View source for Wanting to Enter the Spiritual Kingdom

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the universe is governed by strict laws of qualification. Just as one cannot cross an ocean without a boat or survive in space without oxygen, the spirit soul cannot simply walk into the spiritual world with a material body and a contaminated mind. If we sincerely want to enter the spiritual kingdom, we must undergo a process of profound purification. By reviving our original spiritual consciousness and abandoning our desire to enjoy the material prison house, we perfectly adjust ourselves to enter the eternal, blissful abode of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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=== The Principle of Qualification ===

Entering any new environment requires a proper physical and constitutional adjustment. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently uses practical examples to illustrate this point: to enter the water, one must have a body like a fish, and to enter a fire, one must have the temperature of fire. Similarly, the living entity must prepare a suitable spiritual body to enter the kingdom of God. As long as we hold onto our material conditioning, entering the transcendental atmosphere is impossible. 

* [[Vaniquotes:I have given this example many times. Just like if you want to enter into certain place, then you must be adjusted with the conditions. Just like people are going to the moon planet. There it is supposed to be it is very cold|I have given this example many times. Just like if you want to enter into certain place, then you must be adjusted with the conditions. Just like people are going to the moon planet. There it is supposed to be it is very cold.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As we understand that even on this planet there are different kinds of bodies for living in particular places, so, similarly, if we want to enter another planet, we have to prepare ourselves to get a suitable body|As we understand that even on this planet there are different kinds of bodies for living in particular places, so, similarly, if we want to enter another planet, we have to prepare ourselves to get a suitable body.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When you go to God, you must have a body like God. Just like if you want to enter into the water, then you must have a body like a fish. Otherwise you cannot enter into the water|When you go to God, you must have a body like God. Just like if you want to enter into the water, then you must have a body like a fish. Otherwise you cannot enter into the water.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to enter fire, you must be fire. And if you are not fire, then you will burn. So first of all we have to revive, because Krsna . . . the example is given that Krsna is the big fire and we are sparks of fire. We are also fire, very small|If you want to enter fire, you must be fire. And if you are not fire, then you will burn. So first of all we have to revive, because Krsna . . . the example is given that Krsna is the big fire and we are sparks of fire. We are also fire, very small.]]

=== Purity and Humility ===

The spiritual world is an uncontaminated realm. Because God is supremely pure, anyone wanting to enter His kingdom must also be completely pure and free from sinful desires (''apāpa-viddham''). This purification process requires genuine humility. Confirming the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the kingdom of God is meant for the meek and the mild. When the conditioned soul humbly surrenders to the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all impediments to entering the spiritual world are removed.

* [[Vaniquotes:God is pure, and His kingdom is also pure, and anyone who wants to enter there, he must be pure also|God is pure, and His kingdom is also pure, and anyone who wants to enter there, he must be pure also.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We must be pure to approach Krsna. Just like if we want to enter fire we must be also highly tempered, almost like fire, same degree. Apapa-viddham|We must be pure to approach Krsna. Just like if we want to enter fire we must be also highly tempered, almost like fire, same degree. Apapa-viddham.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, the abode, the planet where Krsna lives, so you must be purified. Adjust yourself. Not only to the spiritual kingdom of Krsna - any planet you want to enter, you must adjust yourself|If you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, the abode, the planet where Krsna lives, so you must be purified. Adjust yourself. Not only to the spiritual kingdom of Krsna - any planet you want to enter, you must adjust yourself.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, as Lord Jesus Christ also said: "The kingdom of God is for the meek and the . . ." Huh? Meek and mild, yes. So that is the qualification. You have to become humble|If you want to enter into the spiritual kingdom, as Lord Jesus Christ also said: "The kingdom of God is for the meek and the . . ." Huh? Meek and mild, yes. So that is the qualification. You have to become humble.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If I want to enter into the kingdom of God, or Krsna, if we want to be Krsna consciousness, there is no impediment. There is no impediment. Ahaituky apratihata|If I want to enter into the kingdom of God, or Krsna, if we want to be Krsna consciousness, there is no impediment. There is no impediment. Ahaituky apratihata.]]

