Pleasing the Spiritual Master Is the Active Principle in Spiritual Life
In the vast library of Vedic knowledge, there are countless rules, regulations, and principles designed to elevate a human being. A neophyte may become confused about which principle is most important. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while there are many basic principles—such as non-violence, austerity, and cleanliness—the "active principle" that determines the success of spiritual life is the satisfaction of the spiritual master. Just as a wire has no value without electricity, spiritual practices have no potency without the blessings of the guru.
Active Principle
The term "active principle" refers to the essential ingredient that makes a medicine or process work. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that ingredient is obedience to the spiritual master. Offerings made with love are accepted by Kṛṣṇa, according to Śrīla Prabhupāda, only because they please the spiritual master. Conversely, disobeying the order of the spiritual master renders a disciple "useless," regardless of their other qualifications.
- Pleasing the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life and offerings made with love and devotion are always pleasing to the spiritual master.
- The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless.
Basic Principles: Humanity
Before one can become a devotee, one must first be a civilized human being. This is defined by the adherence to the four regulative principles: no meat-eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, and no gambling. These restrictions, along with the four social and spiritual orders (varṇāśrama-dharma), form the structure of human society. Without them, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that humanity is merely a "second edition of animal life."
- Accepting these four spiritual and four material principles of life, that is humanity. One who is not within this category, varnasrama-dharma, he's not accepted as a human being or a civilized human being.
- The four principles which we ask our students to follow, namely, restraining illicit sex life, etc., must be the basic principles of spiritual life.
First Steps: Tapasya and Inquiry
Spiritual life begins with voluntarily accepting inconvenience for a higher goal. This is called tapasya. The first principle of tapasya, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, is the denial of material activities. Simultaneously, one must engage in philosophical inquiry. The question "Who am I?" marks the transition from animal consciousness to spiritual seeking.
- To engage in tapasya, or denial of material activities, is the first principle of spiritual life.
- One has to understand himself. That is the basic principle of spiritual life. You go to the spiritual master, our first business is inquiry. That inquiry is - Who am I.
Turning Attention to Kṛṣṇa
The culmination of all these principles is to focus the mind on Kṛṣṇa. While morality and austerity are necessary foundations, the essence is the reorientation of consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a pure devotee is so attached to serving Kṛṣṇa that they are willing to discard even the standard goals of religion, economic development, and liberation.
- The whole principle of spiritual life is to turn our attention back to Krishna, and thus immediately be freed from all entanglements of Maya.
- Krsna is so attractive that out of transcendental attachment, a devotee will abandon all four principles of spiritual life - religiosity, economic development, regulation of sense gratification and salvation.
Conclusion
To navigate the path back to Godhead, one must accept the discipline of the four regulative principles and engage in tapasya. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us that one must never forget that the life and soul of these activities is the pleasure of the spiritual master. By keeping this active principle in the center, success is assured.
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 Principles of Spiritual Life. 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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