God Reciprocates with the Sincerity of a Devotee
In the practice of bhakti-yoga, the internal motive is far more significant than external ability. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana, meaning He accepts the essence of the devotee's love rather than the material offering itself. The fundamental qualification for success in spiritual life is sincerity. When a living entity sincerely desires to revive their relationship with God, Kṛṣṇa reciprocates by removing obstacles, providing intelligence, and revealing Himself, regardless of the devotee's current limitations or past conditioning.
Divine Guarantee of Protection and Guidance
Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that Kṛṣṇa takes personal charge of a sincere devotee. Even if a practitioner lacks keen intelligence or falls short in proper behavior, their genuine intent compels the Lord to provide the necessary buddhi-yoga, or spiritual intelligence, to ultimately reach Him.
- A devotee must be very sincere in his devotional service; then, although there may be many things wrong on the devotee's part, Krsna will guide him and gradually elevate him to the highest position of devotional service.
- The Lord understands the mentality and sincerity of a particular living entity who is engaged in Krsna consciousness and gives him the intelligence to understand the science of Krsna in the association of the devotees.
- If we take shelter of Krsna seriously, there will be no fear of being thrown back into the cycle of so many species of life. A sincere devotee will surely be transferred to the abode of Krsna, as affirmed in the Bhagavad-gita.
Purification Through Sincerity
One need not be perfect to begin the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness; one must simply be sincere in their endeavor. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the process of devotional service itself is purifying, and if a devotee sincerely desires to serve the Lord, Kṛṣṇa will burn away their material desires and rectify their behavior over time.
- Anyone who takes to Krsna consciousness in all sincerity, even if he is not very advanced in good behavior, is purified.
- If a devotee maintains some material desire and at the same time very sincerely desires to engage at the lotus feet of Krsna, Krsna may directly give him unalloyed devotional service and take away all his material desires and possessions.
- If one is sincere, he is initiated, and this stage is called bhajana-kriya.
Sincerity in Relation to Spiritual Master
The connection with the spiritual master is the lifeline of devotional service, and sincerity is the currency of this relationship. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that sincere service to the guru and strict adherence to his instructions serve as the confirmation of the Lord's internal dictation and guarantee the achievement of the highest goal.
- Anyone sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee.
- To the sincere devotee the internal Guru Krishna dictates, but the thing has to be confirmed by the external Guru then it is all right.
- When a disciple is perfectly in consonance with the spiritual master, having received his message and executed it perfectly and sincerely, he has a right to ask a particular favor from the spiritual master.
Lord's Testing of Sincerity
To confirm the depth of a devotee's love and dependence, the Supreme Lord sometimes tests them, ensuring they are not seeking material gain under the guise of devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates through pastimes like those of Rukmiṇī and the gopīs that these tests are not punishments, but means to glorify the devotee's unalloyed nature.
- Lord (Krsna) does not offer opulences to His devotee unless the devotee is thoroughly tested. Rather, if a neophyte devotee serves the Lord very sincerely and at the same time wants material opulence, the Lord keeps him from obtaining it.
- This verse (CC Madhya 19.202) from Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 10.60.24) refers to Krsna’s speaking to Rukmini in His bedroom. Just to test her sincerity, He began to joke with her, presenting Himself as poor, incapable and unfit to be her lover.
- The gopis expressed great disappointment here (in CC Madhya 19.210). They came voluntarily, but Krsna was so cunning that He wanted to avoid their company. Their lamentation was certainly very appropriate, and in this way Krsna tested their sincerity.
Conclusion
Ultimately, sincerity is the singular qualification that attracts the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Whether one is a neophyte struggling with conditioning or an advanced soul facing divine tests, the Lord reciprocates according to the devotee's sincere purpose. As Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms, if one remains sincere in following the instructions of the spiritual master and the previous ācāryas, success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is assured, and the devotee will undoubtedly be transferred to 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 Sincerity of a Devotee of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.