Attracted by God - The Irresistible Charm of the Supreme Lord
The living entity is constitutionally designed to be attracted to beauty, love, and pleasure. In the material world, this natural propensity is misdirected toward temporary bodily features, resulting in endless frustration. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when this attraction is redirected toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the soul achieves eternal satisfaction. Kṛṣṇa's transcendental form and pastimes are so incredibly enchanting that they captivate not only conditioned souls but even the most advanced, liberated sages who have already rejected all material desires.
Captivating the Liberated Souls (Ātmārāmas)
The ultimate proof that Kṛṣṇa's beauty is entirely spiritual is its effect on those who are already liberated. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the examples of Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the four Kumāras, who were strict impersonalists until they were irresistibly attracted by the personal features and pastimes of the Lord.
- The Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.10) states, Although those who are atmarama, self-satisfied, are liberated from all material contamination, they are still attracted by the pastimes of the Supreme Lord, and thus they engage themselves in His transcendental service.
- His (God's) transcendental qualities are so attractive that even the liberated souls (atmaramas) are also attracted by them. Although possessed of all personal qualities, He is nevertheless omnipotent.
- Sukadeva Gosvami was already situated in the liberated stage, yet he was attracted by the pastimes of the Lord. This proves that the quality of His pastimes has nothing to do with material affinity.
- Caitanya quoted a sloka from Srimad-Bhagavatam (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.43) dealing with the Kumaras. When the Kumaras entered the temple, they were attracted by the aroma of flowers and tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord with pulp of sandalwood.
Transferring Attachment from Matter to Spirit
The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not about artificially suppressing desires, but about purifying them. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by hearing about the Lord and experiencing His superior spiritual nature, a devotee naturally loses all attraction for inferior material engagements.
- In Bhagavad-gita (Bhagavad-Gita 2.59) it is described that one who is attracted by param, the Supreme, is no longer attracted by anything inferior.
- If our attachment is transferred to the Lord's service, we progress. Srila Rupa Gosvami prayed to the Lord that he would be as naturally attracted to the Lord's service as young men and young women are naturally attracted to each other.
- Devotional service is actual liberation. When one is attracted by the beauty of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and his mind is always engaged at the Lord's lotus feet, he is no longer interested in subjects that do not help him in self-realization.
- We therefore request all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement - both men and women - not to be attracted by bodily features but only to be attracted by Krsna. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise there will be danger.
The Power of Hearing About Kṛṣṇa
One does not need to see the Lord physically to become attracted to Him; transcendental sound vibration is equally potent. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that simply by hearing the name, qualities, and pastimes of Kṛṣṇa from authorized sources, the mind is immediately captivated.
- In the beginning of this instruction, the Lord explained to His mother that mad-guna-sruti-matrena, simply by hearing of the name, quality, form, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is immediately attracted.
- The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one's mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone's heart.
- O saintly King (Pariksit), I (Sukadeva Gosvami) was certainly situated perfectly in transcendence, yet I was still attracted by the delineation of the pastimes of the Lord, who is described by enlightened verses.
- If by studying the form, name, qualities, pastimes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Godhead one is attracted to the Lord, he can execute devotional service, and the form of the Lord will be impressed in his heart and remain transcendentally situated there.
The Purpose of the Lord's Intimate Pastimes
Kṛṣṇa's most confidential pastimes in Vṛndāvana, specifically the rāsa-līlā, are entirely spiritual. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Lord displays these enchanting pastimes on earth for the specific purpose of attracting conditioned souls away from degraded material sex life.
- When the Lord manifested Himself on this earth He partially displayed the activities of His pleasure potency in His rasa-lila just to attract the conditioned souls, who are all after the phantasmagoria pleasure potency in degraded sex enjoyment.
- The mind of Sukadeva Gosvami was attracted by the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krsna, and the minds of the damsels of Vrndavana were attracted by His personal beauty.
- The former devotees (those attracted by God's opulences) are placed in the realm of Vaikuntha to render reverential devotional service, whereas the latter devotees (those attracted by nuptial love) are placed in Vrndavana for the direct service of Krsna.
- They (fanatics) should not foolishly jump up to the activities of the internal energy, falsely attracted by the Lord's internal potential activities like His rasa-lila.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully illustrates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the absolute, ultimate magnet for the soul. While conditioned living entities foolishly waste their natural attractive propensities on the temporary, fading beauty of material bodies, the Vedic literatures invite them to experience a higher taste. By simply hearing about the transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, the heart is immediately cleansed and captivated. The supreme proof of this spiritual magnetism is seen in the great ātmārāmas—fully liberated impersonalists who, despite having conquered all material desires, are helplessly drawn to the personal features of the Lord. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa displays His most enchanting, confidential pastimes on earth for this very reason: to rescue the conditioned souls from the phantasmagoria of material sense gratification and permanently attract them back to their original, joyous engagement in pure devotional service.
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 Attracted by God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.