Attention on God - Fixing the Mind on the Supreme
In the conditioned state, the mind is restless, constantly pulled in different directions by the demands of the material senses. The Vedic literatures and Śrīla Prabhupāda teach that the perfection of human life is achieved only when one successfully trains the mind to withdraw from material allurements and focuses it entirely on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whether through the mystic yoga system, attentive hearing of transcendental pastimes, or meticulous Deity worship, the goal remains the same: to fix one's undivided attention on the Lord.
Attentive Hearing of the Lord's Pastimes
The simplest and most effective way to absorb the mind in transcendence is through the process of śravaṇaṁ, or hearing. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that the highest perfection of life is easily attained simply by turning one's attention to the pastimes of the Lord, as narrated by authorized pure devotees.
- Instead of wasting time, one can get spiritual success by turning his attention to the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.
- One can attain to the highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Sri Narada heard them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedantas) in his previous life.
- With one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.
- This narration of Lord Rsabhadeva's pastimes is the reservoir of all auspicious things. Whoever attentively hears or speaks of them, following in the footsteps of the acaryas, will certainly attain unalloyed devotional service at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Concentrating the Mind Through Yoga and Prayer
The mystic yoga system was specifically designed to help the practitioner control the wandering mind. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, true yoga is not an exercise program, but the deliberate practice of focusing one's entire attention on Lord Viṣṇu, the Supersoul residing within the heart.
- The yoga system is especially difficult for this age. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that yoga means to concentrate one's attention on the Superself, Visnu. He is situated in your heart.
- Yogi means those who are trying to focus all attention to the Supersoul which is within our heart. That is called yoga system.
- In the Seventh Chapter (of Bhagavad-gita) He (the Lord) speaks of the living entity as part and parcel of the supreme whole and recommends that he transfer his attention fully to the whole.
- Bowing down with folded hands and concentrating his attention, he began to offer prayers to the child (Narayana), who illuminated His birthplace by His natural influence - Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.3.12.
Attentive Deity Worship and Practical Service
Devotional service provides practical, tangible ways to engage the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that practical service—such as dressing the Deity, cooking offerings, and decorating the temple—demands full attention, thereby saving the devotee from hellish material distractions.
- One should worship the installed Deity with attention and devotion so that the whole atmosphere of one's home becomes the replica of the Lord's abode.
- Only attention engaged in the service of the Lord, especially in dressing and decorating the temple, accompanied by musical kirtana and spiritual instructions from scriptures, can save the common man from the hellish cinema attractions and rubbish sex-songs.
- With great attention, one must prepare an oblation of grains boiled in ghee and milk and must chant the Purusa-sukta mantra. The offerings of food should be of varieties of tastes. In this way, one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Although each and every queen had thousands of maidservants engaged for her service, the queens were all personally attentive in serving Krsna. Each one of them used to receive Krsna personally when He entered the palace.
Rapt Attention During Difficulties and Trance
In times of great danger or awe, the natural tendency of a pure devotee is to seek complete shelter in the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that when devotees face difficulty, they use the situation as a perfect opportunity to recollect the Supreme Lord with rapt, unalloyed attention.
- When the devotees are put into difficulty, they have an opportunity to recollect the Lord with rapt attention.
- As soon as Arjuna turned his attention towards the instructions of the Lord, as they are inculcated in the Bhagavad-gita, his true color of eternal association with the Lord became manifest, and thus he felt freed from all material contaminations.
- Prahlada Maharaja fixed his mind and sight upon Lord Nrsimhadeva with full attention in complete trance. With a fixed mind, he began to offer prayers in love with a faltering voice.
- Struck with great wonder, Vasudeva now concentrated his attention on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully demonstrates that the quality of one's spiritual life is determined entirely by where they place their attention. While the material world constantly tries to hijack the mind with trivial entertainment and mundane anxieties, the Vedic literatures provide the antidote: transferring one's attention fully to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whether one attempts the difficult mechanical path of yoga to meditate on the Supersoul, or takes up the joyful process of bhakti-yoga through attentive hearing, chanting, and Deity worship, the objective is identical. By meticulously preparing offerings, beautifully decorating the temple, and turning to the Lord with rapt attention during times of distress, a devotee effectively immunizes themselves against material contamination. Ultimately, fixing one's mind and sight completely upon Kṛṣṇa awakens the soul from the trance of illusion and establishes it eternally in pure, unalloyed devotional service.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Attention on God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.