact.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Unfortunately, people do not take this devotional service. The Lord, being situated in everyone's heart, can give one complete instructions on going back to Godhead|Unfortunately, people do not take this devotional service. The Lord, being situated in everyone's heart, can give one complete instructions on going back to Godhead.]]

=== The Role of the Representative ===

Approaching God is effectively done through His authorized representative, the spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as taxes given to a government collector reach the treasury, any respect or service offered to the ''guru'' goes directly to God. The spiritual master acts as the transparent medium between the conditioned soul and the Supreme Lord. By following the instructions of the spiritual master and the examples of great devotees who have successfully gone to God, such as those described in the ''Vedas'', one receives the necessary guidance and protection to navigate the journey beyond the material universe.

* [[Vaniquotes:The spiritual master is the representative of God. Whatever you offer to the spiritual master, it goes to God. Just like the tax collector. He collects taxes, but it goes to the government|The spiritual master is the representative of God. Whatever you offer to the spiritual master, it goes to God. Just like the tax collector. He collects taxes, but it goes to the government.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Oh, He loves my dog. - Dog is not qualified, but because the gentleman's dog is loved, the gentleman is pleased. This is counteractive. Similarly, a pure devotee, representative of God, if he is offered respect, that respect goes to God|Oh, He loves my dog. - Dog is not qualified, but because the gentleman's dog is loved, the gentleman is pleased. This is counteractive. Similarly, a pure devotee, representative of God, if he is offered respect, that respect goes to God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:All come from the Supreme Lord, from His incarnation of rajo-guna (Lord Brahma, the guna-avatara) and from the great sages (rsis) who are part of me. Let us therefore go to the Supreme Lord and take shelter of His lotus feet|All come from the Supreme Lord, from His incarnation of rajo-guna (Lord Brahma, the guna-avatara) and from the great sages (rsis) who are part of me. Let us therefore go to the Supreme Lord and take shelter of His lotus feet.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There is a story of Narada Muni, who was once asked by a brahmana: "Oh, you are going to meet the Lord? Will you please ask Him when I'm going to get my salvation?" "All right," Narada agreed. - I shall ask Him|There is a story of Narada Muni, who was once asked by a brahmana: "Oh, you are going to meet the Lord? Will you please ask Him when I'm going to get my salvation?" "All right," Narada agreed. - I shall ask Him.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings on going to God emphasize that this journey is the ultimate goal of human existence and the only permanent solution to the miseries of material life. While approaching the Lord for material necessities is a pious first step, the perfection of theism is found in unalloyed devotional service—desiring to go to God purely to give Him pleasure and serve His will. To achieve this, a disciple must utilize the scientific process of ''bhakti-yoga'', regaining a spiritual body suitable for the eternal atmosphere of the spiritual world. By following the guidance of the spiritual master and the instructions of the Lord in the heart, the conditioned soul transcends the temporary material body and enters the kingdom of God, where they can see, talk with, and eternally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Going_to_God|Going to God]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

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[[Category:Vanipedia Articles - The Science of Knowing God‎]]

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