Elevated to Devotional Service to God - The Process of Transcendental Elevation
The journey from material conditioning to pure spiritual life is a meticulous process. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that being elevated to the platform of devotional service cannot be achieved through mundane knowledge or fruitive work, but only through the mercy of a pure devotee and strict adherence to regulative principles.
The Exclusive Path to Elevation
Intellectual speculation and material pious acts are entirely insufficient for spiritual perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that true elevation to the transcendental platform of devotional service is attained only by associating with a bona fide spiritual master and receiving his causeless mercy.
- One cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-kanda or jnana-kanda. Pure devotional service can be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees.
- The processes of speculative knowledge and renunciation are not actually the chief items for elevation in devotional service.
- Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact.
- One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaisnava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Krsna. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people.
The Necessity of Regulative Principles
Elevation is not an accidental or whimsical occurrence; it demands rigorous discipline. Śrīla Prabhupāda outlines that a neophyte must submissively accept the reformatory processes and strictly execute the prescribed directions of the scriptures to rise to the stage of pure bhakti.
- In the beginning, no one can be elevated to the highest stage of devotional service. Here (in SB 3.32.42) bhakta means one who does not hesitate to accept the reformatory processes for becoming a bhakta.
- To be elevated to a point of devotional life, one has to execute the directions of the scriptures.
- Without following the above-mentioned ten principles, one cannot properly elevate himself to the platform of sadhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice.
- To be elevated to the platform of devotional service, the following five items should be observed: association with devotees, engagement in the service of Krsna, the reading of SB, the chanting of the holy names and residence at Vrndavana or Mathura.
The Power to Elevate the Fallen
The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is universally potent and fundamentally transformational. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that regardless of one's low birth or past sinful activities, proper training by a bona fide spiritual master can instantly elevate anyone to the highest platform of pure devotion.
- The lowest of human beings can be elevated to the highest stage of devotional life if they are trained by the bona fide spiritual master well versed in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
- According to the pancaratrika system, however, even though everyone is a sudra due to the absence of garbhadhana-samskara, if a person has but a little tendency to become Krsna Conscious, he should be given the chance to elevate to the transcendental platform of devotional service.
- This incident shows that by serving Krsna the devotee immediately becomes elevated to the most exalted position in all respects. Devotional service is so potent that anyone who takes to it becomes qualified with all godly qualities.
- Why you should falsely initiate a person? If you cannot make him a brahmana and elevate him to the highest stage of devotional service, why should you cheat others? Initiation means making him dvijatvam . Tatha diksa-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrnam.
Guarding Against Artificial Imitation
True spiritual elevation requires immense patience and humility. Śrīla Prabhupāda delivers a severe warning against the dangerous tendency to artificially jump to the highest, most intimate stages of love without having first undergone the necessary, rigorous purification of regulated practice.
- One should not try to elevate himself artificially to the stage of prema-bhakti without seriously following the regulative principles of sadhana-bhakti.
- Even after becoming elevated in devotional life, one should not think - Oh, I am already elevated to the highest stage; therefore I may violate the scriptural regulations for executing devotional service.
- Even after being elevated to the highest platform of devotional service, one must continue following the scriptural injunctions for devotional life.
- Everyone begins his devotional life from the neophyte stage, but if one properly finishes chanting the prescribed number of rounds of hari-nama, he is elevated step by step to the highest platform, uttama-adhikari.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that being elevated to the platform of pure devotional service is a highly scientific, transcendental process that completely bypasses the mundane methods of karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa. Intellectual speculation and dry renunciation are utterly powerless to lift the soul to the spiritual sky. True elevation begins exclusively through the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the association of a bona fide spiritual master. Under expert guidance, the neophyte must submissively accept the reformatory processes and strictly adhere to the regulative principles of sādhana-bhakti. By diligently executing the five most potent practices—associating with devotees, chanting the holy names, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, serving the Deity, and residing in a holy place—even the lowest and most fallen of human beings can be systematically elevated to the highest perfectional stage. However, a sincere practitioner must remain eternally vigilant and humble. One must never attempt to artificially jump to the intimate stage of prema-bhakti or foolishly abandon the scriptural rules, even after achieving a highly elevated status. By maintaining strict, loving obedience to the instructions of the spiritual master, the devotee safely and permanently attains the ultimate, blissful association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Elevated to Devotional Service to God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.