Qualities Defining One Who Is Actually a Devotee of God
In the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the status of being a devotee is defined by internal consciousness rather than external circumstances. A person who is actually a devotee of God transcends the dualities of the material world, maintaining a singular focus on the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord regardless of where they are placed or how they appear to ordinary vision.
Transcendental Position and Detachment
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a true devotee, although moving within the material world, is not touched by it. By constant engagement in the service of the Lord, the devotee effectively lives in the spiritual realm, Vaikuṇṭha, and maintains complete indifference to residence in either heaven or hell, seeking only the opportunity to serve.
- A devotee does not live alone. Of course, everyone lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because the devotee is engaged in His service, he actually does not live in any material condition.
- The pure devotee of the Lord does not live anywhere in this material world, although he appears to live among mundane creatures. Actually, the devotee lives in Vaikuntha.
- One who is actually devotee, he doesn't care where he is placed, in the hell or heaven, he doesn't care. He simply wants to serve Krsna, never mind where, not even heaven or hell.
Freedom from Material Defects and Contamination
The conditioned soul is plagued by four defects: making mistakes, being illusioned, cheating, and having imperfect senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that one who is actually a devotee overcomes these limitations through the purifying power of the holy name and becomes a perfect brāhmaṇa, immune to the contamination of the material modes.
- A devotee of Lord Krsna is actually a perfect brahmana. His situation is transcendental, for he is free from the four defects of conditional life, which are the tendencies to commit mistakes, to be illusioned, to cheat and to possess imperfect senses.
- Since a devotee constantly chants the Hare Krsna mantra, no contamination of the material world can touch him. He is, therefore, actually purified. Muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje.
Vision and Perception of a Pure Devotee
A defining quality of an actual devotee is their unique vision; they see everything in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While a non-devotee is disturbed by suffering, a devotee welcomes distress as a feature of the Lord's mercy and sees Kṛṣṇa as the only acting entity in existence.
- A nondevotee is perturbed in distress, but a devotee welcomes distress as another feature of the Lord. Sarvam khalv idam brahma. A devotee can actually see that there is only the Supreme Personality of Godhead and no second entity.
- One should therefore not see a pure devotee from a materialistic point of view. Unless one is actually a devotee, he cannot see another devotee perfectly.
Exemplary Devotees and Internal Renunciation
Śrīla Prabhupāda cites historical examples like Dhruva Mahārāja and Jaḍa Bharata to illustrate that actual devotion is characterized by internal surrender. Whether one is born in a demoniac family like Vṛtrāsura or acts like a dullard like Jaḍa Bharata, the actual devotee is spiritually alert and refuses material benedictions even when they are offered by the Lord Himself.
- He (Dhruva) wanted to acquire the throne of his father - or attain an even better position - but when he was actually in the presence of the Supreme Lord, he forgot everything. He said, "My dear Lord, I do not wish to ask any benediction."
- Jada Bharata was Bharata Maharaja in the body of a brahmana, and he outwardly conducted himself as if he were dull, deaf, dumb and blind. Actually he was quite alert within.
- Vrtrasura was considered a demon, but actually he was more than qualified as a devotee, or maha-paurusya. If one somehow becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord, whatever his position, he can be brought to the position of a perfect person.
- When a devotee is actually engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, his engagement in itself is so perfect that there is no need to ask for further benediction.
Conclusion
To be actually a devotee of God is to exist on a platform of unalloyed service that transcends material designations. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that such a devotee is not motivated by material gain, nor are they perturbed by worldly reversals. Whether situated in high or low birth, or amidst pleasure or pain, the actual devotee remains spiritually alert, seeing Kṛṣṇa everywhere and desiring nothing but His service.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Actually a Devotee of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.