Achieving the Transcendental Position of Association with Kṛṣṇa
In the material world, every living entity is engaged in a tireless struggle to achieve a superior position, whether it be social status, political power, or elevation to heavenly planets. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda tirelessly teaches that these temporary designations bring neither permanent peace nor true satisfaction. The only achievement worthy of the soul's eternal nature is the revival of its constitutional position as a loving servant of Kṛṣṇa. Through the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one transcends the dualities of material existence and attains the highest perfection—direct association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Futility of Material and Impersonal Achievements
Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that those who strive for elevation through the path of trivarga—religiosity, economic development, and sense gratification—are ultimately misguided. Even the impersonalists and yogīs, who undergo severe austerities to merge into the Absolute or attain mystic powers, do not achieve a secure position. Because they neglect the personal service of the Lord, their intelligence remains impure, and they are prone to fall down into material existence again.
- O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure
- Indra said, "In the material world there is regular competition between different types of living entities to become supreme leaders of society, and after being frustrated in achieving the supreme positions of leadership, foolish persons claim to be God"
- As it is said, traivargikas te purusa vimukha hari-medhasah. Those interested in trivarga - that is, in dharma, artha and kama - are religious for the sake of achieving a material position with which to gain better facilities for sense gratification.
- By studying Vedanta-sutra, by becoming a very great scholar, to achieve transcendental position of devotional service is very, very difficult.
Reawakening the Constitutional Position
The ultimate goal of life is to return to one's original identity, or svarūpa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when a living entity becomes situated in the spiritual platform, known as brahma-bhūtaḥ, they achieve complete peace and immortality. This position is not artificially imposed but is the natural state of the soul when it is in harmony with the Supersoul, completely unaffected by the material dualities of heat, cold, happiness, or distress.
- Being situated on the spiritual platform, automatically you achieve your original status, constitutional position, brahma-bhutah prasannatma. Then you are able to enter into the kingdom of God, or the spiritual world.
- Transfer to the spiritual world is the highest perfection of life. In other words, the devotee achieves his constitutional position of immortality and thus becomes completely peaceful.
- Because this transcendental position (automatically following the Paramatma) is at once achieved by one who is in Krsna consciousness, the devotee of God is unaffected by the dualities of material existence, namely distress and happiness, cold and heat, etc.
- Until a person achieves this perfection (as achieving his constitutional position of immortality), he cannot be peaceful. He may artificially think he is one with the Supreme, but actually he is not; therefore, he has no peace.
The Supremacy of Devotional Service and Divine Mercy
While dry scholarship and ritualistic piety are arduous paths, the path of bhakti attracts the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, making the highest position easily accessible. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that even a child like Dhruva Mahārāja could attain a position superior to the demigods through simple surrender, and the gopīs of Vṛndāvana achieved the ultimate perfection solely through their spontaneous love. This section illustrates that sincere service, even if small, is the only qualification needed to enter the Lord's association.
- Krsna said, "Fortunately, you (gopis) have developed loving affection for Me, which is the only way to achieve the transcendental position of association with Me."
- Dhruva Maharaja attained an exalted position at the age of only five or six years, after undergoing austerity for six months. Alas, a great ksatriya cannot achieve such a position even after undergoing austerities for many, many years.
- In the beginning one has to discharge devotional service according to regulative principles, but gradually, as devotional service becomes one’s life and soul, one achieves the most exalted position of ecstatic love for Krsna.
- By offering even water, newly grown grass, or flower buds at Your lotus feet, those who maintain no mental duplicity can achieve the most exalted position within the spiritual world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that achieving a permanent and auspicious position is impossible within the confines of material history or impersonal liberation. The highest attainment is reserved for the devotee who, having discarded the desire for worldly prestige, engages in unalloyed devotional service. Whether through the mercy of a pure devotee like Nārada Muni or by the direct grace of Lord Caitanya, achieving the position of Kṛṣṇa's servant brings one to the pinnacle of spiritual evolution, where the soul is eternally satisfied and situated in transcendental bliss.
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 Achieving the Position Of. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
(See our Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles)