Category:Becoming Enthusiastic
Theme Analysis
This analysis focuses on the vital energy required for spiritual advancement: 'becoming enthusiastic' (utsāha). Śrīla Prabhupāda famously states that "a dead man cannot become a preacher," meaning that spiritual life requires dynamism, life, and vigor. Enthusiasm is listed by Rūpa Gosvāmī as the first qualification for success in devotional service. The analysis distinguishes between material enthusiasm, which is fueled by personal profit and sex desire and eventually leads to fatigue, and spiritual enthusiasm, which is inexhaustible because it is generated by service to the unlimited Lord. It also touches on the "rhinoceros" spirit—the willingness to attempt impossible tasks for Kṛṣṇa—while warning against misplaced enthusiasm for material goals or excessive building projects at the expense of preaching.
- The First Principle: Utsāha is the spark that ignites the fire of devotion. Without it, one cannot advance.
- Inexhaustible Energy: Unlike material work, where "no payment means no service," spiritual service generates its own energy. The more one serves, the more enthusiastic one becomes.
- Shooting the Rhinoceros: A devotee should be enthusiastic to attempt great things for Kṛṣṇa, regardless of success or failure.
- Directed Effort: Enthusiasm must be channeled correctly—toward preaching and following principles, not toward material accumulation or dry scholarship.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: A Dead Man Cannot Preach – The Necessity of Becoming Enthusiastic.
Pages in category "Becoming Enthusiastic"
The following 59 pages are in this category, out of 59 total.
A
- A dead man cannot become a preacher. So you must be very enthusiastic that, "I shall preach the glories of the Lord to my best capacity." It is not that one has to become very learned scholar to become a preacher
- A devotee should not be very enthusiastic about attaining any material goal. He should not be like persons who engage in fruitive activities, who work very hard day and night to attain material rewards
- A living entity cannot stop acting. So when he is forbidden to become enthusiastic about material achievements, he should at once be encouraged to be enthusiastic about spiritual achievements
- A person engaged in such pure devotional service neither desires anything for sense gratification, nor laments for any loss, nor hates anything, nor enjoys anything on his personal account, nor becomes very enthusiastic in material activity
- A sannyasi should not be enthusiastic about constructing temples. We can see in the lives of various acaryas in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that they are not very enthusiastic about constructing temples
- A spiritual master needn't be very enthusiastic for constructing temple buildings simply in the name of so-called spiritual advancement. Rather, his first and foremost activity should be to preach
- Actually, Maharaja Pariksit was becoming more and more enthusiastic to hear the transcendental pastimes of Krsna, and his inquiry was made with great interest
- And one should also not be very enthusiastic about constructing new temples, nor should one be enthusiastic about reading various types of books, save and except the ones which lead to the advancement of devotional service
- As already explained, one should not be idle but should be very enthusiastic about executing the regulative principles - tat-tat-karma-pravartana. Neglect of the regulative principles will destroy devotional service
B
- Become very convinced of our Krishna philosophy and very enthusiastically and soberly maintain temple routine standards, increase book distribution, satisfy the devotees, and in every way become the perfect KC example of angel
- Being enthusiastic, being confident, being patient, giving up the association of unwanted persons, following the regulative principles and remaining in the association of devotees - one is sure to advance in devotional service
- Brahmaji, being so questioned by Naradaji, congratulated him, for it is usual for the devotees to become very enthusiastic whenever they are questioned concerning the Almighty Personality of Godhead. That is the sign of a pure devotee of the Lord
- By the grace of Krsna this mission of spreading Krishna Consciousness is being enthusiastically pushed on for the benefit of the whole world by the assistance of all my disciples, good souls like your self and your good wife
E
- Even in the material world one has to be very enthusiastic in his particular field of activity in order to become successful. A student, businessman, artist or anyone else who wants success in his line must be enthusiastic
- Even one has no previous record of service, still, if he meets a pure devotee, he becomes enthusiastic. Therefore preaching required. Otherwise, one can say that whatever he has done last life, he will begin from that
- Everyone should be enthusiastic to contribute to the construction of the temple for the Deity, and everyone should also contribute food for the distribution of prasadam
- Everything must be executed with great enthusiasm. You must be very enthusiastic to serve Krsna
I
- I (Prabhupada) have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit
- I hope you are becoming more enthusiastic by your stay in Mayapur and when you return to Canada you will go on increasingly in your preaching work
- If you are actually chanting Hare Krsna, you will be enthusiastic, "Oh, I shall serve. I shall..." That is effect. Phalena pariciyate. We have to see by the result. He should be enthusiastic more and more
- In such a condition, people do not become very enthusiastic to receive this Krsna consciousness movement, just as a diseased person suffering from jaundice does not relish the taste of sugar candy
- In the material world, as soon as you stop payment there is no service. Why? Because they, by serving Krsna, they get transcendental pleasure. So the more you engage yourself in the service of the Lord, the more you become enthusiastic
