The Perfect Peacefulness of a Devotee of God
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the unique position of a devotee who has achieved a state of complete tranquility by surrendering to the Supreme Lord. While others in the material world are perpetually agitated by desires and the modes of nature, the devotee remains steady and blissful. This inner peace is the natural result of reviving one's eternal relationship with Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
The Natural Qualities of a Peaceful Devotee
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a genuine sādhu or saintly person naturally exhibits a host of sublime characteristics without any separate endeavor. Because a devotee is always tolerant, merciful, and a friend to all living entities, they are perfectly peaceful and free from the enmity that plagues ordinary worldly interactions.
- A pure devotee of the Lord automatically develops all godly qualities, and some of the prominent features of those qualities are as follows: 1) he is kind, peaceful, truthful, equable, faultless, magnanimous, mild, clean, nonpossessive.
- A sadhu is calm, and he quietly and peacefully follows the principles of scripture.
- He (the devotee of the Lord) is said to be always tolerant and merciful. A friend to all living entities, he has no enemies. He is peaceful, and he possesses all good qualities. These are but a few of the characteristics of a person in Krsna consciousness.
Freedom from Material Desire and Agitation
The primary cause of mental disturbance is the presence of material desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that while impersonalists and mystic yogīs still harbor subtle ambitions for liberation or perfection, a pure devotee is completely satisfied in the service of the complete whole. By remaining detached and intelligent, the devotee is unagitated by the lower modes of material nature.
- In fact, he (the devotee) does not even desire liberation from the so-called material bondage. The devotees of Krsna have no material desires, and therefore they are in perfect peace.
- Neither the impersonalists nor the yogi can have real peace and satisfaction, but the devotee can become fully peaceful and satisfied because of his association with the complete whole.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam the devotees are described as nipuna-buddhayah, which means that they are the most intelligent class of men. Uninfluenced by attachment or hatred, the devotee lives very peacefully and is not agitated by the influence of passion and ignorance.
A Rare and Favorable Atmosphere
To maintain this exalted standard of tranquility, Śrīla Prabhupāda recommends that devotees cultivate a favorable spiritual environment. Although fully peaceful souls are extremely rare in human society, providing them with the proper facilities to live peacefully and chant the holy names ensures steady advancement in devotional service.
- O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krsna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are extremely rare.
- It is recommended that he (the devotee) live in a place where there is no large number of ordinary men. It is very important to live in a secluded place (vivikta-sarana). The next item is santa, or peacefulness.
- My Guru Maharaja's policy was to give nice facility to devotees so that they may chant Hare Krishna Mantra peacefully and make advancement. But we cannot be luxurious.
Lasting Peace in This World and the Next
By placing full dependence on the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, a devotee escapes the miseries of material existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that such surrendered souls live blissfully and without anxiety in this world, protected by the Supreme Lord, and ultimately attain lasting peace when they return back to Godhead.
- Bali said, "My only ambition is that I may live alone just like the paramahamsas who travel alone here and there in great peace of mind, depending simply upon Your (Krsna) lotus feet."
- While in material existence, he (the devotee) lives very peacefully and blissfully, without cares and anxieties, and after quitting this body he goes back home, back to Godhead.
- He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it clear that genuine peacefulness cannot be artificially manufactured by mundane methods, nor can it be attained by those who still possess subtle material desires. True peace is the exclusive property of the pure devotees of the Lord. Because they are completely satisfied in their loving relationship with Śrī Kṛṣṇa, they exhibit sublime qualities such as tolerance, mercy, and equanimity. Untouched by the material modes of passion and ignorance, these unalloyed souls live blissfully within this temporary world. By depending fully on the Supreme Lord and maintaining a favorable spiritual environment, they achieve the supreme perfection of attaining lasting peace back home, back to 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 Peacefulness of a Devotee of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.