Successful Execution of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
In the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the definition of success is elevated from a temporary material achievement to an eternal spiritual reality. While the material world judges success by wealth, prestige, and family comfort, the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness establishes that a successful life is one that terminates the cycle of birth and death. He explains that human life is meant for self-realization, and any endeavor that does not lead to understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ultimately a failure.
The successful execution of spiritual life requires a specific methodology: strict adherence to the spiritual master, the chanting of the holy names, and an attitude of dependence on the Lord's mercy. This article explores the essential components that guarantee success on the path back to Godhead, as elucidated in Śrīla Prabhupāda's vāṇī.
True Standard of Success
Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminds us that material accumulation is not the marker of a successful life, for all material things are lost at death. True success is achieved when one realizes their spiritual identity, becomes free from the bodily conception of life, and prepares to enter the spiritual world.
- Successful means that you haven't got to accept any more this material body. You will get a spiritual body and go to Krsna, or go to home, go to back to Godhead.
- All your chants that you are practicing, this will be tested at the time of death. If you can remember Krsna, Hare Krsna, hari-kirtana, at the time of death, then you are successful.
- If you, in this life, simply try to understand Krsna, then your life is successful. What is that success? After giving up this material body, no more acceptance of material body; we remain in our spiritual body. We have got our spiritual body.
Necessity of Guru and Śāstra
One cannot attain perfection by whimsically manufacturing their own process; success depends on following the authorized path. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that strict obedience to the bona fide spiritual master and the scriptures (śāstra) is the only way to ensure one's endeavors are accepted by Kṛṣṇa.
- One simply has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master strictly. Then everything will be successful in due course of time.
- Everything is mentioned there in the sastras. Simply you have to follow the sastra and guru, and sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya. Sadhu, those who are devotees, we have to follow the devotees, the sastra and guru. Then everything successful.
- Unless they (great mystic yogis) take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master they fall victim to the material influence and are never successful in their attempts at self-realization.
Primacy of Saṅkīrtana
In the Age of Kali, other processes of self-realization such as severe austerity or silent meditation are difficult and often ineffective. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the only sacrifice sanctioned by the Vedas to bring about successful spiritual results in this era.
- In this age of Kali the only successful performance of yajna, or sacrifice, is yajnaih sankirtana-prayaih: the best type of sacrifice is simply to chant Hare Krsna.
- The chanting of Hare Krsna is the best process for successfully changing one's state of being to transcendental life.
- So for this age, when people are so much fallen, no other process will be successful. This process is the only process. It is very easy and sublime and effective and practical, and one can realize oneself. Pratyaksavagamam dharmyam.
Enthusiasm and Determination
The path of devotion requires a dynamic attitude; one cannot be passive and expect advancement. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that enthusiasm, coupled with patience and confidence in the process, allows a devotee to overcome obstacles and continue serving until success is achieved.
- You are sitting in the same position and you are thinking that you are making progress. That will fail. You have to come out with enthusiasm. Then it will be successful. That is required.
- One should not give up the execution of devotional service because one or two attempts have not been successful. One must continue. Sri Rupa Gosvami also confirms one should be very enthusiastic and execute devotional service with patience and confidence.
- Process is that "By my karma I have become sinful. Now I have got the remedial measure, chanting of Hare Krsna, but I shall not commit again." Then he's successful.
Divine Sanction versus Material Plans
Mundane society creates endless plans for happiness, peace, and prosperity, yet they inevitably fail because they ignore the Supreme Controller. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that no endeavor—whether individual or collective—can be successful without Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the sanction of the Lord.
- They cannot make any plan successful without Krsna consciousness. So long they'll insist upon this point, that "Without Krsna consciousness we shall do everything successfully..." That is durasa.
- Maya Danava said, "However I plan, you plan or both of us plan, the Lord has planned what is to happen. No one's plan will be successful without His sanction."
- We may make our own various plans, but unless they are sanctioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, they will never be successful.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a successful life is one that is dedicated to the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that success is not measured by the quantity of followers, wealth, or material achievements, but by the sincerity of one's surrender to the instructions of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa. By following the authorized process of bhakti-yoga—specifically chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, engaging in service with enthusiasm, and remaining dependent on the Lord—any living entity can make their life perfect. As Śrīla Prabhupāda succinctly states, if one simply tries to understand Kṛṣṇa in this life, their existence becomes successful, leading to the eternal spiritual realm.
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 Successful. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.