Seriousness of a Devotee of God in Executing the Mission
In the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the seriousness of a devotee is the catalyst that transforms a neophyte practitioner into a confidential servant of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this seriousness is defined by an unwavering dedication to the mission of the spiritual master and a deep, internal sincerity that supersedes mere ritualistic formality. By strictly adhering to the instructions of the ācārya and dedicating one's energy to spreading the glories of the Lord, a devotee transcends the material platform and secures their return to the spiritual world.
Order of Spiritual Master
Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that the lifeline of a devotee is their connection to the spiritual master. When a disciple takes the specific instruction of the Guru—such as the production and distribution of books—as their life and soul, they immediately establish a direct link with the Supreme Lord.
- If a disciple is very serious to execute the mission of the spiritual master, he immediately associates with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by vani or vapuh.
- In my last meeting with Prabhupada in Radha Kunda he advised me to print some books if I get money. I took it very seriously and by His grace we have now published my translations of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc.
- Dhruva Maharaja regretted very much that he could not take seriously the instruction of his spiritual master and that his consciousness was therefore contaminated.
Internal Sincerity
The Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, judges a devotee not by their external perfection but by the intent within their heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Kṛṣṇa is bhāva-grāhī janārdana, one who accepts the essence of devotion; thus, a devotee who is internally serious about service is embraced by the Lord, even if their external execution has flaws.
- Even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhava-grahi janardana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality.
- If you are serious to understand, we should submit our doubtful questions and then understand.
- How much a devotee is seriously attached to the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be understood from the statement of Maharaj Prthu.
Preaching and Public Welfare
True seriousness in devotional service naturally expands into compassion for others. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that a sincere devotee, following in the footsteps of the ācāryas, takes up the arduous task of preaching, traveling, and publishing literature to save humanity from suffering.
- A sincere devotee, after his initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, takes very seriously chanting of the glories of the Lord and traveling all over the world so that others may also hear the glories of the Lord.
- I want that my disciples like you (Hayagriva dasa) and others should take this task very seriously to give the world the access to this great treasure of Vaisnava literature by producing innumerable books and small booklets.
- Serious interest in the welfare of the public makes one a bona fide acarya. An acarya does not exploit his followers. Since the acarya is a confidential servitor of the Lord, his heart is always full of compassion for humanity in its suffering.
Spiritual Advancement
Seriousness is the distinguishing factor that elevates a devotee from the neophyte stage to the platform of a madhyama-adhikārī. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that by taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa with full seriousness, one is protected from the cycle of birth and death and is tested by the spiritual master to ensure their fitness for initiation and further advancement.
- When one is actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and when he seriously engages in the service of the Lord, he should be accepted as a madhyama-adhikari.
- If we take shelter of Krsna seriously, there will be no fear of being thrown back into the cycle of so many species of life. A sincere devotee will surely be transferred to the abode of Krsna, as affirmed in the Bhagavad-gita.
- It is the duty of the spiritual master to test the disciple to see how seriously he desires to execute devotional service. Then he may be initiated.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the seriousness of a devotee is the measure of their love for Kṛṣṇa and their gratitude toward the spiritual master. It is not a static quality but an active, dynamic force that drives the devotee to preach, to print books, and to maintain purity amidst the material world. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, this seriousness captures the attention of the Lord, who is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana, ensuring that the sincere soul is never lost to the material energy but is instead welcomed into the eternal service of the Supreme.
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 Seriousness of 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.