Making Spiritual Progress within Family Life
It is a common misconception that one must renounce the world and retire to the forest to achieve self-realization. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the home itself can be a powerful center for making spiritual progress if managed according to Vedic principles. The institution of gṛhastha (householder) life is scientifically designed to allow men and women to cooperate peacefully, utilizing their natural propensities to help one another advance toward the ultimate goal of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Psychology of Cooperation
Men and women have different psychologies and needs. When united in a Kṛṣṇa conscious marriage, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that these differences become complementary rather than a source of conflict. This union is intended to settle the mind; a peaceful mind is the prerequisite for substantial spiritual advancement.
- These marriage things are done very psychologically, scientifically, so that they may become happy, and then, in peaceful mind, combine together, good cooperation, they make progress, spiritual. This is the plan, varnasrama-dharma.
- Husband-wife means, a man requires a woman, a woman requires a man. They should be combined in such a way that they can live peacefully. If there is no disturbance of the mind, then they can make further progress in spiritual life.
Respective Duties
In the Vedic conception, the husband and wife have distinct roles that support their mutual progress. The husband is expected to be a pure Vaiṣṇava and a guide, while Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the wife is expected to be chaste and supportive. By fulfilling these respective duties, both partners advance equally.
- The conclusion is that a husband should be a pure Vaisnava and that a woman should be a chaste wife with all the symptoms described in this regard. Then both of them will be happy and make spiritual progress in Krsna consciousness.
- The woman helps the man, either as mother or wife or daughter, then both of them, if the woman remains subordinate and the man is making spiritual progress and the woman is helping the man, then both of them will make spiritual progress.
- Man is meant for hard working, and woman is meant for homely comfort, love. So both of them, if they are situated in their respective duties under proper training, then this combination will help them to make progress in spiritual life.
Regulation and Responsibility
Householder life is not a license for unrestricted sense gratification. To advance, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that a householder must control their senses, particularly sex life. The only spiritual justification for intimacy is to produce children who will be trained as devotees. Additionally, the worship of the Deity in the home is recommended to purify the family's existence.
- If anyone, even if he is a householder, wants to make progress in spiritual life, he must control his sex life and should not beget a child without the purpose of serving Krsna.
- If one is determined to make spiritual advancement, he will not beget a child unless able to make that child a devotee.
- Engagement in worship of the Deity, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master, will greatly help the householders to purify their very existence and make rapid progress in spiritual knowledge.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the path of spiritual progress is open to everyone, regardless of social status. By establishing a home centered on Kṛṣṇa, where the husband and wife cooperate in service and raise enlightened children, the householder ashram becomes as good as the forest of the renounced sages. The test of success is not one's dress, but one's steady advancement in devotion to the Supreme 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 Making Spiritual Progress. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.