Highest Perfection - Arousing the Soul's Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa
The ultimate success of human life is not measured by the accumulation of wealth or material power, but by the awakening of a relationship that has been forgotten for countless lifetimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we all possess a dormant love for Kṛṣṇa that is currently covered by material association. Because we have no information about the true object of our love, we try to repose our affection in worldly hobbies, animals, or family affairs, only to meet with frustration. This article explores the scientific process of uncovering this eternal love, the necessity of following regulative principles, and the incomparable gift of Lord Caitanya in this age of Kali.
The Science of Uncovering the Soul
Love for Kṛṣṇa is not an external imposition but a dormant propensity within every living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as a physician may cure a disease to restore a person's natural health, the process of devotional service cures the "material disease" by reviving our original love. We should always remember that this love is present but currently covered by "dirty things." By cleansing the mind and senses through transcendental service, we stop using them for sense gratification and instead employ them in the service of the Lord, which naturally allows the dormant love to manifest.
- Actually, we are teaching the science of God; we are teaching how to develop our dormant propensity to love God.
- We should always remember that we have got dormant love for Krsna, but it is now covered. We have to uncover it by cleansing the dirty things. That is the method.
- When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. By this process the dormant love for Krsna is awakened.
- Dormant love for Krsna exists in everyone's heart, and it simply has to be awakened by the regulative process of devotional service.
Path of Regulated Devotion
The awakening of dormant love is achieved through a specific process called abhidheya, which involves practicing regulated devotional service under the direction of a spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that even if one executes severe penances or sacrifices, they are considered useless if they fail to awaken love for Kṛṣṇa. By submissively hearing the philosophy and following the instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā, the practitioner gradually moves from the stage of following rules to a stage of spontaneous, unmotivated service. This transformation is fueled by the association of advanced devotees, which remains essential even after love has begun to awaken.
- By practicing this regulated devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master, certainly one awakens his dormant love of Godhead. This process is called abhidheya.
- It is said that although one executes severe austerities, penances and sacrifices in his life, if he fails to awaken his dormant love for Krsna, then all his penances are to be considered useless.
- By executing devotional service in that way (according to regulative principles given by the spiritual master), he gradually becomes attached to Krsna, and when his original dormant love for the Lord becomes manifest, he spontaneously serves the Lord without any motive.
- The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
Chanting the Way to Perfection
In this age, the most effective method to arouse dormant love is the offenseless chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes three stages of chanting, explaining that in the third stage—when one chants without offenses—dormant love for Kṛṣṇa immediately awakens. This chanting dissolves the soul's entanglement in material activities and creates a strong attraction to the Lord. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally taught this process, showing the world how to develop this love through a deep feeling of separation, ensuring that even fallen souls can achieve the highest perfection of life.
- There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord. In the third stage, when one chants the Hare Krsna mantra without offenses, his dormant love for Krsna immediately awakens. This is the perfection.
- By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one dissolves his entanglement in material activities. After this, one becomes very much attracted to Krsna, and thus dormant love for Krsna is awakened.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in His last twelve years of existence within this world at Jagannatha Puri, taught the people of the world how, with a feeling of separation, one can develop His dormant love of Krsna.
- Because of offenseless utterance of the holy name, one is relieved from all unwanted practices, and one gradually awakens his dormant love for Krsna.
Successful Goal of Human Existence
The primary duty of every human being, and specifically the mission of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is to invoke this dormant love. Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that while the world is busy with temporary pursuits, the real interest of the soul lies in reawakening its connection to Kṛṣṇa. When this love is awakened, material existence and the repetition of birth and death come to an end. Whether one is a scholar, a simple devotee, or even a warrior on a battlefield, the moment they repose their dormant loving propensity in Kṛṣṇa, their life becomes truly successful and they are transferred to the eternal realm of Vaikuṇṭha.
- The perfection of human life is to develop one's dormant love for God, and thus be released from the terrible cycle of birth and death. People are so foolish that they simply waste time in temporary pursuits of material happiness.
- All in all, however, if one simply reposes his dormant loving propensity in Krsna, then his life becomes successful.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended that what is the actual benefit of this human form of life? To develop our dormant love for God. That is wanted, not to accumulate money. Nothing will go with us.
- Those warriors who appreciated the lotus feet of the Lord (Krsna) and saw His face at the front had their dormant love of God awakened, and thus they were transferred at once to Vaikunthaloka not to the impersonal state of brahmajyoti as was Sisupala.
Conclusion
The arousal of dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is the only path to true tranquility and peace, both for individuals and for nations. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions make it clear that this love is not a new creation but a recovery of our original identity. By submissively following the authorized process of devotional service, we can move from the frustration of material life to the ecstatic shelter of the Lord's lotus feet. This transformation is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age, ensuring that anyone who sincerely takes to this path can achieve the highest state of perfection and eternal happiness.
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 Dormant Love for Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.