With Great Attention - The Key to Perfection in Devotional Service
Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness depends heavily on performing all spiritual activities with great attention. Whether one is hearing the message of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, chanting the holy names, or preparing food for the Lord, acting with deep focus and care purifies the mind and awakens dormant love of Godhead.
Hearing the Transcendental Message
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that spiritual realization begins by submissively hearing the pastimes of the Supreme Lord and the instructions of the Vedic literatures. When a devotee listens with great attention, the influence of material ignorance is quickly destroyed.
- As soon as I (Narada) heard them with great attention, the influence of the modes of material ignorance and passion disappeared, and I became firmly fixed in devotional service to the Lord.
- Anyone who with great attention hears this narration concerning the activities of Prahlada Maharaja, the killing of Hiranyakasipu, and the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nrsimha-deva, surely reaches the spiritual world.
- With great respect and attention, one should receive the message and lessons imparted by the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- All glories to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta! Please hear the description of the dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at the Ratha-yatra festival. His dancing is very enchanting. Please hear of it with great attention.
Attentive Chanting and Meditation
The chanting of the holy names and meditation upon the Lord's form must be done with full concentration. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that a wandering mind must be carefully brought back to focus on the sound vibration, for it is this great attention that yields the highest perfection of life.
- A devotee of Lord Krsna whose mind is always absorbed in Him, who with great attention and reverence chants this stotra (prayer), will achieve the greatest perfection of life without delay.
- I give you special permission as follows: You find out of 24 hours at least one hour conveniently for chanting Hare Krishna with great attention, either by the Deities or any place, without being disturbed by anyone else.
- Fasting and drinking only water, Citraketu for one week continuously chanted with great care and attention the mantra given by Narada Muni.
- Many, many persons have attained liberation simply by thinking of Krsna with great attention and giving up sinful activities. This great attention may be due to lusty desires, inimical feelings, fear, affection or devotional service.
Careful Worship and Preparation
Practical devotional service, such as cooking for the Supreme Lord or tending to the Deities, requires exactness and devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how pure devotees prepare everything with great attention to ensure that the offerings are of the highest, most pleasing standard.
- He prepares cakes, sweet rice, condensed milk and everything else with great attention, and the cooking conditions are purified so that the food is first class and delicious.
- One should perform his daily spiritual duties and then, with great attention, offer worship to the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and also to the altar, the sun, water, fire and the spiritual master.
- Thus with great care and attention Raghava Pandita prepares spinach, other vegetables, radishes, fruits, chipped rice, powdered rice and sweetmeats.
- Thereafter, Raghava Pandita had other coconuts gathered, cleansed and clipped, and with great attention he offered them to the Deity to eat.
The Path to Supreme Perfection
By diligently applying oneself to the principles of bhakti-yoga, one becomes completely free from sinful reactions. Śrīla Prabhupāda guarantees that anyone who strictly follows the instructions of the spiritual master and the śāstras with great attention will easily cross over the ocean of material existence.
- Although Krsna consciousness may not be very palatable for a diseased person, Srila Rupa Gosvami nonetheless advises that if one wants to be cured of the material disease, he must take to it with great care and attention.
- If one with great care and attention takes to Krsna consciousness, chanting the holy name and hearing Krsna's transcendental pastimes, his ignorance will be destroyed and his tongue enabled to taste the sweetness of the transcendental nature of Krsna.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Freed from all sinful reactions are those who rise from bed at the end of night, early in the morning, and fully concentrate their minds with great attention upon devotional service.
- One can attain perfection simply by explaining the instructions, following in the footsteps of the acaryas or listening to the instructions with great attention. If one does so, one can attain the platform of pure devotional service to Lord Vasudeva.
Conclusion
To achieve the ultimate goal of life, every aspect of devotional service must be executed with full consciousness and dedication. Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly teaches that whether one is hearing the ancient Vedic texts, chanting the holy names, or preparing offerings for the Lord, acting with great attention is essential. By concentrating the mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and diligently avoiding negligence, a sincere soul destroys all material ignorance and quickly attains the supreme perfection of unalloyed loving service.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category With Great Attention. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.