Symptoms - A Person Advanced in Spiritual Life

How does one recognize a person who is truly advanced in spiritual life? It is not by their dress or their ability to perform magic, but by their character, vision, and steadiness. This article compiles Śrīla Prabhupāda's descriptions of the advanced devotee, illustrating that true spiritual growth results in a profound shift in how one interacts with the world—seeing everything in relation to Kṛṣṇa and remaining undisturbed by the inevitable changes of material nature.

Vision of an Advanced Devotee

The most defining characteristic of an advanced devotee is their vision. They do not see the world as a place for personal enjoyment, nor do they see anyone as an enemy. Instead, they see the Supreme Lord manifesting everywhere. Even when faced with adversity or hostility, the advanced soul understands that nothing can happen without the sanction of Kṛṣṇa and accepts such difficulties as opportunities for further purification.

• A devotee advanced on the spiritual platform sees everything movable and inert as the Supreme Lord. For him, everything he sees here and there is but a manifestation of Lord Krsna.
• A devotee knows that, Nobody can become my enemy unless Krsna desires. So why shall I think of him as my enemy? Krsna has desired him to act as my enemy just to correct me, to make me more advanced in spiritual life. Why shall I take any action upon him.
• Because we are now in the material world, we do not see Krsna directly. Nonetheless, we can see Him indirectly. For example, if one sees the Pacific Ocean one can remember Krsna immediately, if one is advanced in spiritual life. This is called meditation.

Steadiness and Freedom from Agitation

The material world is full of dualities and disturbances—political upheavals, social unrest, and the internal agitation of the senses. A person advanced in spiritual life is compared to the ocean which remains calm despite the rivers pouring into it. They are not disturbed by external circumstances or the internal pushings of the mind and senses.

• One who is advanced in spiritual life, he's not agitated by the so-called political upheavals or social disturbances.
• In the rainy season, when the rivers swell and rush to the oceans and seas, they appear to agitate the ocean. Similarly, if a person engaged in the mystic yoga process is not very much advanced in spiritual life, he can become agitated by the sex impulse.
• In Bhagavad-gita it is said that persons who are actually advanced in spiritual life do not care for the dual behavior of this material world.

Strict Adherence to Scripture

There is a misconception that once one becomes "advanced," they can transcend the rules and regulations. Śrīla Prabhupāda corrects this, stating that true advancement means following the scriptures more perfectly. One who claims to be advanced but ignores the śrutis and smṛtis is a disturbance. The advanced devotee maintains their spiritual duties of chanting and austerity as an example to others.

• In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami says that if one poses himself as advanced in spiritual life but does not refer to the srutis and smrtis he is simply a disturbance in society.
• As advised in Bhagavad-gita (BG 18.5), sacrifice, charity and austerity should never be given up. Yajno danam tapas caiva pavanani manisinam: even if one is very much advanced in spiritual life, one should not give up these three duties.

Freedom from Material Contamination

A practical test of advancement is the disappearance of unwanted habits (anartha-nivṛtti). Just as a healthy person naturally rejects unwholesome food, a spiritually advanced person naturally loses the taste for illicit sex, intoxication, gambling, and meat-eating. This detachment is not forced but comes automatically through the higher taste of devotional service.

• If one is actually advanced in spiritual life, execution of regular spiritual life, then automatically anartha-nivrttih, things which are not required, that becomes automatically stopped.
• Unless one is advanced in spiritual life (sevonmukhe hi jihvadau), one cannot see Krsna. Therefore the ability to see Krsna depends on Krsna's mercy.

Conclusion

Becoming advanced in spiritual life is a scientific process of purification. It transforms the neophyte, who sees God only in the temple, into an intermediate or advanced devotee who sees the Lord in every atom of existence. This advancement is marked by a peaceful mind, strict adherence to authority, and a natural detachment from material pleasure. Ultimately, the advanced devotee is one who has no interest other than the loving service of the Lord.

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 Advanced in Spiritual Life. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.