Transformation - Becoming Spiritually Advanced

The journey of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a process of becoming. It is the transformation of the conditioned soul, accustomed to material enjoyment, into a liberated soul who relishes spiritual service. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that becoming spiritually advanced is not about acquiring mystic powers or superficial titles, but about a profound internal shift where material desires recede and love for Kṛṣṇa takes precedence.

Process of Change

Spiritual advancement is often compared to the heating of an iron rod. In the beginning, the rod is cold and dark (material), but as it stays in the fire, it becomes warm, then hot, and finally emits light and heat (spiritual). Similarly, by staying in the "fire" of devotional service—chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, eating prasādam, and following the spiritual master—the devotee gradually acquires spiritual qualities.

• If the rod is put in the fire, it is becoming warm, warmer, and when it is red hot it is no more rod, it is fire. So beginning of life, neophyte stage, is the beginning. When he actually becomes advanced in devotional service, that is designationless.
• The more you chant, the more you become spiritually advanced. This is called anandambudhi-vardhanam. Otherwise, how one can be satisfied simply by chanting, chanting Hare Krsna.
• If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste prasadam and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Krsna, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and offer obeisances.

Incompatibility with Sense Gratification

There is a common misconception that one can add spiritual life on top of a hedonistic material life. Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly rejects this. One cannot walk in two directions at once. To become spiritually advanced, one must voluntarily accept a life of purity and give up the four pillars of sinful life: illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication.

• If anyone has the desire to become spiritually advanced while at the same time enjoying material life, that is not possible. These are two contradictory aspirations. One must become determined to be happy in spiritual life. That is real happiness.
• One side, a person should cultivate Krsna consciousness, and another side, he should try to give up all the unwanted things. Not that whatever you like, you can eat; whatever you like, you can do; at the same times you become spiritually advanced.

Adjustment of Material Necessities

Becoming spiritually advanced does not mean one becomes incompetent in the material world. On the contrary, spiritual knowledge adjusts material necessities perfectly. When one advances, they do not crave unnecessary things, but they utilize what is required for the service of the Lord. The burden of material anxiety is lifted.

• Material advancement does not become hampered by spiritual knowledge. That is a wrong impression. Rather, if you become spiritually advanced, your material necessities will be very nicely adjusted.
• More you become advanced in spiritual consciousness, the material necessities become minimum.
• The land is in your possession, you can cultivate as you like. Similarly, this body is land, & I am the tiller. I am the krsaka, or agriculturist. So by using the land, I can become spiritually advanced or I can become materially advanced. It is up to me.

Symptoms of the Advanced Stage

How does one know they are becoming advanced? The symptoms are internal and external. Internally, one feels an increasing bliss in chanting that prevents boredom. Externally, one develops a humble attitude, desiring to be the "servant of the servant," and sees all living entities with an equal spiritual vision.

• The more we become servant of the servant, the more we become advanced. It is very difficult to understand from material stand. Here, everyone wants to become master of the master.
• When one actually becomes spiritually advanced, he does not see the difference between one living entity and another. This platform is attained by determination.
• We may chant, "Mr. John, Mr. John, Mr. John," but after an hour we will be fed up. However, the more we become spiritually advanced, the more bliss we will derive from chanting Hare Krsna.

Conclusion

Becoming spiritually advanced is open to everyone, regardless of their background or past habits. It requires only the sincerity to follow the prescribed method. By replacing material pleasures with the higher taste of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the devotee undergoes a complete transformation, eventually becoming fit to enter the spiritual world.

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