Absorption of a Devotee of God
The life of a devotee is characterized by a persistent and loving focus on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the absorption of a devotee is not a forced or artificial state but a natural evolution of devotional service. By engaging the mind and heart in the Lord's wonderful actions and forms, the devotee transcends the bodily plane of existence and enters into a state of constant communion with the Divine.
Simple Path to Perfection
The path to spiritual perfection is laid out clearly in the Bhagavad-gītā, where Lord Kṛṣṇa instructs the living entity to engage the mind always in thinking of Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this process is very simple: by becoming a devotee, offering obeisances, and worshiping the Lord, one becomes completely absorbed in Him. This absorption ensures that the soul will surely return to the Lord. Such a state of consciousness is the hallmark of the pure devotee, who understands the eternal, transcendental forms of the Lord that remain hidden from those not engaged in His service.
- According to Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.34): Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. This process is very simple.
- All these manifestations of the Lord, appearing everywhere in His eternal, transcendental forms, cannot be understood by anyone but the pure devotees, who are always engaged in devotional service to the Lord and are fully absorbed in the Lord.
- Simply by seeing the transcendental form of the Lord, a devotee is at once fully absorbed in the Lord in his heart. This absorption is called samadhi.
- The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, being thus petitioned by the Pracetas, the supreme devotee Narada, who is always absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, began to reply.
Transcending the Bodily Plane
A pure devotee resides in the abode of the Supreme Lord even while inhabiting a physical body that appears to belong to this world. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that such a devotee is not on the bodily plane because they are absorbed in transcendental thoughts. Even when engaged in various external activities, if the mind is completely absorbed at the lotus feet of the Lord, the devotee remains on the transcendental platform. This absorption allows the devotee to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and renders the blazing fire of material nescience insignificant.
- Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead - SB 10.2.37.
- The pure devotee lives constantly in the abode of the Supreme Lord, even in the present body, which apparently belongs to this world. The pure devotee is not exactly on the bodily plane, since he is absorbed in the transcendental thought of the Supreme.
- The ocean of material nescience is compared to a blazing fire, but to a devotee this blazing fire is insignificant because he is completely absorbed in devotional service.
- Thus because he is completely absorbed in thought of Me, the devotee does not desire even the highest benediction obtainable in the upper planetary systems, including Satyaloka.
The Vision of the Deity and Pastimes
The absorption of a devotee is often triggered by the sight of the Lord or the hearing of His pastimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that simply by seeing the beautiful decoration of the Deity in the temple, a devotee becomes absorbed in thought of Him and loses all material consciousness. Furthermore, reading transcendental works such as the Krsna-bhavanamrta, which is filled with the Lord's pastimes, helps exalted devotees remain fixed in Kṛṣṇa-thought. This focus is so deep that it can manifest in wonderful ways, such as Akrura falling in ecstasy upon seeing the footprints of Kṛṣṇa in the dust.
- It is explained in this verse (SB 3.25.36) that although they (devotees of God) do not have knowledge, simply by seeing the beautiful decoration of the Deity in the temple, the devotee is absorbed in thought of Him and loses all other consciousness.
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has given us a transcendental literary work entitled Krsna-bhavanamrta, which is full with Krsna's pastimes. Exalted devotees can remain absorbed in Krsna-thought by reading such books.
- O thoughtful devotees, as long as you are not absorbed in transcendental bliss, you should continue tasting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, and when you are fully absorbed in bliss, you should go on tasting its mellows forever.
- When Akrura came to Vrndavana in search of Krsna, he saw the footprints of the Lord on the dust of Nanda-grama and at once fell on them in ecstasy of transcendental love. This is possible for a devotee who is fully absorbed in incessant thoughts of Krsna.
Internal Potency and Maternal Affection
The absorption of a devotee can take various forms, including the intense maternal affection shown by Mother Yasoda. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that while she could sometimes understand the real truth of Kṛṣṇa’s divinity, the internal potency, yogamaya, would inspire her to become absorbed in intense maternal love. This absorption was so complete that during celebrations like the utthana ceremony, she would be busy receiving guests and worshiping them, becoming so absorbed in her duties and affection that she could not even hear the child Kṛṣṇa crying.
- Mother Yasoda, by the grace of the Lord, could understand the real truth. But then again, the supreme master, by the influence of the internal potency, yogamaya, inspired her to become absorbed in intense maternal affection for her son Krsna - SB 10.8.43.
- At that time (while Yasoda was absorbed in celebrating the utthana ceremony and was busy receiving guests), the child Krsna, demanding to drink the milk of His mother's breast, angrily threw His legs upward - SB 10.7.6.
- The liberal mother Yasoda, absorbed in celebrating the utthana ceremony, was busy receiving guests, worshiping them with all respect and offering them clothing, cows, garlands and grains. Thus she could not hear the child (Krsna) crying - SB 10.7.6.
- Dhruva Maharaja was so absorbed in meditation on the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that He Himself, the universal consciousness, was attracted to Dhruva.
Conclusion
The absorption of a devotee is the ultimate fulfillment of the soul's constitutional position. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that this state is achieved by unreservedly turning away from mundane attachments and focusing entirely on the Supreme. Whether through the direct worship of the Deity, the study of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, or the cultivation of ecstatic moods of separation, the devotee remains perpetually connected to the Lord. This absorption provides a shield against the sufferings of the material world and grants a vision that transcends the limits of physical sense perception. By living in this state of incessant remembrance, the devotee is already liberated, residing in the presence of Kṛṣṇa even before leaving the material body. Ultimately, the simplicity and depth of this process ensure that any sincere soul can achieve the greatest perfection of life and return to their eternal home in the spiritual sky.
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