Perfection of Yoga - Absorbed in Kṛṣṇa
The ultimate objective of the yoga system is to control the mind and fix it upon the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that this state is perfectly realized through Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When the mind is fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, it has attained the highest possible perfection, surpassing the achievements of mystic yogīs who seek secondary perfections. This absorption is a dynamic and practical process that transforms the practitioner's entire existence.
The First-Class Yogī
According to the Vedic version, a person who is always absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa within himself is the greatest of all yogīs. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while many seek to control the mind through difficult physical postures, the Kṛṣṇa conscious devotee achieves the goal easily by fixing the mind on the Lord. As soon as one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, they immediately remember the Lord's form, qualities, and attributes. This instant remembrance constitutes the highest form of yoga, placing the devotee on the transcendental platform above all material disturbances.
- A person who is always absorbed in thought of Krsna within himself, he is greater than all such big, big yogis. Greater than the greatest yogi.
- As soon as one chants Hare Krsna, immediately he remembers Krsna, Krsna's activities, Krsna's pastimes, Krsna's form, Krsna's quality, Krsna's attributes - everything. That is called to absorb the mind in Krsna. You become immediately the first-class yogi.
- Are we to despair the mind's ever being controlled? No, it can be controlled, and the process is this Krsna consciousness. The mind must be fixed always in Krsna. Insofar as the mind is absorbed in Krsna it has attained the perfection of yoga.
- Absorption in Krsna is the perfect stage, as Krsna Himself confirms: "After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare."
Bhakti as a Practical Science
Śrīla Prabhupāda often clarifies that being absorbed in Kṛṣṇa is not a mere sentiment but a practical science. It involves the engagement of the senses—the eyes in seeing the Deity, the hands in painting or serving, and the tongue in chanting. When all these activities are directed toward the Supreme, one is in a state of first-class samādhi. This practical absorption allows the devotee to stay connected to the Lord twenty-four hours a day, effectively utilizing the human form of life to prepare for the final transfer to the spiritual world.
- Bhakti is not a sentiment but a practical science. One may engage in many activities, but in all cases, one's mind must be fully absorbed in Krsna.
- It (bhakti) is not sentiment; it is a practical science when your mind and senses are fully absorbed in Krsna. The senses are engaged in serving Krsna and mind is always thinking of Krsna.
- You are talking and painting about Krishna, so that your mind, hand, and attention are all absorbed in Krishna samadhi, and tongue chanting Hare Krishna. This is first class samadhi, and the highest position of the greatest yogi.
- We should properly utilize this human form of life and take advantage of this knowledge to prepare ourselves in Krsna consciousness, so that twenty-four hours of the day we will be absorbed in Krsna and at death at once transfer to that spiritual sky.
Purification and Spiritual Body
Remaining absorbed in Kṛṣṇa's service has profound consequences for the soul's future. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that if one is transcendentally absorbed in the service of the Lord, their next body will be spiritual rather than physical. This state of absorption purifies the heart of material contamination, such as attachment, fear, and anger. When the mind is somehow or other fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, the material part of one's nature is quickly vanquished, and a natural spiritual attraction to the Lord becomes manifest, protecting the soul from another material birth.
- If one is transcendentally absorbed in Krsna's service, then his next body will be transcendental (spiritual), not physical.
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.10) the Lord says: Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - & thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
- When the mind is somehow or other fully absorbed in Krsna, the material part is very soon vanquished, and the spiritual part - attraction to Krsna - becomes manifest.
- One's consciousness must always be absorbed in Krsna, and then one's life will be successful. Otherwise the mind will carry the soul to another material body. The soul will be placed in the semen of a father and discharged into the womb of a mother.
Kṛṣṇa's Direct Instructions on Absorption
The central theme of the Bhagavad-gītā is summarized in Kṛṣṇa's direct call for the living entity to be absorbed in Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly highlights (Bhagavad-gītā 9.34), where the Lord commands us to engage the mind always in thinking of Him. This instruction is not limited to a specific time or place but encompasses all aspects of life, including worship and homage. By being completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa, the devotee is assured of returning to Him. Even the impersonalists are helped by the Lord, who absorbs them into His effulgence, though the pure devotee seeks the higher realization of His personal form.
- At the conclusion of the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna directly says: "Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me."
- Always think of Me and become My (Krsna's) devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.
- As for those who are impersonalists and who want to commit spiritual suicide by annihilating the individual existence of the living entity, Krsna helps also by absorbing them into His effulgence.
- Krsna sets His nature (prakrti) into motion, as one may wind up a clock, and when nature unwinds, it is absorbed into the Lord. The spiritual creation, however, is not like this, for it is permanent.
Conclusion
The successful completion of human life depends entirely on whether one's consciousness is absorbed in Kṛṣṇa's strength, beauty, and pastimes. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that by lowering our heads before the Deity and engaging all our activities in His service, we become fully absorbed without deviation. This constant focus ensures our transfer to Kṛṣṇaloka. Through the association of pure devotees and the causeless mercy of the Lord, one can give up all mundane activities and find eternal shelter in being completely absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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 Absorbed in Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.