Category:Ambitions of a Devotee of God
Theme Analysis
The ambition of a devotee differs fundamentally from material ambition. While a materialist seeks personal gratification, power, or liberation from suffering, a pure devotee's sole ambition is to serve Kṛṣṇa. This singular focus is so potent that it renders the distinction between heaven and hell irrelevant; the devotee cares only for the opportunity to remember and serve the Lord. The relationship is reciprocal: as the devotee surrenders all personal desires to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord takes charge, fulfilling their spiritual ambitions and purifying any lingering material aspirations.
- Exclusive Service: The defining characteristic of a devotee is that they have no ambition other than to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, distinguishing them from fruitive workers (karmīs).
- Beyond Liberation: A pure devotee does not seek to escape the cycle of birth and death. Their highest ambition is simply to never forget the lotus feet of the Lord, regardless of where they are placed.
- Divine Protection: The Lord is eager to satisfy the ambitions of His devotees. Even if a devotee has immature desires, Kṛṣṇa mercifully purifies them, offering shelter rather than mere material fulfillment.
- The Danger of Pride: Spiritual ambition must remain humble. A disciple who becomes ambitious to overtake their spiritual master invites immediate spiritual falldown.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Highest Ambitions of a Devotee of God.
Subcategories
This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total.
Pages in category "Ambitions of a Devotee of God"
The following 17 pages are in this category, out of 17 total.
A
- A devotee has no other ambition than to serve Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A devotee is always eager to return home, back to Godhead, and remain there as the Lord's associate. This ambition becomes increasingly fervent in his heart, and therefore he does not care about material changes in his life
- A pure devotee does not even want to stop the repetition of birth and death. To a pure devotee, it does not matter whether he has to take birth again in the various species of life. His only ambition is that he not forget the lotus feet of the Lord
- Although karmis and bhaktas may work in the same place, at the same time, with the same energy and with the same ambition, they achieve different results
- As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down
B
- Because all his (Maharaja Ambarisa's) desires and ambitions were engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, Maharaja Ambarisa is considered the leader in discharging devotional service in all kinds of ways
- Bhismadeva wanted this much only: that his mind be absorbed in thinking of the Lord and that he pass away thus. That is the highest ambition of a pure devotee
H
T
- The demigods and devotees, however, always surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord, and thus the Lord is always anxious to satisfy their ambitions
- The devotee, who does not expect any personal benefit and whose only ambition is to spread the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is blessed with all the auspicious results of bhakti-yoga, without hard labor
- The Lord knew Dhruva Maharaja's childish ambition, but how was it possible to offer Dhruva a position more exalted than Lord Brahma's
- There is a gradual development of the ambition to become like a particular devotee, and this activity is called raganuga
W
- When merciful Lord Krsna understands that a foolish devotee desires material prosperity, He gratefully gives him the shelter of His lotus feet. In this way, the Lord covers the devotee's undesirable ambitions
- When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always desires to fulfill the ambitions of His devotees, saw that the demigods were morose