Acceptance in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness - A Devotee's Discriminatory Vision
In the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, acceptance is not a blind or passive act but a highly developed faculty of spiritual discrimination. A devotee views the world through the lens of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, accepting only that which is favorable for devotion and rejecting all that is unfavorable. This visionary standard applies to how one handles material suffering, scriptural authority, and the ultimate goal of life.
The Principle of Favorable Acceptance
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a devotee's interaction with the material world is guided by necessity and utility. One does not artificially renounce everything, nor does one accept things for sense gratification. The standard is to accept only the bare necessities required to maintain the body for the service of Kṛṣṇa.
- A devotee of the Lord should accept any kind of work, sacrifice, or charity which will help him in the discharge of devotional service to the Lord.
- A devotee should accept only those things that are favorable for keeping his body and soul together and should reject those things that increase the demands of the body. Only the bare necessities for bodily maintenance should be accepted.
- An advanced devotee has no desire to enjoy or reject anything. His only duty is to accept whatever is favorable for the advancement of Krsna consciousness.
- A Vaisnava accepts anything favorable for executing his mission. But foolish persons, not knowing the purpose of such exalted Vaisnavas, indulge in criticizing them. That is forbidden.
- Since a devotee wants to satisfy the desires of the Lord, he can, Lord willing, accept all kinds of opulence for the service of the Lord, and if the Lord is not willing, he should not accept a farthing.
Accepting Suffering as the Lord's Mercy
A unique characteristic of a pure devotee is the ability to accept tribulations without complaint. Rather than seeing suffering as unjust, a devotee accepts it as the merciful minimization of their past misdeeds by the Lord, realizing that Kṛṣṇa acts as their supreme guardian in all conditions.
- A devotee in an adverse condition of life accepts such a condition to be the mercy of the Lord.
- Punishment meted out by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is accepted by the devotee as the greatest mercy.
- A devotee's duty is to ungrudgingly accept tribulations from the Lord as a benediction.
- Learned devotees accept even conditions of distress as representing the presence of the Supreme Lord. When a devotee is in distress, he sees that the Lord has appeared as distress just to relieve or purify the devotee from the contamination of the material world.
- Actually, those who are Krsna conscious, they have no material suffering. Although it appears that they are suffering, they are not suffering. They can accept any so-called suffering and accept it as mercy of Krsna. They never take it as suffering.
Acceptance of Absolute Authority
The beginning of spiritual life is marked by the acceptance of a bona fide spiritual master and the infallible words of scripture. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites the example of Arjuna, who, after hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, accepted Kṛṣṇa's words in totality, setting the standard for all future followers of the Vedic path.
- First beginning of Vaisnava life is to accept guru, spiritual master, then other things. Because who will teach you?
- Arjuna said: O Krsna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality.
- Arjuna tells Krsna that he accepts whatever He says to be completely perfect. Sarvam etad rtam manye: I accept everything You say to be true.
- Then where is the difference between the scientists and the devotee? The devotee, devotee accepts what Krsna says. That's all.
Rejection of Liberation and Sense Gratification
The devotee's vision is so refined that they reject what the majority of spiritualists aspire for—liberation from the material world. If liberation (mukti) or material opulence does not facilitate service to the Lord, the devotee refuses to accept it, preferring to remain in any condition where service is possible.
- A pure devotee accepts the transcendental loving service of the Lord but rejects all kinds of liberation for his personal sense gratification.
- A devotee never accepts mukti, even if Krsna offers it. Mukti, freedom from all sinful reactions, is obtained even by namabhasa, or a glimpse of the light of the holy name before its full light is perfectly visible.
- A pure devotee of Krsna who loves Him exclusively will flatly refuse to accept any sort of liberation, such as equality of form, opulence or abode and the opulence of living near the Lord.
- My (Krsna's) devotees do not accept salokya, sarsti, sarupya, samipya or oneness with Me - even if I offer these liberations - in preference to serving Me.
Conclusion
The path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is defined by the intelligent use of one's freedom to accept Kṛṣṇa and His instructions while rejecting the allure of māyā. Whether facing the dualities of happiness and distress or the temptations of liberation, a devotee remains fixed in their discriminatory vision. By accepting only what is favorable for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the devotee attains the perfection of life, proving that true renunciation is the proper acceptance of everything in relation to 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 Acceptance 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.