Category:Becoming Like
Theme Analysis
This category draws a sharp line between two types of aspiration: the false desire to "become like God" and the perfectional desire to "become like a devotee." Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the living entity's attempt to compete with the Lord is the root of material bondage; trying to become the Lord is impossible. However, the path of perfection lies in raganuga-bhakti—developing the ambition to become like the eternal associates of Krsna in Vṛndāvana. Here, a crucial distinction is made: one must follow in their footsteps (internal cultivation of their mood) rather than artificially imitate their position. True success is found in humility, even aspiring to "become like a dog" of the Vaisnava, rather than becoming a puffed-up imitator.
- The Trap of Imitation: Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against the "rascals" who claim to have become God. He explains that while the living entity is part and parcel of Krsna, the desire to compete with Him or become exactly like Him in power is maya.
- Following the Footsteps: In advanced devotion, one desires to serve Krsna like His parents or friends. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda cautions that we must follow their mood (devotional service) rather than trying to "become like them" in an artificial sense of taking their post.
- The Humble Aspiration: The safest path is to follow the instruction of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: to become like a faithful dog of the Vaisnava. This mood of strict following and subservience protects the devotee from the contamination of materialism.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Becoming Like a Perfect Devotee -Following vs. Imitating.
Pages in category "Becoming Like"
The following 39 pages are in this category, out of 39 total.
A
- After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Varanasi and turned Prakasananda Sarasvati and his disciples into Vaisnavas, Varanasi became like Navadvipa because so many devotees began discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam
- Anyone who will give him false hope that "If you get independence, then overnight you will become like this, like this, like that," that leader is very nice. If there is some political meeting giving only bluff, lots of bluffs only, & people gather there
E
- Either in parental affection or conjugal love, friendship or servitorship (to krsna) - in any way - we must follow in the footsteps of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, not try to become like them. Therefore this description is provided here - in SB 10.9.3
- Everyone will be benefited. Simply you have to preach. You have to preach in the same way that where there is no necessity, there also the preaching will go on. You have to become like cloud
I
- I hope in the future you will take a leading part in converting the Japanese and Chinese people towards Krsna Consciousness so that all of them may become happy like you. That is my only desire
- If animal has got sufficient food to fill up the belly and sufficient arrangement for sex, then he is satisfied. He doesn't want anything. So man has become like that
- If he becomes like cats and dogs, then he cannot attain this daivi sampat. If there is rules and regulation, restriction following, then gradually he will come to the platform of daivi sampat
- If I want to love a dog and become a dog in my next life, instead of loving God and becoming like God in the next life, that is my choice. The prison and university are open to everyone, and by making our choice, we can make our future destiny
- If we associate with spiritual life, then we shall develop a spiritual body. The same example I have several times given is that if you put an iron rod within fire, it will become like fire. Is it not
- In Vedic society no girl was allowed to remain independent and unmarried. Independence for women means they become like prostitutes, struggling to capture some man who will take care of her
- Independence for women means they become like prostitutes, struggling to capture some man who will take care of her. In this way the so called independent woman has to work very hard to make herself attractive by artificially wearing cosmetics
K
O
- Oh, please bring me (Hiranyakasipu) a stick! This Prahlada is damaging our name and fame. Because of his bad intelligence, he has become like a cinder in the dynasty of the demons
- One who is in the bodily conception of life is compared in the sastras to animals like cows and asses. Diti wanted to punish Indra, who had become like a lower animal
S
- Since the tiger is very powerful, people want to become like a lion or a tiger, but that is not a very good proposition, because if one actually becomes like a tiger one won't get food daily, but will have to search for food with great labor
- So-called Vaisnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has recommended: vaisnava thakura tomara kukkura bhuliya janaha more, krsna se tomara krsna dite para. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee
T
- That is your duty as sannyasa, to keep yourself always above suspicion in Krishna Consciousness programme, and to teach others to become like you, that's all. That is our perfect programme
- The devotees of the Supreme Lord are called devas because they also become like God, whereas those who defy the authority of the Supreme are called asuras or demons. These two classes are always found in human society
- The last destination of the Buddhist philosophers is to become just like a stone, which is immovable and has neither material nor spiritual activity
- The living entities are illusioned by the will of the Lord because they wanted to become like Him
- The living entity, part and parcel of Krsna, starts his own business to compete with the Lord. There are many competitors out to attain the Lord's position, but to become like the Lord is not at all possible
- The spiritual master must never be carried away by an accumulation of wealth or a large number of followers. A bona fide spiritual master will never become like that
- The United States has vast educational institutions where everyone is allowed to receive an education, but the result is that most students become like hippies
- The whole material ocean become like that hole of the calf's hoof. In this way you can cross over this material ocean and go back to home, back to Godhead
- There is a gradual development of the ambition to become like a particular devotee, and this activity is called raganuga
- These rascals becomes God, and the maya kicks on the face, and they think that they have become God. Don't become like that. Always remain humble servant, and you will be happy
- This child (Pariksit) will be like Bali Maharaja in patience, a staunch devotee of Lord Krsna like Prahlada Maharaja, a performer of many Asvamedha (horse) sacrifices and a follower of the old and experienced men
- This very example is cited in Bhagavad-gita: one should become like the ocean. The ocean is filled by many thousands of rivers, and millions of tons of its water evaporates into clouds, yet the ocean is the same unagitated ocean
- Those who are in perfectional yoga, they can become like that, smaller than the smallest. So anima, laghima, you can become lighter than the lightest. You can fly in the air. They go, by touching the beam of the sun, moon, they can go