Process of Achieving Devotional Service to God

The process of achieving devotional service to God is described by Śrīla Prabhupāda as the highest perfection of life, far superior to the results obtained by fruitive activities or mental speculation. This transcendental achievement is not ordinary; it requires a specific combination of divine mercy and the devotee's sincere, practical endeavor. Ultimately, entry into the realm of pure devotion is granted by the Supreme Lord Himself when He is pleased by the attitude of the aspirant.

Necessity of Mercy

Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently emphasizes that one cannot force their way into the kingdom of God through independent effort alone. The initial connection to the path of bhakti is made possible only through the combined mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa, which acts as the seed for all future spiritual growth.

• Caitanya-caritamrta says, "By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Krsna one can achieve the platform of devotional service. There is no other way."
• While teaching Rupa Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, one can achieve the seed of devotional service by the mercy of the guru, the spiritual master, and then by the mercy of Krsna (CC Madhya 19.151). This is the secret of success.
• One can achieve the nucleus of the devotional service of the Lord by the mercy of the spiritual master and the Personality of Godhead. The spiritual master is the manifested representative of the Lord to help one achieve ultimate success.

Practical Application Versus Scholarship

Mere academic study of the scriptures, such as the Vedānta-sūtra, does not guarantee access to devotional service. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that bhakti is a practical science; it is achieved by engaging one's senses in the service of the Lord and strictly following the regulative principles, rather than by becoming a dry scholar.

• Bhakti is not achieved by studying. Bhakti stage is achieved by practice. That is the special significance of our institution, that we are engaging our men in practicing. Therefore they are getting knowledge - not by reading.
• By studying Vedanta-sutra, by becoming a very great scholar, to achieve transcendental position of devotional service is very, very difficult.
• Bhakti-yoga is the highest quality of perfection to be achieved by the intelligent person in lieu of performing a large quantity of spiritual activities. A handful of real paddy is more valuable than heaps of paddy skins without any substance within.

Patience and Enthusiasm in Practice

Achieving the stage of pure devotion requires immense patience and determination. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one should not be discouraged by delays or difficulties but should remain enthusiastic and confident that, by following the rules and regulations, the desired result will undoubtedly manifest in time.

• For him who patiently follows the regulative principles of devotional service, the time will undoubtedly come when he will achieve the desired result.
• When one is sufficiently eager to achieve success in devotional service, that eagerness is called samutkantha. This means "complete eagerness." Actually this eagerness is the price for achieving success in Krsna consciousness.
• Instead of employing enthusiasm for attaining material goals, one should be enthusiastic about achieving the perfectional stage of devotional service.
• The word atma also means patience and perseverance. By patience and perseverance one can achieve the highest stage of devotional service.

Superiority Over Liberation

The achievement of devotional service is so elevated that it automatically surpasses the stage of liberation or mukti. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while impersonalists strive to merge into the existence of Brahman, a devotee achieves a higher perfection where they engage eternally in the personal service of the Lord, a position rarely attained even by perfected souls.

• Devotional service is rarely achieved. Rarely achieved means.
• Liberation from material contamination is the stage at which devotional service can be achieved. For a person who simply wants to have liberation and to merge into the impersonal brahmajyoti, attachment to Krsna is not possible to acquire.
• Process of pure devotional service simultaneously serves the purpose of jnana-yoga; liberation from material conditions is automatically achieved by the gradual development of pure devotional service.

Conclusion

In summary, the process of achieving devotional service to God is the ultimate objective of human existence, transcending all material and intellectual achievements. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that this rare gift is accessible through the mercy of the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord, combined with the devotee's sincere, patient, and enthusiastic practice. By prioritizing service over scholarship and personal desire, one attains the eternal shelter of Kṛṣṇa, which is the perfection of all renunciation and knowledge.

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