Highest Religion - Becoming Ecstatic in Love of God
What is the ultimate goal of religion? Is it simply to follow moral codes, attend temple ceremonies, or believe in a scripture? According to Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Vedic conclusions, these are means to an end. The actual goal is to develop such intense love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead that one loses interest in the material world and naturally exhibits symptoms of spiritual bliss. This state of becoming ecstatic is the defining characteristic of the highest religion (parā dharma).
Symptom of Perfection
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam states that the supreme occupation for all humanity is that which leads to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. When one attains this stage, the reaction is not a polite intellectual assent, but an overwhelming emotional response. The devotee laughs, cries, and dances, appearing to the ordinary eye to be a madman.
- As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6): That religion is best which causes its followers to become ecstatic in love of God that is unmotivated and free from material impediments, for this alone can completely satisfy the self.
- To chant the holy name of Krsna one does not need to speculate on the philosophical aspects of the science of God, for one automatically becomes ecstatic and without consideration immediately chants, dances, laughs, cries and sings just like a madman.
Example of Lord Caitanya
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself appearing in the mood of a devotee to teach this science of love. His life was a constant exhibition of ecstasy. Upon seeing the Jagannātha temple, He would faint; upon hearing the holy name, He would dance for hours. When He met His devotees, the reciprocal affection was so strong that they would all become ecstatic, forgetting their physical bodies. His "madness" was not a mental disturbance but the highest crash of spiritual waves in the ocean of prema.
- The Lord (Caitanya) replied (to Prakasananda Sarasvati) that His spiritual master found Him to be a great fool, and thus he asked Him to chant the holy name of Lord Krsna. He did so, and became ecstatic like a madman.
- After seeing the temple of Jagannatha from a distant place, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately became ecstatic. After offering obeisances to the temple, He began to dance in the ecstasy of love of God.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised Svarupa Damodara to his feet and embraced him. They both became ecstatic in love and fell unconscious.
Power of the Holy Name
This ecstatic condition is not reserved for great mystics or ascetics living in caves. It is available to anyone who sincerely chants the holy names of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the names Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Hare Kṛṣṇa are so potent that even without deep philosophical understanding, a chanter can become ecstatic. The holy name clears the heart of offenses and uncovers the soul's original nature.
- By chanting these two holy names - sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda - one immediately becomes ecstatic, and if he then chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra he becomes free of offenses.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu is called namo maha-vadanyaya, most munificent incarnation. Why? Krsna-prema-pradaya te (CC Madhya 19.53). Even without understanding Krsna, simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra they become ecstatic for love of Krsna.
A Universal Desire
The ecstasy of a Vaiṣṇava is not selfish. Great souls like Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura prayed for the day when the entire universe would become ecstatic in the chanting of the holy names. This is the vision of the saṅkīrtana movement: to flood the world with a happiness that transcends material limitations.
- Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, "When the universe becomes ecstatic, my desire is satisfied. I pray unto the lotus feet of Rupa Gosvami that this chanting of harer nama (CC Adi 17.21) may go on nicely like this.
- The King of heaven, Indra, also gradually joins with great satisfaction and begins dancing and chanting "Hari bol! Hari bol!" In this way, by the influence of the transcendental vibration of the holy name of God, the whole universe becomes ecstatic.
Conclusion
Spiritual life is meant to be felt. It is not a dry intellectual exercise. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that when a devotee advances, they naturally lose their taste for the material world and develop an intense, ecstatic attraction to Kṛṣṇa. This is the "test" of advancement: when one becomes so eager to serve the Lord that they are ready to renounce everything else. By following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and chanting the holy name, any living entity can attain this highest perfection of life.
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 Ecstatic. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.