Kṛṣṇa Wants Us to Give Up All Other Engagements and Surrender Unto Him
This article explores the psychological and spiritual dynamics of wanting to give up, as explained in the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda. The soul's original falldown began with the desire to give up serving God. Once in the material world, illusion makes the soul deeply reluctant to give up temporary attachments. Yet, the path of liberation requires giving up sinful habits and fully surrendering to the Supreme Lord, a standard wonderfully demonstrated by the pure devotees.
The Origin of Material Existence
The constitutional position of the spirit soul is to render loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the material world was created specifically to accommodate those souls who artificially wanted to give up this service. When the living entity desires to become the supreme enjoyer rather than the servitor, Kṛṣṇa mercifully grants him the facility to enter the material realm, thus initiating the cycle of cause and effect.
- Conditioned soul means we wanted to enjoy this material world, not to serve anyone. Although our constitutional position is to serve, but artificially we want to give up service and we want to enjoy. That is material disease.
- The material world was created for the enjoyment of living entities who wanted to give up the eternal service of the Lord to become the supreme enjoyer themselves.
- When the pure soul wants to give up the Lord's service to enjoy the material world, Krsna certainly gives him a chance to enter the material world.
- Krsna wants us to give up all other engagements and surrender unto Him. If we do so, where will the cause and effect of this material world be? There is nothing like cause and effect for the surrendered soul.
Attachment to the Material Body and Home
Once placed into a material body, the living entity's psychology changes drastically. Covered by māyā, the soul fiercely protects its temporary biological form. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that no one wants to give up their body unless it is forced upon them by death. Even when household life becomes increasingly burdensome and full of miseries, the lack of spiritual culture keeps the conditioned soul clinging hopelessly to "home, sweet home."
- One must protect his body by all means; then he may protect his religious principles and thereafter his possessions. This is the natural desire of all living entities. No one wants to give up his body unless it is forcibly given away.
- The living entity - whatever his condition - does not want to give up the body. But he will be forced to give it up because, after all, this material body cannot exist forever.
- That is psychology. It may be very worse condition; still, nobody wants to give up "Home, sweet home." That is natural psychology.
- Unfortunately, for want of sufficient culture of the human spirit, no one wants to give up the householder life, even though it is full of pinpricks and mud.
Obstacles to Giving Up Material Life
Progressing in spiritual life requires the renunciation of sinful habits, but many people refuse to surrender because they are too attached to their gross material sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda famously noted that people often prefer compromised, unauthorized religious philosophies simply because they do not want to give up fish-eating and meat-eating. In stark contrast, an elevated soul like Mahārāja Parīkṣit exemplifies true detachment by easily giving up vast opulences to prepare for death.
- Again and again they (grhamedhis) experience the material pangs, even if they are rich and prosperous, but they do not want to give up this kind of life.
- Because the real fact is they do not want to give up meat-eating and fish-eating. Therefore they like Vivekananda. That is the real reason. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement, Vaisnava, they have to give up so many things. That is the disease.
- The real fact is they (the Bengalis) do not want to give up meat-eating and fish-eating. Therefore they like Vivekananda.
- Maharaja Pariksit was full of youth and strength, and he possessed insuperable kingly opulences. Why did he want to give up everything, including his life?
The Pure Devotee's Transcendental Desires
For a pure devotee, the desire to give up the body is never rooted in material frustration, but in overwhelming love for God. Sometimes, an exalted Vaiṣṇava wants to give up his life due to intense feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, or out of a humble desire to pass away peacefully before physical deterioration occurs, as prayed for by King Kulaśekhara. Nevertheless, the Supreme Lord often intervenes to protect His devotees, requiring their presence to push forward His divine mission.
- Because of feelings of separation from Krsna, an exalted devotee sometimes wants to give up his life. By such ecstatic love, however, one attains the audience of Krsna, and at that time he cannot give up his body.
- King Kulasekhara wanted to give up his body while in a healthy state, and he thus prayed to Krsna to let him die immediately while he was in good health and while his mind was sound.
- I (Caitanya) have to do all this work through your (Sanatana Gosvami's) body, but you want to give it up. How can I tolerate this.
- Lord Brahma, who is worshiped by the brahmanas, has very mercifully given you to me, and that is why I have met you. I do not want to give up your company, for my mind and eyes are fixed upon you and cannot be drawn away.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that spiritual success depends entirely on what we are willing to give up. As long as we stubbornly cling to the temporary material body and the illusion of false enjoyment, we remain entangled in the painful cycle of birth and death. By following the examples of the great ācāryas and voluntarily giving up all mundane engagements in favor of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, any sincere soul can realize their eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and attain the supreme destination.
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 Wanting to Give Up. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.