Strength through Surrender - The Path of Becoming Powerful
The desire to be influential and strong is inherent in every living being, but the methods for achieving such status vary greatly between the material and spiritual paths. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that becoming powerful is a science based on alignment with the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. Whether through physical discipline, mental focus, or spiritual surrender, power is always a gift from the Absolute. This article explores the disciplines required to gain such strength and the dangers of misusing it for selfish ends.
The Secret of Restraint and Austerity
A primary theme in this category is that power is conserved and magnified through discipline. Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies brahmacarya (celibacy) and tapasya (austerity) as the foundational secrets to becoming powerful. By restraining the senses, particularly sex life, a person gains immense mental and bodily strength. This principle applies to both the demigods and humans; the more one engages in austerities, the more one is empowered by the grace of the Lord to perform extraordinary tasks.
- A brahmacari gets power if he follows brahmacarya. Everyone, if we follow the prescribed rules and regulations, automatically you become powerful.
- Even if you don't do anything, if you simply restrain your sex life, you become a very powerful man. People do not know the secret. So anything you do, if you want to do it with determination, you have to stop sex life. That is the secret.
- Nothing is possible without tapasya. Lord Brahma, however, was empowered to create this entire universe because of his austerities. The more we engage in austerities, the more we become powerful by the grace of the Lord.
Empowerment through Disciplic Succession
Spiritual power is not something one invents; it is received. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is inherently powerful, it becomes even more potent when delivered through the paramparā, or disciplic succession. When a disciple receives the mantra from a bona fide spiritual master, the vibration carries a unique spiritual weight. This empowerment allows the devotee to perform service that astonishes others, as their heart becomes a dhāma, or a residence for the Lord's own potency.
- In that discipleship also, I do not charge anything. Neither do I offer anything new. I offer the same Hare Krishna beads, but it becomes spiritually powerful on account of being delivered in disciplic succession.
- Although the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is powerful in itself, a disciple upon initiation receives the mantra from his spiritual master, for when the mantra is chanted by the spiritual master, it becomes more powerful.
- If one is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to do something, the core of his heart becomes a dhama, and thus he becomes so extraordinarily powerful that not only his enemies but also people in general are astonished to observe his activities.
Peril of Demoniac Power
The pursuit of power without God-consciousness leads to catastrophe. Demoniac figures like Hiraṇyakaśipu or Bali Mahārāja (prior to his full surrender) became extremely powerful through boons or penances, yet their power was temporary and often served to disturb the world. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that when people become "unnecessarily powerful" and use their influence for sense gratification, they become a burden to the earth. Such power is ultimately vanquished by the Lord’s will, often through calamities like war or pestilence, to restore balance.
- When demons become very powerful, they defy the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead. Indra, though not a demon, was puffed up by his material position, and he wanted to challenge the supreme controller.
- When one becomes unnecessarily powerful, disturbs the world situation, he's a burden. He's a burden. That kind of burden is vanquished by Krsna's desire, will. There must be some catastrophe like war, pestilence, famine, and everything will be finished.
- As a result (of neglecting the divisions of society), whoever somehow or other becomes powerful will be the king or president, and thus the prajas, or citizens, will be so harassed that they will give up hearth and home and will go to the forest.
Conclusion
True empowerment is a symptom of one's relationship with the Supreme Powerful. As Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, a Vaiṣṇava does not need to practice separate yogic maneuvers to become powerful; their simple surrender to Kṛṣṇa makes them all-powerful. By identifying our unit energy with the service of the total energy, we gain the strength to overcome all hindrances on the path to the Supreme. Ultimately, the most powerful man is he who has conquered his own mind and senses, dedicating his borrowed influence to the welfare of the world and the pleasure of the Lord.
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 Becoming Powerful. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.