What a Devotee Should Not Desire

To practice yukta-vairāgya, or practical renunciation, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that a devotee must clearly understand what is favorable for devotional service and what is unfavorable. While the positive injunction is to desire the service of Kṛṣṇa, the negative injunction—what a devotee should not desire—is equally vital for maintaining purity. This article explores the specific ambitions, from gross sense gratification to subtle spiritual selfishness, that must be weeded out from the heart of a sincere practitioner.

Trap of Material Enjoyment and Karma

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the fundamental instruction of the Bhagavad-gītā is that while one has the right to perform duty, one should not desire to enjoy the fruits of action. This desire for result is the binding force of karma. Furthermore, based on the Īśopaniṣad, a devotee understands that everything belongs to the Supreme Lord. Therefore, one must be satisfied with one's allotted quota and must never desire to infringe upon the property or rights of others.

• You have your right to act according to your position." But, karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana: "But you should not desire to enjoy the fruit of your activity." That is the technique. You should not desire to enjoy the fruit of activity.
• One should accept only that which is allotted to him; one should not desire to infringe upon the property of others.
• When there is a recommendation to become desireless, it is to be understood that this means that we should not desire anything for our sense gratification. For a devotee this state of mind, nihsprha, is the right position.

Rejection of Liberation (Mokṣa)

A unique characteristic of pure devotional service is the rejection of mokṣa, or liberation. While the desire to escape material suffering is common among transcendentalists, a pure devotee considers even liberation to be a selfish desire if it is separate from the service of the Lord. The devotee does not desire to merge into the Absolute nor attain the heavenly planets; he simply desires to serve.

• A devotee should not desire even for moksa. What is moksa? Moksa is very insignificant thing for a devotee.
• Indirectly, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami affirms that Maharaja Pariksit, in the last stage of life, should not desire to transfer himself to the so-called heavenly planets, but should prepare himself for going back home, back to Godhead.
• Devotional service must not be executed for some material purpose. One should not even have a desire to merge into the Absolute Truth. One has to render such service out of love only.

Specific Moral and Social Responsibilities

Śrīla Prabhupāda was very practical in his application of "desirelessness." It extends to the moral choices of daily life. One should not desire the standard vices of the age—illicit sex, intoxication, gambling, or meat-eating. Furthermore, the desire for family life is strictly regulated; one is forbidden from desiring children unless one is spiritually qualified to deliver them from death.

• One should follow the regulative principles and not desire illicit sex, gambling, intoxicants or meat.
• A man should not desire to become a father and the woman should not desire to become a mother unless both of them have taken the vow that - I shall beget a child and stop his cycle of birth and death.

Exclusive Desire for Service

Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the instruction "should not desire" implies that one should not desire anything except Kṛṣṇa. When the mind is filled with the single-pointed desire to serve the Lord and His devotees, all other conflicting desires for happiness, comfort, or success naturally fade away.

• We should not desire anything except serving Krsna. That is our fulfillment of life.
• A devotee should not desire anything except this, that "Let me live with the society of devotees and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." This is our life.
• One should simply endeavor to increase his Krsna consciousness. One should not desire to do anything else, even to earn his livelihood.

Conclusion

As Śrīla Prabhupāda notes, the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not teach a vacuum of desire, but it strictly prohibits desires that are destructive to the soul's original nature. By refusing to desire the fruits of labor, the relief of liberation, or the temporary pleasures of the senses, the devotee creates a vacuum in the heart that is immediately filled by the supreme, transcendental desire to please the Personality of Godhead.

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 Should Not Desire. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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