Category:Attaining the Kingdom of God
Theme Analysis
The concept of the kingdom of God is central to all bona fide spiritual traditions, but the Vedic literatures provide the most detailed and scientific explanation of how to attain it. A common misconception among impersonalists is that the ultimate spiritual destination is void or without variety. However, the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam strictly refute this. The kingdom of God, or the abode of Kṛṣṇa, is a regular establishment filled with eternal, spiritual variegatedness. Because devotional service is on the absolute plane, engaging fully in the loving service of the Lord means one has already practically attained the spiritual kingdom, even while residing in the material body.
To formally enter this supreme abode, specific qualifications must be met. The conditioned soul must practice constant control of the body and mind, becoming entirely free from illusion, false prestige, and material lust. Those who have experienced the temporary comforts of material civilization must learn detachment, following the examples of great devotees like Bali Mahārāja or pure celibates who dedicate their entire lives to spiritual elevation. The process itself is simple yet profound: by constantly hearing and chanting (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ) the glories of the Lord, a devotee's mind is naturally drawn away from matter and fixed upon the spiritual form of the Godhead.
One of the most glorious aspects of the kingdom of God is its universal accessibility. The Supreme Personality of Godhead declares that even those born in the lowest circumstances, if they take full shelter of Him, will undoubtedly attain supreme perfection. This principle of humility, meekness, and complete surrender is echoed across genuine spiritual traditions, as confirmed by the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, those who dedicate their intelligence and energy to Kṛṣṇa consciousness are guaranteed to attain the three-fourths energy of God, a realm from which they will never have to return to the miseries of the material world.
- Nature of the Kingdom: The spiritual sky is not void; it is a dynamic, eternal establishment full of spiritual varieties and engagements.
- The Authorized Process: Attaining this abode requires turning the mind from matter to spirit through the regulated practices of hearing, chanting (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ), and devotional service.
- Required Qualifications: Freedom from material lust, false prestige, and illusion, coupled with control of the mind and senses, are essential for entry.
- Universal Mercy: The kingdom of God is open to everyone—regardless of birth or social standing—who humbly and fully surrenders to the Supreme Lord.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Attaining the Kingdom of God - The Ultimate Spiritual Destination.
Pages in category "Attaining the Kingdom of God"
The following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total.
A
- A person who is fully absorbed in Krsna Con. is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that which is offered is of the same spiritual nature. BG 4.24 - 1972
- A person who is fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that which is offered is of the same spiritual nature
- Anyone who trains the mind to turn from matter to the spiritual form of the Godhead by performance of the prescribed rules of devotional service can easily attain the kingdom of God, in the anti-material sky
- As a bona fide disciple of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva inquired from his father very extensively about religious principles and spiritual values, and his great father also satisfied him by teaching him the yoga system by which one can attain the spiritual kingdom
I
- If we try to repeat what we hear, we become established in knowledge. By the process of sravanam kirtanam (SB 7.5.23), hearing and chanting, we can become free from material conditioning and attain to the kingdom of God
- In BG the PG says the following words: O son of Prtha, even those who are faithless and are of lower birth - including fallen women or professional prostitutes, ignorant manual laborers all shall attain perfection and reach the Kingdom of God
O
- One attains to the kingdom of God, where spiritual varieties are there. They are not variety-less; otherwise, the Lord would not have said that samstham. There is a regular establishment
- One should desire and hanker after that supreme kingdom, for when one attains that kingdom, he does not have to return to this material world. BG 1972 Introduction
- One who is free from illusion, false prestige, and false association, who understands the eternal, who is done with material lust and is freed from the duality of happiness and distress, attains to that eternal kingdom. BG 15.5 - 1972
T
- The Lord gives such a devotee (who always engage in Krsna's service) sufficient intelligence so that ultimately the devotee can attain Him in His spiritual kingdom. BG 1972 purports
- There is no difference between the kingdom of God and the devotional service of the Lord. Since both of them are on the absolute plane, to be engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord is to have attained the spiritual kingdom. BG 1972 pur
- Those who attained the comforts of a material civilization should try to attain the kingdom of God by following in the footsteps of Bali Maharaja, who exchanged his acquired material strength
- Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God (or the abode of Krsna) by cessation of material existence
- Thus practicing control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist attains to the kingdom of God (or the abode of Krsna) by cessation of material existence. BG 6.15 - 1972