Process to Achieve the Desired Success
Every human being is driven by the desire for success. Generally, this search is directed toward material goals—wealth, fame, or mystic powers. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that these are not the ultimate goals of life. True success lies in reawakening one's eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. This article outlines the bona fide process for achieving this success, which transcends all material denominations and depends entirely on the mercy of the spiritual master and the chanting of the holy names.
One Method for All Classes
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the path to perfection is not exclusive to a specific group. Whether one is full of material desires (karmī), desiring liberation (jñānī), or a mystic yogi, the process to achieve the ultimate perfection is the same. The chanting of the holy name is the universal remedy that purifies all desires and grants the highest success.
- O King (Sukadeva Gosvami), it is finally decided that everyone, namely those in the renounced order of life, the mystics, and the enjoyers of fruitive work, should chant the holy name of the Lord fearlessly to achieve the desired success in their pursuits.
- There are many classes of human beings: the fruitive workers, the empiric philosophers, the mystic yogis, and ultimately, the unalloyed devotees. For all of them, one and the same process is applicable for achieving the desired success.
Necessity of the Spiritual Master
Spiritual success cannot be manufactured by independent mental speculation. It is strictly a product of grace. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one must strictly abide by the orders of the spiritual master. Without faith in the guru's words, the desired success remains out of reach, but with his mercy, even the impossible becomes possible.
- It appears from the talks of Lord Caitanya that a person who cannot keep his faith in the words of the spiritual master and who acts independently cannot attain the desired success in chanting Hare Krsna.
- By the mercy of the guru, even a dumb man can become the greatest orator, and even a lame man can cross mountains. As advised by Lord Brahma, one should remember this sastric injunction if one desires success in his life.
Guarding Against Offenses
To achieve success in chanting, one must be careful to avoid the ten offenses against the holy name. Specifically, maintaining the mentality that the holy name is imaginary or equal to mundane sound vibrations will disqualify a person from attaining the spiritual result.
- Such a chanter (who thinks that the holy name is imaginary) of the name of the Lord cannot achieve the desired success in the matter of chanting the holy name.
- Every devotee who claims to be a Vaisnava must guard against these offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success.
Transcending Material Ambitions
Real success is not found in the cheap results of fruitive work or the dry peace of liberation. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that the living entity is meant for something higher. By becoming attracted to Kṛṣṇa, one naturally loses the taste for lesser successes, such as economic development or yogic perfections.
- Actually the living entity is not intended to achieve success in religious rituals, economic development or sense enjoyment. The living entity should not even desire success in liberation, what to speak of success in religion, economics & sense enjoyment.
- By virtue of such attraction (of Krsna), one can give up fruitive activities and all endeavors for liberation and can even abandon the intense desire to achieve success in yoga mystic power.
Conclusion
Ultimately, success is defined by the destination one reaches. Men of small intelligence worship demigods for temporary success in this world, but the devotee seeks the permanent shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. By following the authorized process—chanting the holy name under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master—any person can achieve the highest success of life: pure love of God.
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 Desiring Success. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.