- In the material world, if you give service you become tired. But transcendental world, if you give service, you more become enthusiastic. Yes, more service. That is happening. I do not pay these boys. Rather, they pay me, and they engage the service
- In this Krsna consciousness movement there are four basic regulative principles, forbidding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. A devotee must be very enthusiastic about following these principles
- Instead of employing enthusiasm for attaining material goals, one should be enthusiastic about achieving the perfectional stage of devotional service
- It is also stated that a sannyasi should not be enthusiastic about constructing temples. We can see in the life of various acaryas in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that they are not very enthusiastic about constructing temples
K
M
- Mauna means "silence." Silence does not mean that one should not speak at all, but that he should not speak of nonsense. He should be very enthusiastic in speaking about Krsna
- Maya will never touch you if you are cent percent serving Krishna. Follow the rules carefully, chant at least 16 rounds, read and study my books deeply, and in this way be enthusiastic about going back to Godhead in this life
- Mother Yasoda requested Krsna, "Instead of being enthusiastic in playing, now please come and be enthusiastic in charity." - because it was Krsna's birthday
- My dear sons and daughters, I am so much obliged to you that you have become so enthusiastic for offering Vyasa-puja. Now try to understand
O
- One has to be very enthusiastic in devotional service. Enthusiasm means action, but action for whom? The answer is that one should always act for Krsna - krsnarthakhila-cesta
- One must be enthusiastic, one must be patient, one must be confident, one must execute the duties, one must associate with devotees, and one must be very honest in dealing
- One must be enthusiastic, patient, confident, one must execute the duties, associate with devotees, and one must be very honest in dealing. Six things. If these six things are there, sure success
- One should become very serious. That is the law in every sphere of achievement. So for attaining to the perfectional stage of Krsna consciousness, one should be very much enthusiastic
- One should not be very enthusiastic about constructing costly temples or monasteries
- One should not give up the execution of devotional service because one or two attempts have not been successful. One must continue. Sri Rupa Gosvami also confirms one should be very enthusiastic and execute devotional service with patience and confidence
- One who has perfectly heard from the perfect source becomes convinced about the all-pervading Personality of Godhead and thus becomes enthusiastic in glorifying the Lord
- Our scope is unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit
T
- The advanced devotee should be very much enthusiastic in preaching the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya, and temple worship should be entrusted to the newcomers, or neophytes
- The favorable conditions for discharging devotional service are that one should be very enthusiastic in serving the Lord
- The more one glorifies Krsna, the more enthusiastic one becomes in glorifying, glorifying, glorifying. This is the meaning of spiritual
- The more you engage yourself in the service of the Lord, the more you become enthusiastic. There is no question of becoming tired. Just like I am old man. I have come from India. My age is seventy-six years. So still I am enthusiastic
- The next impediment Srila Rupa Gosvami mentions is prayasa, endeavoring very hard for material things. A devotee should not be very enthusiastic about attaining any material goal
- There are six positive items for advancing in DS. First, while one should not be enthusiastic to attain material achievements, one should be very enthusiastic to attain the perfectional stage of devotional service. This enthusiasm is called utsaha
- There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service - (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles
- These (being very merciful toward the unfortunate, very powerful, superior, chivalrous, enthusiastic, expert and truthful) decorations were manifested in the character of Krsna during His Govardhana-lila
U
- Utsahad dhairyan niscayat. The first principle is one must be very enthusiastic. He must believe that Krsna has said that, na me bhaktah pranasyati, "My devotee will never be vanquished." So "Let me become Krsna's devotee sincerely"
- Utsahat means you must be very much enthusiastic that "In this life, in this human form of life, I must complete my spiritual consciousness, or God consciousness, so that in the next life I may not have this material body"
W
- We must be very enthusiastic, that "I must surrender to Krsna. Although my mind is going outside, but I must be determined that I must surrender." This is called utsaha, enthusiasm
- We should always be enthusiastic to try for shooting the rhinoceros. That way, if we fail, everybody will say Never mind, nobody can shoot a rhinoceros anyway, and if we succeed, then everyone will say, Just see, what a wonderful thing they have done
- When one attains brahminical qualifications, he becomes happy and enthusiastic to render devotional service to the Lord. Automatically the science of God is unveiled before him
- When we earn money, we are very enthusiastic, similarly, if we want Krsna consciousness, if we want to earn that position, go back to home, back to Godhead, we must be very much enthusiastic, utsahan
- While one should not be enthusiastic to attain material achievements, one should be very enthusiastic to attain the perfectional stage of devotional service. This enthusiasm is called utsaha
- Without sex life one cannot be materially enthusiastic. And if you stop sex life, then you become spiritually advanced. This is the secret