Category:Becoming Insignificant
Theme Analysis
This category illustrates the dramatic shift in perspective that occurs when a living entity takes shelter of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the formidable ocean of material existence, usually an insurmountable barrier of birth and death, shrinks to the size of a calf's hoofprint for a devotee. As one advances in spiritual life, the overwhelming attractions of the material world—specifically sex desire and the allure of liberation or mystic powers—lose their potency and become insignificant compared to the superior taste of devotional service.
- Shrinking the Ocean of Nescience: For one who accepts the boat of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, the vast and dangerous ocean of material tribulation becomes as insignificant as the water contained in the small hoofprint of a calf, making liberation easily attainable.
- Vanquishing Material Desires: The taste of service is so superior that stagnant material desires, particularly the strong urge for sex life, naturally fade away. Great souls like Yamunācārya confirm that in the bliss of devotion, such pleasures become repugnant and insignificant.
- Surpassing Liberation and Yoga: The happiness derived from impersonal liberation (brahmānanda) or mystic perfection is rendered insignificant in the presence of the ocean of joy found in serving the Lord. Even the results of karma, jñāna, and yoga appear trivial to a pure devotee.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: How Material Existence Becomes Insignificant through Devotion.
Pages in category "Becoming Insignificant"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
A
- A lotus petal is something like a small boat, & this verse (SB 10.14.58) says that if one takes shelter of the petal boat of Krsna's lotus feet, the great ocean of birth & death becomes as insignificant as the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf
- All of them (karmis, jnanis and yogis) are trying to be materially perfect, but a devotee very easily comes to the platform of nirguna in devotional service, and consequently for the devotee the results of karma, jnana and yoga become very insignificant
- Anyone who takes shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna enters the boat for crossing over the ocean of nescience. For him, this vast expanse of the material manifestation becomes as insignificant as the water in a calf's hoofprint
- As confirmed by Yamunacarya, since he has been engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, there is always a current of newer & newer desires flowing to serve the Lord, so much so that the stagnant desire of sex life becomes very insignificant
N
- Narottama dasa sings: When will Lord Nityananda have mercy upon me, and when will all my desires for material enjoyment become insignificant? When shall I be purified by giving up all contaminations of material enjoyment?
- Narottama dasa Thakura says that one who has actually received the causeless mercy of Nityananda, he has no more any material desire. That is the symptom. Samsara-vasana means desire for material enjoyment, when it will become very insignificant
T
- The deep waves of the seas and oceans and the many other wonders within the creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead all become insignificant when the Lord, in His special feature, incarnates within this material world
- To have his (Uddhava's) head smeared with the dust of the gopis' feet without their knowledge, he desired to become only an insignificant clump of grass or herbs in the land of Vrndavana
W
- When a devotee comes to the platform of pancama-purusartha, simply engaging in devotional service to the Lord, the fourth purusartha, liberation, becomes very insignificant in his eyes
- When a liberated soul thus surrenders unto the lotus feet of the all-pervading Godhead, the ocean of nescience becomes as insignificant to him as the water in the small hoofprint of a calf
- When Daksa, the leader of the Prajapatis, entered that assembly, his personal bodily luster as bright as the effulgence of the sun, the entire assembly was illuminated, and all the assembled personalities became insignificant in his presence
- When one becomes captivated by love of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all attraction for mystic power, monistic pleasure, and mundane religious principles becomes insignificant
- When there is sun, the moonlight becomes insignificant, and if there are clouds and a rainbow, there is no manifestation of lightning