Category:Change of Heart
Theme Analysis
The ultimate objective of all spiritual practices in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to provoke a profound change of heart. In the conditioned state, the living entity's heart is hardened by lifetimes of material exploitation and sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently compares this conditioned state to a heart that is steel-framed or made of stone. The prescribed method to melt this rigid consciousness is the regular chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. If a practitioner chants the holy names but does not experience ecstatic symptoms—such as shedding tears or the hairs standing on end—it is a clear indication that their heart remains steel-framed, likely due to committing offenses against the holy name.
However, true spiritual transformation is not measured merely by emotional displays, which can sometimes be artificially imitated by false devotees (prakṛta-sahajiyās). The authentic, unmistakable symptom of a change of heart is a practical shift in one's activities. A genuine change manifests as a natural, spontaneous detachment from material enjoyment and a deep reluctance to engage in anything that is not congenial to the devotional service of the Supreme Lord. As one's service attitude increases, the false ego's desire to lord over material nature evaporates.
This principle of internal transformation applies not only to individuals but to human society as a whole. Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that the endless conflicts and misunderstandings between nations are simply the result of polluted, materialistic leadership. Political diplomacy and government policies continually fail to reform citizens because they ignore the spiritual dimension. The only viable solution for global peace is for the leaders of the world to undergo a change of heart by receiving the transcendental message of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If the leadership is purified by the authorities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the mass of people will naturally follow, ushering in a radical and peaceful change in the world's atmosphere.
- The Steel-Framed Heart: A heart that does not melt and experience ecstasy upon hearing or chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa is considered hard as stone or steel.
- The Test of Transformation: The authentic proof of a change of heart is not merely shedding tears, but a practical, visible detachment from material sense gratification.
- The Power of the Holy Name: Lord Caitanya's saṅkīrtana movement is the supreme method for cleansing the heart of all misunderstandings and material contamination.
- Global Reform: World peace can only be achieved when the leaders of society undergo a change of heart by assimilating the transcendental messages of the Vedic scriptures.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Change of Heart - Melting the Steel-Framed Consciousness.
Pages in category "Change of Heart"
The following 24 pages are in this category, out of 24 total.
A
- After the extinction of the fire of misunderstanding (a tremendous change of heart can take place by which the complete misunderstanding between the human nations created by politicians can at once be extinguished), other profits will follow
- As Sukadeva Gosvami began his prayer by discussing the word yat-kirtanam, so also Lord Caitanya recommended that simply by glorifying the Lord's holy name, a tremendous change of heart can take place
C
- Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one's chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end
- Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one’s chanting the holy name of God with concentration, does not change and feel ecstasy, at which time tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end
I
- If a person does not cry or exhibit bodily changes after chanting the holy name of God without offense, it is to be understood that he is hardhearted and that therefore his heart does not change even after he chants the holy name of God, Hare Krsna
- If the leadership of world affairs is entrusted to the devotees of God, for which a worldwide organization under the name & style of ISKCON has been started, by the grace of the Almighty there can be a change of heart in human beings all over the world
P
T
- The change (of heart) must be manifested in terms of one’s real activities
- The desired change of heart referred to above is visible in the reluctance to do anything not congenial to the devotional way. To create such a change of heart, conclusive discussion about Sri Krsna and His potencies is absolutely necessary
- The devotees of the Lord are able authorities to effect such a change (a change of heart in human beings) by purifying the dust-worn minds of the people in general
- The government failed to change the hearts of the citizens from indulging in sinful life, so instead of losing the taxes they collect to inflate the treasury, they have decided to manufacture liquor to supply to the citizens who hanker after it
- The mass of people in general are tools in the hands of the modern politicians and leaders of the people. If there is a change of heart of the leaders only, certainly there will be a radical change in the atmosphere of the world
- The test of the real change of heart that takes place when one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is that one becomes detached from material enjoyment. This is the real change
- The words of Krsna are so attractive that they can immediately change the heart of even His opponent
W
- We are confident that if the transcendental message of Srimad-Bhagavatam is received only by the leading men of the world, certainly there will be a change of heart, and naturally the people in general will follow them
- With the progress of devotional service, the reaction of change in the heart is exhibited by gradual detachment from the sense of material enjoyment by a false sense of lording it over the world and an increase in service attitude