Convinced about God - From Submissive Hearing to Perfect Surrender
The foundation of spiritual life is unshakeable faith in the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that to become firmly convinced about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one must hear from the perfect source: the authorized spiritual master in the disciplic succession.
Hearing from the Perfect Source
True conviction cannot be manufactured in the mind; it must be received through authorized channels. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that by surrendering to a self-realized spiritual master and submissively hearing his instructions, the darkness of doubt is immediately dispelled by the light of transcendental knowledge.
- I (Prabhupada) was also attracted by my Guru Maharaja when he convinced me that God lives and we can live with Him. I find the same conviction in you and it has given me so great pleasure. Yes, it is the greatest discovery.
- If you find a person (one who is coming in disciplic succession and fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth), surrender and try to please him, serve him and question him. Surrender unto him is surrender to God. Question to learn, not to waste time.
- Surrender to authority and know Him by signs. Don't surrender to a fool or a rascal. Find one who is coming in disciplic succession, one who is fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth.
- It is required, sadhu-sanga. Then if he meets sadhu . . . By one or two words from him, he can convince you about supremacy of the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, he'll take birth after birth, bahunam janmanam ante.
- One who has perfectly heard from the perfect source becomes convinced about the all-pervading Personality of Godhead and thus becomes enthusiastic in glorifying the Lord.
The Symptoms of Firm Conviction
When a practitioner becomes completely convinced of God's existence and their eternal relationship with Him, this state is known as āstikyam. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that this firm conviction, or niṣṭhā, arises when one is freed from sinful activities and naturally translates into enthusiastic preaching and practical devotional service.
- Astikyam means completely convinced of God and his relationship with God. That is called astikyam. Or full faith in the statement of the Vedas. Whatever Veda says, that's right. Yes. No argument.
- This clear understanding of God is not available anywhere else but from our books, so if you are convinced on this point, then produce books voluminously.
- One who is factually convinced of this opulence and mystic power of Mine (Krsna) engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt.
- When one is convinced of the presence of the Lord by a practical service attitude, there is a revelation by the Lord's mercy, and such a pure devotee of the Lord can perceive the Lord's presence always and everywhere.
- As soon as one becomes free from all sinful activities, he becomes firmly convinced of God consciousness. That is called nistha. Tato nistha tato ruci. Then you taste, - Oh, it is so nice, Krsna consciousness.
Defeating Atheism and Impersonalism
A person lacking deep conviction is easily swayed by faulty philosophies. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that without absolute certainty regarding the Supreme Lord's transcendental nature, a conditioned soul will easily fall victim to atheistic arguments or the impersonal voidist philosophy.
- We should be very much careful not to become their (duskrtina's) victim. So although the atheists say there is no God, jagad ahur anisvaram, but we are convinced that God is the origin - janmady asya yatah - of both matter and spirit.
- Unless one is fully convinced of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has the tendency to become an impersonalist yogi searching for the Supreme Lord within the core of his heart.
- Being fully convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, he (Prahlada) took shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your own self.
- One who considers the Lord on the level of one's limited potency is only a common man. Such a man cannot be convinced that the Personality of Godhead is always unaffected by the modes of material nature.
- One should know with firm conviction that the Lord, being transcendental, is never subject to any curse or benediction. Only ordinary living entities are subjected to curses and the punishments of Yamaraja.
The Perfection of Absolute Surrender
The ultimate manifestation of being convinced about God is absolute surrender. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes that a fully convinced devotee relies entirely on the Lord for protection, perfectly understanding that simply by rendering loving service to Kṛṣṇa, all other duties and obligations are automatically fulfilled.
- To accept this principle (sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja) means firm determination: "Yes, if I serve Krsna, then all my other duties will be automatically done." This is firm conviction. "By one stroke, I'll kill so many birds.
- When one is firmly convinced that Visnu is the only object of love and worship and that there is no one else - not even a demigod - worthy of receiving devotional service, one feels intimacy in his love relationship with God, and this is approved.
- A person should not be in the renounced order of life unless he is firmly convinced of being protected by the Lord.
- We should not materially calculate, thinking, “It is better to stock food for a week. Why give the Lord trouble by having Him bring food daily?” One should be convinced that the Lord will provide daily. There is no need to stock food for the next day.
- Sravanam kirtanam, hearing and chanting, are especially important. By hearing from her husband about the greatness of Lord Vasudeva, Devayani certainly became convinced and surrendered herself unto the lotus feet of God - om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully outlines that becoming convinced about God is not a product of mental speculation, but the result of submissive hearing and practical service. A conditioned soul remains doubtful and easily swayed by atheistic or impersonal philosophies until they receive the Absolute Truth from a bona fide spiritual master. Once this knowledge is received and sinful activities are abandoned, faith solidifies into niṣṭhā—unshakable conviction. This conviction empowers the devotee to preach boldly, distribute transcendental literature, and engage in unalloyed devotional service. Ultimately, the perfection of being convinced about God is complete surrender (śaraṇāgati). A truly convinced soul stops calculating materially, resting entirely on the firm assurance that the Supreme Lord will personally protect and maintain His dedicated servant in all circumstances.
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 Convinced about God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.