Books Will Keep You Convinced – The Process of Becoming Fixed
In the beginning of spiritual life, a practitioner's faith may be like a flickering candle—easily disturbed by the winds of doubt or material desire. The goal is to reach a stage where the flame becomes steady and motionless. This stage is called niṣṭhā, or becoming fixed. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that this steadiness is not a matter of artificial rigidity, but a natural result of clearing the heart of impurities and absorbing the mind in transcendental knowledge.
Clearing the Dust
One cannot build a steady structure on a shaky foundation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that before one can become fixed, one must undergo the process of anartha-nivṛtti—the cleansing of unwanted things. This involves strictly following the regulative principles to remove bad habits like intoxication and illicit sex. As long as these contaminations remain, the mind will oscillate. But once they are removed through the power of devotional service, the devotee becomes firmly situated.
- After initiation, when one follows the regulative principles of devotional service, one becomes freed from all unwanted things. In this way one becomes firmly fixed and gradually develops a taste for devotional service.
- When we are freed from the bad elements of life, then we become fixed up in our Krsna consciousness. Nistha. Then rucis - taste. Nistha, rucis, then asaktis - attachment; then bhava - ecstasy. Then the next stage is love of Godhead.
Formula for Conviction
How does one maintain enthusiasm over years and decades? Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a potent formula: "Saṅkīrtana will keep you happy and the books will keep you convinced." While chanting gives the taste of bliss, reading the philosophy daily provides the intellectual strength to withstand māyā's arguments. Śrīla Prabhupāda insists that his disciples read his books "without fail" to become fixed in the Absolute Truth. Without this philosophical grounding, one remains sentimental and vulnerable.
- You write to say that this Hare Krishna Movement is perfect in all respects. And it is a fact that "Sankirtana will keep you happy and the books will keep you convinced", so make your program in that way and become fixed up in Krishna Consciousness.
- You should read every day without fail and become fixed in our philosophy.
- One must hear these scriptures (Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam) repeatedly from reliable sources in order to become fixed in serious devotional service. Through engagement in such devotional service, one becomes freed from the contamination of maya.
Unwavering Determination
To be fixed means to have a single-minded resolution regarding the orders of the spiritual master. It is not a passive state but an active dedication. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines this determination clearly: "Whatever we have heard from my guru, the representative of Krsna, I must execute. I do not care for my personal convenience or inconvenience." When a disciple adopts this attitude, regarding the order of the guru as their life and soul, their perfection is guaranteed.
Fire of Steady Devotion
When a living entity becomes fixed in their attachment to the Supreme Lord, a transformation occurs. They become like a blazing fire. Just as fire burns up whatever is placed into it, a steady devotee burns up their material surroundings and reactions. They are no longer part of the material energy; they have entered the transcendental nature.
- Upon becoming fixed in his attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the grace of the spiritual master and by awakening knowledge and detachment, the living entity, situated within the heart of the body, burns up his material surroundings exactly as fire.
- By becoming fixed in this knowledge, one can attain to the transcendental nature, which is like My own nature. Thus established, one is not born at the time of creation nor disturbed at the time of dissolution.
Conclusion
Becoming fixed is the turning point in spiritual life. It marks the transition from the neophyte stage, where one is plagued by doubts and bad habits, to the intermediate stage of steady practice. By taking shelter of the saṅkīrtana movement and deeply studying the Vedic literatures, the devotee builds an unshakable conviction that carries them through all the difficulties of the material world, straight to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.
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 Fixed. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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