Developing Love for Kṛṣṇa - The Supreme Goal of Life
The myriad religious and occupational duties of the material world are ultimately meaningless if they do not lead to a profound transformation of the heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the singular, supreme purpose of human life is to awaken and fully develop one's dormant, unalloyed love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The True Test of Religion and Duty
Following rules and executing societal duties are only preliminary steps. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the ultimate criterion for success in any endeavor—whether it be religious practice, household duties, or Vedic rituals—is whether one is actively increasing their attachment and love for Kṛṣṇa.
- Any process that helps us to increase our love of Krishna, that is the best system of religiousity. Such system cannot be checked by any material impediments, and such development of love of Krishna is without any cause.
- You can discharge your duty very nicely, but you have to see whether you are developing attachment for Krsna. Attachment means love, whether you are trying to satisfy Krsna. That is the test.
- You are very dutiful. Do your duty nicely, but see by executing your duty whether you are developing your love for Krsna. That is the criterion.
- If you follow perfectly the rules and regulations but don't develop love for Krsna, then you have wasted your time.
The Process of Awakening
Love for God is not artificially imposed from without; it is eternally present within the soul but currently covered by material forgetfulness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by submissively engaging in the practical processes of chanting, hearing, and temple worship, this dormant love is naturally and joyfully awakened.
- So we have forgotten our relationship with Krsna. Therefore there is no question of love at the present moment. But we can develop this love by this process, sravanam kirtanam.
- By dancing dancing, we shall develop our dormant Krsna consciousness, love for Krsna. This is a nice process. Krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi. Then you will merge into the ocean of love for Krsna.
- We have to increase our love for Krsna; therefore this worship, temple worship. If you always be engaged in Krsna's service, naturally you develop love for Krsna. That is wanted.
- Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva (SB 10.14.3). Just become submissive. Submission means that we cannot understand Krsna, simply just serve, that's all, and develop your dormant love. That is perfect.
The Vision of Pure Love
When devotion matures into pure love, the devotee's perception of reality is completely transformed. Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes how a devotee whose eyes are smeared with the ointment of love sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere, twenty-four hours a day, constantly absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord.
- If you develop love for Krsna, then you'll see Krsna within your heart always, twenty-four hours. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena, when your eyes are smeared with the ointment of love of God.
- Those who have developed love for Krsna, they can see always, twenty-four hours, Krsna and nothing but Krsna. This is the process. So we have to increase our attachment, our love for Krsna.
- If you love your child, when you see your child's shoe, you immediately see your child. Or if you see your child's toy, you immediately see your child and hear his voice. Similarly, if we have actually developed love of Krsna, nothing exists but Krsna.
- A devotee thinks of Krsna because he develops love for Krsna. And as soon as we develop our love for Krsna, we must have to think of Krsna.
The Supreme Perfection
Developing love for Kṛṣṇa is not merely a step toward liberation; it is the ultimate perfection that surpasses all other achievements. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that this pure love automatically grants the devotee all the good qualities of the demigods and completely cures the disease of material existence.
- If you develop love for Krsna, prema, prema pum-artho mahan, that is the recommendation by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that dharma, artha, kama, moksa is not the aim of life. Prema pum-artho mahan.
- To develop love of Krsna means that is real liberation. And that love of Krsna begins after many, many births of cultural life. Bahunam janmanam ante, vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah.
- Material disease will be cured when we develop our dormant love for Krsna. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya. Simply by understanding Krsna.
- If you develop Krsna consciousness, if you develop love for Krsna, then automatically the qualities of the suras, or the demigods, will develop. You haven't got to endeavor separately for becoming qualified in good qualities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that developing pure love for Kṛṣṇa is the absolute, paramount objective of human existence. While the material world emphasizes the meticulous execution of religious rituals, economic development, and societal duties, the Vedic literatures declare that if these activities do not awaken a deep, loving attachment to the Supreme Lord, they are simply a monumental waste of time. The process of awakening this dormant love is joyous and practical; it requires submissively hearing the messages of Godhead, enthusiastically chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and actively engaging in temple worship under the guidance of the spiritual master. As this love matures, the devotee's entire perception of reality changes. Their eyes become smeared with the ointment of pure devotion, allowing them to see Kṛṣṇa constantly—twenty-four hours a day—in every atom and every circumstance. Without this profound love, continuous engagement in the Lord's service is impossible. Ultimately, achieving kṛṣṇa-prema is the true definition of liberation; it effortlessly cures the material disease of repeated birth and death, automatically endows the devotee with all the exalted qualities of the demigods, and guarantees their eternal, blissful association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in 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 Developing Love for Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.