Constantly Remembering Kṛṣṇa
The essence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that this constant remembrance (smaraṇam) is the key to spiritual success. Whether through the chanting of the holy name, the study of scriptures, or the execution of daily duties, a devotee strives to keep the form of the Lord constantly within the mind, ensuring a safe return to the spiritual world.
Attaining the Supreme
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that constant remembrance is the guaranteed path to reaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unlike mystic yogis who struggle to focus on an abstract concept, a pure devotee easily attains samādhi by meditating on Kṛṣṇa's personal features, name, and fame. This accessible method of meditation makes the Lord easily attainable for one who is undeviated.
- He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he, O Partha (Arjuna), is sure to reach Me.
- A pure devotee constantly remembers Krsna and meditates upon Him. These are qualifications of the pure devotee for whom the Lord is most easily attainable.
- A devotee more easily attains samadhi, or trance, by constantly remembering the Lord's personal feature along with His holy name, fame, pastimes, etc. Therefore, the concentration of the mystic yogi and that of the devotee are not on the same level.
Freedom from Birth and Death
The ultimate test of life is the moment of death, and constant remembrance is the preparation for passing this test. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites the examples of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who, following the footsteps of great authorities, kept Kṛṣṇa constantly in their minds to achieve liberation. Remembering the lotus feet of the Lord severs the knot of material attachment.
- Maharaja Yudhisthira, while leaving home for the north, constantly remembered Lord Sri Krsna within himself, following in the footsteps of his forefathers as well as the great devotees of all times.
- By way of being born in a family of devotees, he (Maharaja Pariksit) automatically came in touch with Krsna, and after being so contacted he constantly remembered Him.
- Constantly remembering the lotus feet of the Lord (Krsna) means preparing for liberation from birth and death.
The Practice of Remembrance
Although the mind is flickering, Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that constant remembrance is not difficult if one follows the prescribed devotional process. By regularly chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and associating with devotees, the mind remains fixed on the Lord. This positive principle of remembrance must be accompanied by the negative principle of avoiding sin and never forgetting the Lord.
- Such meditation (constantly engaged in remembering Krsna) on Krsna may seem very difficult, but it is not.
- The principle of remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly and not forgetting Him at any moment is meant to be followed by everyone without fail.
- That is our business - we shall chant Hare Krishna or read Srimad-Bhagavatam or or associate with devotees in the temple, so that program shall go on continually for constantly remembering Krishna, and we shall not forget Him, even for a moment.
Surrender and Dependence
True surrender means abandoning all other occupations and simply remembering Vāsudeva. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the prayer of Queen Kuntī, who welcomed suffering because it forced her to remember Kṛṣṇa constantly. This level of dependence allows a devotee to remain sinless and fully focused on the Lord, knowing that He is the only shelter.
- As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita, sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me." Whatever we do, we should constantly remember Vasudeva.
- When Krsna was leaving, Queen Kunti said "It is better that we again suffer so that we can always remember You." Thus the devotee sometimes welcomes suffering as an opportunity to remember Krsna constantly.
- The principle is that one should not willingly commit any sin in his life and should constantly remember the lotus feet of the Lord without deviation.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the perfection of life lies in molding one's activities in such a way that Kṛṣṇa is never forgotten. By following the footsteps of great souls like the Pāṇḍavas and practicing the simple process of bhakti-yoga, anyone can attain the state of constant remembrance and return home, back to Godhead.
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 Constantly Remembering Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.