Nature of Spiritual Desire

The distinction between material and spiritual life is not the absence of desire, but the quality of it. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because the living entity is vibrant and eternal, it must always desire something. This article clarifies that perfection is achieved not by suppressing this natural instinct, but by purifying it, transforming selfish cravings into the spiritual ambition to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Beyond Material Negation

A common misconception in spiritual circles is that perfection equates to a void of desire. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while the cessation of material craving is essential, it is only the beginning. The living entity, being eternally conscious, must always desire something. Therefore, the goal is not to kill desire but to purify it, transforming selfish ambition into spiritual ambition.

• The Buddhists are not so advanced that there is spiritual desire. That they do not understand. But so far the material desirelessness, that is accepted by us also.
• The living entity must be living, always existing with desires, ambitions and so on. These should be purified, however, so that one can desire spiritually and be spiritually ambitious, without material contamination.

Defining Spiritual Desire

What exactly is spiritual desire? It is not merely a wish for liberation or peace. True spiritual desire is the specific, active intent to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is characterized by unalloyed devotion and a spirit of total sacrifice, where the devotee is prepared to give up everything for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa.

• A desire to serve the Lord, the supreme predominator, is spiritual or transcendental, and one has to attain this purification of the mind and the senses to get admission into the spiritual kingdom.
• One who is ready to sacrifice anything to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be said to have spiritual desire.
• Unalloyed devotion to the service of the Lord is the only spiritual desire. To fulfill this spiritual desire, however, one must be free from all material desires.

Awakening and Fulfillment

Spiritual desires are not products of mental concoction; they manifest when the soul connects with the Lord's internal energy. This connection is established and strengthened through the process of saṅkīrtana-yajña and the study of authorized scriptures. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures that by reading his books carefully, all spiritual desires will be fulfilled.

• Only those who are very intelligent take to sankirtana-yajna to fulfill all their desires, material and spiritual, whereas those who are lusty for sense enjoyment perform karma-kandiya-yajnas.
• In the liberated state produced by acting under the direction of the Lord's internal, spiritual energy, the jiva's true, spiritual desires become manifest.
• I am so glad to learn that you are reading my Bhagavad-gita As It Is with great interest, and I hope if you kindly read my books carefully that all your spiritual desires will be fulfilled.

The Power of Hearing

The process of hearing about the Lord and His pure devotees is so potent that it can satisfy the soul completely. Whether hearing the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana or the activities of great souls like Mahārāja Bharata, this aural reception acts as the means to fulfill all aspirations, both material and spiritual, without the need to ask anyone else.

• Anyone who hears, recites or chants them (Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, prayers of Lord Brahmā, etc.) surely gets all his spiritual desires fulfilled. Thus Krsna's childhood pastimes, His sporting with Balarama and the cowherd boys in Vrndavana, were described.
• Whatever one desires can be attained simply by hearing, chanting and glorifying the activities of Maharaja Bharata. In this way, one can fulfill all his material and spiritual desires. One does not have to ask anyone else for these things.

Conclusion

Spiritual life is a life of desire—but it is desire purified of selfishness. Unlike the materialist who runs after temporary sense gratification, or the voidist who seeks to annihilate all volition, the devotee cultivates spiritual desire. This desire to serve Kṛṣṇa is the natural function of the soul. When awakened through hearing, chanting, and sacrifice, it leads one out of the material world and into the eternal realm of active, blissful service.

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 Spiritual Desire. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.