=== Entering the Highest Abode ===

While impersonalists and ''jñānīs'' may undergo severe austerities simply to enter the ''brahmajyoti'' (the spiritual effulgence), the pure Vaiṣṇava has a much higher aspiration. A true devotee is not satisfied with merging into the light; they want to enter Goloka Vṛndāvana, the highest spiritual planet, to engage in personal loving exchanges with the Lord. To enter into Kṛṣṇa's most intimate pastimes, such as the ''rāsa-līlā'', one must practice loving Kṛṣṇa with the exact same spontaneous devotion as the ''gopīs''.

* [[Vaniquotes:He (a person who considers the association of Krsna to be the highest perfection of life) is not satisfied with merging into brahmajyoti effulgence, for he wants to enter the highest spiritual planet, namely Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana. BG 1972 purports|He (a person who considers the association of Krsna to be the highest perfection of life) is not satisfied with merging into brahmajyoti effulgence, for he wants to enter the highest spiritual planet, namely Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to enter into the rasa-lila, if you desire like that, so you love Krsna in that way, as the gopis. Then you'll have the same perfection. There is no difficulty. It is not at all difficult. Simply you practice|If you want to enter into the rasa-lila, if you desire like that, so you love Krsna in that way, as the gopis. Then you'll have the same perfection. There is no difficulty. It is not at all difficult. Simply you practice.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Although the Yogendras were already conversant in Vedic knowledge, they became very jubilant in Krsna consciousness just by listening to Brahma. Thus they wanted to enter Dvaraka, the abode of Lord Krsna|Although the Yogendras were already conversant in Vedic knowledge, they became very jubilant in Krsna consciousness just by listening to Brahma. Thus they wanted to enter Dvaraka, the abode of Lord Krsna.]]

=== Material Entanglement and Ghostly Life ===

In stark contrast to entering the spiritual world, the conditioned soul originally chose to enter the material world to enjoy independently. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares this to someone willfully committing a crime and entering a prison house; Kṛṣṇa simply provides the facility we desire. This material entanglement is so deep that at the time of death, a person may be so attached to their current gross body that they do not want to enter another one, which forces them to remain in a miserable ghostly state. 

* [[Vaniquotes:Krsna has not pushed us. You wanted something for your enjoyment, so-called enjoyment. Krsna has provided you. Just like you want to enter into the prison life, therefore government creates a prison house|Krsna has not pushed us. You wanted something for your enjoyment, so-called enjoyment. Krsna has provided you. Just like you want to enter into the prison life, therefore government creates a prison house.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you want to enter into spiritual life, you must know that you, spirit soul, you are eternal. You don't die; you are not finished. That after the destruction of this body, you accept another body, tatha dehantara praptir|If you want to enter into spiritual life, you must know that you, spirit soul, you are eternal. You don't die; you are not finished. That after the destruction of this body, you accept another body, tatha dehantara praptir.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The living being has attachment for the present body and does not want to enter another, and thus in the interim he remains a ghost|The living being has attachment for the present body and does not want to enter another, and thus in the interim he remains a ghost.]]

=== Conclusion ===

In summary, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that entering the spiritual kingdom is not based on whimsical desire or artificial claims, but on absolute qualification. If we want to enter the fire of Kṛṣṇa's association, we must shed our material dampness and become pure, spiritual sparks. By abandoning our desire to enjoy the prison house of material existence and instead embracing the humble, submissive mood of devotional service, we perfectly prepare ourselves. When our hearts are entirely purified and aligned with the love of the pure devotees, Kṛṣṇa gladly opens the doors for us to enter His eternal, blissful pastimes.

=== 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 [[Vaniquotes:Category:Wanting_to_Enter|Wanting to Enter]]. 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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