Dedicating to God - The Essence of True Renunciation
The path to spiritual liberation does not require the artificial rejection of the world; rather, it requires a complete shift in consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the true essence of bhakti-yoga and renunciation is the act of dedicating one's life, wealth, intelligence, and words entirely to the service of the Supreme Lord.
The Meaning of Complete Dedication
To dedicate oneself to God means to strip away all personal, material ambitions. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a pure Vaiṣṇava is recognized not by their external status, but by their internal resolve to act solely for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without any ulterior motive.
- A pure Vaisnava is one who has no ulterior motive. He has totally dedicated himself to the service of the Lord. He does not have material desires, and he is not interested in so-called learning and philanthropic work.
- Here (in SB 3.29.33) it is clearly stated that he who has dedicated his life, all his activities, his mind and his soul - everything - for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, is considered to be the greatest person.
- Bhagavata means in relationship with Bhagavan. One who has dedicated his life only for the service of the Lord, Bhagavan, he is called bhagavata.
- Simply we have to agree, "My Lord, from today, I dedicate my life for Your service," you are immediately brahma-bhutah. Immediately, from that moment. It is so nice. Not that you have to take some time how to become brahma-bhutah.
Purifying Fruitive Activities
Any action performed for personal sense gratification binds the soul to the cycle of birth and death. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that when those exact same activities, skills, and possessions are dovetailed and dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, they become the direct cause of spiritual liberation.
- By dedicating one’s karma, or fruitive activities, to the Supreme Lord, one may be relieved from the polluted mind, and becoming free from mental pollution helps elevate one to the spiritual platform.
- When all a man's activities are dedicated to the service of the Lord, those very activities which caused his perpetual bondage become the destroyer of the tree of work.
- The things which we possess during our duration of life are first achieved and then let out along with all of our other temporary possessions. Therefore the best use of possessions during our lifetime is to dedicate it to the service of the Lord.
- The wealthy man and the educated man should sacrifice their knowledge and opulence by dedicating them for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord and joining this sankirtana movement (yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah) - SB 11.5.32.
The True Definition of Sannyāsa
Many people mistakenly believe that renunciation means abandoning all activity and retreating to a forest. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that true sannyāsa simply means dedicating the fruits of one's labor to God; thus, anyone fully engaged in serving the Lord is the highest yogī and renunciate.
- Anyone who has no other interest but to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord is actually a sannyasi.
- In this way (dedicating all activities to Krsna) one becomes the highest yogi and the highest sannyasi. That is the secret.
- The real purpose of accepting sannyasa is to dedicate oneself to the service of Mukunda. By serving Mukunda, one can actually be liberated from the bondage of material existence.
- It is recommended that one accept sannyasa to dedicate his life for the service of the Lord, and everyone must take that kind of sannyasa, for by accepting such sannyasa one renders the best service to both his paternal and maternal families.
The Ultimate Reward of Dedication
The Supreme Lord flawlessly reciprocates with those who surrender unto Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures that when a living entity completely dedicates their life to Kṛṣṇa, they are protected from all material disturbances and are guaranteed never to take birth in the material world again.
- If you dedicate your life for the satisfaction of the Yajnesvara, then no more you are going to accept any material body. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti (BG 4.9). After quitting this body, he does not accept any more material body.
- Those who have devoted their life, dedicated their life only in Krsna consciousness, they are sure. Krsna says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti (BG 4.9). That is sure, they are going back to home, back to Godhead.
- The mountains, although being struck by torrents of rain during the rainy season, are not shaken, just as those whose hearts are dedicated to the transcendental Personality of Godhead are never disturbed, even when harassed by great misfortune.
- Kapiladeva said to Devahuti, "My laughing, My pastimes and My glance appear to them so beautiful that their minds are always absorbed in thoughts of Me, and their lives are dedicated fully unto Me."
Conclusion
As clearly established by the Vedic literatures, the perfection of life is found solely in dedicating one's entire existence to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not necessary to artificially alter one's position or abandon one's occupational duties; rather, the consciousness behind the activity must be transformed. When a person dedicates their intelligence, wealth, words, and life to Kṛṣṇa, those very assets which normally bind the soul to the material world become the keys to ultimate liberation. Such a fully dedicated soul is the true sannyāsī and the highest yogī. Undisturbed by the torrential dualities of material existence, the dedicated pure devotee remains peacefully absorbed in the Lord's service, successfully ending the cycle of birth and death and guaranteeing their eternal return to the spiritual sky.
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 Dedicating to God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.