Acting As Kṛṣṇa Desires
The essence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the transformation of the will. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that while the materialist strives to fulfill his own ambitions, the devotee strives to uncover and execute the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. "Acting as Kṛṣṇa desires" is not merely a poetic sentiment; it is the practical definition of bhakti and the ultimate standard of surrender. This article examines the philosophy of absolute dependence on the Lord and the perfection of aligning one's activities with His divine plan.
Illusion of Independence
The first step in understanding how to act as Kṛṣṇa desires is to realize that we have no capacity to act independently. We often proudly claim ownership of our bodies and faculties, but Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that the senses are active only because the Lord sanctions their activity. If Kṛṣṇa withdraws His sanction, all our seemingly independent powers vanish in an instant.
- Actually all the senses are acting because Krsna is acting. As soon as Krsna desires that these senses will not work, it will not work. So in spite of your claim that this is my hand, this is my eyes, this is my mouth, it will not work.
- Only Krsna is the supreme master, and all others are His servants. As Krsna desires, everyone dances according to His tune.
Essence of Surrender
True surrender, or śaraṇāgati, is not a passive state but an active consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it is characterized by six symptoms, one of which is the profound realization that one's desires are not separate from Kṛṣṇa's desires. A devotee does not have a private agenda; his mind, body, and words are dedicated to serving the Lord's purpose.
- One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six characteristics: (5) Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krsna, and he acts and thinks as Krsna desires.
- The real devotee first offers his surrender to Krsna with his body, mind and words and then uses his body, mind and words for the service of Krsna as Krsna desires.
Perfection of Action
The perfection of life is exemplified by Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra. Initially, Arjuna desired to act according to his own moral calculations, but ultimately he surrendered, declaring kariṣye vacanaṁ tava—"I shall execute Your order." Whether it is fighting a war or retracting a powerful weapon, the perfect action is simply that which Kṛṣṇa desires at that moment.
- So karisye vacanam tava: "Now I shall act as You desire." This is perfection of life. Whenever we decide that "Now we shall act as Krsna says," then our life is perfect. Vasudeva-uktah karinah.
- Seeing the disturbance of the general populace and the imminent destruction of the planets, Arjuna at once retracted both brahmastra weapons, as Lord Sri Krsna desired.
Service Without Whimsy
Devotional service must be favorable and devoid of mental speculation. One cannot invent their own process of worship or service; it must be authorized. To serve Kṛṣṇa means to give Him exactly what He wants—if He asks for water, we must bring water, not something we imagine is better. This strict adherence to the Lord's desire is the hallmark of pure bhakti.
- We have got many programs according to our mental concoction. That will not help us. If we simply act as Krsna desires, then our life is perfect.
- We have to give up all this (wealth and possessions) and take shelter of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and worship Him. Nor can we worship Him whimsically, but as He desires. If Krsna says, "I want a glass of water," we must bring Him water.
- When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krsna favorably, as Krsna desires.
Conclusion
To act as Kṛṣṇa desires is the sum and substance of spiritual life. It requires the humility to recognize our dependence, the intelligence to reject our mental concoctions, and the devotion to execute the Lord's will regardless of our personal convenience. Whether in health or sickness, in success or apparent failure, the devotee remains peaceful, knowing that everything is moving exactly as the Supreme Lord desires.
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 As Krsna Desires. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.