Akāma Devotees of God - The Perfection of Pure Desire
The ultimate goal of spiritual life is to cleanse the heart of all selfish motivations. In his purports, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a profound analysis of the akāma devotee—a soul who has entirely transcended the need for personal sense gratification. By understanding the nature of this desireless state, contrasting it with other forms of worship, and observing the perfect examples of pure devotion, a practitioner learns how to cultivate unalloyed love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Meaning of Akāma
To be akāma is to be desireless, but this does not mean entering a state of void or unconsciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the soul is eternally active and must desire something. In the akāma state, all selfish, material desires are completely replaced by the singular, pure desire to act as the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.
- A devotee is akama, there is no kama. He has no personal desires. His desire is only to remain eternal servant of God. That's all. That is his position. That is not desire. That is his actual position.
- There are various classes of men. One class is called akamis, referring to those who have no material desire. Desire must exist, either material or spiritual.
- Kama spirit, or the desire for one's own satisfaction, is fully exhibited in the material world, whereas the spirit of akamah is fully exhibited in the spiritual world.
- Lord Caitanya said that a person who is in full Krsna consciousness is the only peaceful man because he has no demands. That is the special qualification of a person who is in Krsna consciousness. He is akamah.
Categories of Worshipers
The Vedic scriptures identify different classes of people based on their underlying desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda outlines that whether one is a karmī wanting everything, a jñānī wanting liberation, or a pure devotee wanting nothing but service, everyone should direct their worship toward the Supreme Lord to achieve ultimate success.
- The devotees are divided into three categories - akama (desireless), moksa-kama (desiring liberation) and sarva-kama (desiring material perfection).
- There are three classes of men. Akama, without kama, without any desire, that is devotees. And sarva-kama means the karmis, and moksa-kama - the jnanis. So whatever you may be, you can engage yourself in devotional service.
- Whether one is without desire (akama) or with desire (sakama), or whether one desires liberation (moksa-kama), he is advised to worship the Supreme Lord and execute devotional service unto Him. By so doing, one attains all perfection in any field of life.
- Everyone, whether an akama or sakama or moksa-kama, should worship the Lord with great expedience. This implies that bhakti-yoga may be perfectly administered without any mixture of karma and jnana.
Sakama vs. Akāma Devotees
Even among those who approach the Supreme Lord, there is a distinction based on motive. Śrīla Prabhupāda distinguishes between sakāma devotees, who seek material relief or opulence from the Lord, and akāma devotees, who unconditionally serve Kṛṣṇa without ever disturbing Him for personal favors, even amidst intense suffering.
- Those who approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead with desires for material enjoyment are called sakama, and those devotees who have no material desires for sense gratification but serve the Supreme Lord out of spontaneous love are called akama.
- The difference between sakama and akama devotees is that when sakama devotees, like the demigods, fall into difficulty, they approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead for relief, whereas akama devotees, even in the greatest danger, never disturb the Lord for material benefits.
- Even if an akama devotee is suffering, he thinks this is due to his past impious activities and agrees to suffer the consequences. He never disturbs the Lord.
- Krsna is so merciful that He turns a sakama-bhakta into an akama-bhakta. A pure devotee, an akama-bhakta, who has no material motives, is satisfied simply to serve the lotus feet of the Lord.
The Ultimate Examples of Akāma
The highest echelons of spiritual history showcase the absolute beauty of the akāma spirit. Śrīla Prabhupāda points to Arjuna, who sacrificed his personal desires to execute Kṛṣṇa's will on the battlefield, and the gopīs of Vrajabhūmi, whose love for Kṛṣṇa was so completely spontaneous and unmotivated that it represents the zenith of pure devotion.
- Being a pure devotee he (Arjuna) agreed to fight on God's instruction because he came to his senses and realized that satisfaction of God at the cost of his own satisfaction was his prime duty. He became akama. That is the perfect stage of a living being.
- Superb feelings were exhibited by the damsels of Vrajabhumi for the happiness of the Lord. The gopis loved the Lord without any return, and this is the perfect exhibition of the akamah spirit.
- If a person wants to return home, back to Godhead, or wants to become a pure devotee (akama), 1) he is recommended to take to the path of devotional service and hear and chant of Lord Visnu or of His devotee.
- Those devotees who have no material desires for sense gratification but serve the Supreme Lord out of spontaneous love for Him are called akama.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the transformation from a materially motivated individual to an akāma devotee is the very essence of spiritual success. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully explains that while it is natural for conditioned souls to harbor desires for enjoyment or liberation, true peace is only found when those desires are purified into unalloyed loving service. By studying the flawless examples of Arjuna and the gopīs, and by constantly engaging in the devotional process without demanding any material return, a sincere practitioner can elevate their consciousness and securely establish their eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of 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 Akama Devotees of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.