Proper Engagement of Body and Mind
While many spiritual paths advocate the negation of the body and mind to achieve liberation, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches the process of proper engagement. The material coverings of the soul are not to be artificially discarded but must be utilized in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This article explores the practical application of spiritual life, where the body, mind, and words become the primary tools for self-realization.
Threefold Dedication
The standard of devotional service is the complete surrender of one's faculties. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a devotee is one who has dedicated their body, mind, and words—often referred to as kāya-mana-vākya—solely to the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This threefold engagement is the test of true devotion, surpassing mere theoretical knowledge or external renunciation.
- A devotee means one who has dedicated his body, mind and words for Krsna. That is the test of devotee, whether he has engaged these three things to the service of the Lord.
- One must accept a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession and is a servant of the servant of the Lord. Under his direction, one must then engage one's three properties, namely his body, mind and words.
- Whatever his condition may be, one who is engaged fully with his body, mind and speech in the service of the Lord is liberated, even within this body.
Symbolism of Tridaṇḍa
This principle of engagement is formally represented in the Vaiṣṇava order of renunciation, known as tridaṇḍi-sannyāsa. The sannyāsī carries a staff consisting of three rods, symbolizing the vow to serve the Lord with body, mind, and words. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that real renunciation does not simply mean changing one's dress, but rather committing one's entire being to the Lord's mission.
- A tridandi-sannyasi carries three dandas, signifying kaya-mano-vakya-body, mind and words. All of these should be offered to Visnu, and then one can begin devotional service.
- Tridanda-sannyasa means one who has devoted his life, means his activities, his body and his speeches. That is tridanda-sannyasa. Anyone who has devoted his mind, his body and his speeches for the service of the Lord, he is sannyasi.
- Everyone can become a tridandi sannyasi if he dedicates these three things (body, mind, words) for Krsna's service, then he's tridandi sannyasi. Of course officially, tridandi-sannyasi, one has to take three rods joined together. That's a symbolic.
Purification Through Service
Engaging the body and mind in material activities leads to bondage, but engaging them in spiritual activities leads to purification. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that when one acts for Kṛṣṇa, the activities of the body and mind are cleansed of material contamination. This active process is superior to dry speculation or artificial repression of the senses.
- When one acts in Krsna consciousness for the satisfaction of the senses of Krsna, any action, whether of the body, mind, intelligence or even the senses, is purified of material contamination.
- By acting in Krsna consciousness for the satisfaction of the senses of Krsna, any action, whether of the body, mind, intelligence or even of the senses, is purified of material contamination.
- Unalloyed devotional service, which is transcendental to the activities of the body and mind, such as jnana (mental speculation) and karma (fruitive work), is called pure bhakti-yoga.
Conclusion
The proper engagement of the body and mind is the secret to success in spiritual life. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the living entity need not reject their material faculties but must change the quality of their engagement. By switching from self-service to Kṛṣṇa-service, the body and mind cease to be obstacles and become valuable instruments in the journey back to home, back to Godhead.
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 Body and Mind. 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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