Becoming a Sincere Servitor of God
The journey of spiritual life begins and is sustained by the quality of sincerity. To become a sincere servitor of God is the ultimate goal of human existence, a state where the living entity acts strictly in accordance with the will of the Supreme Lord and His representatives. This article explores the transformative power of sincerity, detailing how it attracts divine mercy, purifies the heart of material desires, and empowers the devotee to execute the mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Guidance of the Sadhu
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that one cannot become a devotee independently; it requires the guidance of a realized soul. The sādhu, or saintly person, instills the proper consciousness within the disciple, teaching them that their eternal nature is to serve the Supreme Lord without reservation.
- A sadhu will teach one to become a devotee, a worshiper and a sincere servitor of the Lord. These are the gifts of a sadhu.
- Since a living entity is eternally the servitor of the Supreme Lord, when one seriously and sincerely engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he is situated in the position of liberation.
- One must become a devotee of the Lord at least at the last stage of one's life. A sincere soul of the Lord like Maharaja Yudhisthira must abide by this instruction of the Lord for his own interest.
Divine Reciprocation
Kṛṣṇa is not a distant observer; He is actively involved in the life of a sincere devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that although the Lord may not be immediately visible to the material eye, He reveals Himself from within the heart to those who are serious, dictating the path back to Godhead.
- Although the Lord is not visible in the beginning because of His glaring bodily effulgence, if a devotee sincerely wants to see Him, the Lord is revealed to him.
- If they offer prayers sincerely, God is there within your heart, He'll gradually reveal. The more you become purified, the more He reveals. Then He'll talk with you. So everything depends on the sincerity and seriousness.
- The Lord dictates from within to anyone who is sincerely engaged in His service, and the Lord acts in such a way that such a person can ultimately attain the supreme goal of life.
Purification through Devotion
A crucial aspect of becoming a sincere servitor is the purification of material desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa is so kind that if a sincere devotee still harbors material ambitions, the Lord may strip them of these entanglements or grant intelligence so they are satisfied solely with service.
- If one sincerely prays to God for material possessions in exchange for devotional service, the Lord, who is not foolish like such an unintelligent devotee gradually gives him the intelligence to be satisfied only by rendering service to His lotus feet.
- Sometimes it so happens that if a person sincerely serves the Lord and at the same time maintains material ambitions, the Lord very kindly removes the sources of material happiness.
- If one understands what sin is, he should give it up with sincerity and regret and surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His agent, the pure devotee.
Dedication to the Mission
Sincerity is practically exhibited through strict adherence to sādhana and the execution of the missionary activities of the spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that by following the regulative principles and preaching the message of Kṛṣṇa, one proves their sincerity and reestablishes the lost relationship with the Divine.
- If you actually follow all of the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds avoiding the offenses, and attend the mangala arati and classes, then Krishna will see that you are sincerely trying to follow the real process of Krishna Consciousness.
- Every devotee should be so sincere to Krsna, or God, that he must execute Krsna's mission.
- It is up to you to reestablish their (unfortunate peoples) lost relationship with Krsna by being sincere to preach the message of Krsna purely by yourself following the instructions of the Lord and his bona-fide representative, the spiritual master.
Conclusion
Becoming a sincere servitor of God is a dynamic process that begins with surrender to the spiritual master and culminates in direct communion with the Lord within the heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that Kṛṣṇa is not poor; He is ready to provide everything to the devotee who is genuine in their purpose. Whether through the removal of material obstacles or the granting of divine intelligence, the Lord reciprocates perfectly with the sincerity of the practitioner. Ultimately, it is this sincerity—manifested as strict obedience to the instructions of the guru and dedication to the preaching mission—that qualifies a soul for the perfection of life.
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 Sincere for God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.