Category:Convinced about God
Theme Analysis
The spiritual journey reaches a pivotal turning point when a practitioner becomes firmly convinced about the existence, supremacy, and personal nature of God. In Vedic terminology, this complete conviction is called āstikyam, which means possessing full, unwavering faith in the statements of the revealed scriptures without argument. Such deep realization does not occur through mundane academic research or mental speculation. Rather, it is awakened by submissively hearing the Absolute Truth from a perfect source: a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession who is himself fully convinced about the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
When a devotee becomes free from the contamination of sinful activities, their faith matures into a stage called niṣṭhā, or firm, steady conviction. At this stage, the devotee experiences the practical reality of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and naturally becomes enthusiastic to glorify the Lord and distribute transcendental literature. This solid conviction acts as an impenetrable shield against illusion. A person who is fully convinced of God's supreme, transcendental position will never fall victim to the speculative theories of atheists, nor will they degrade into the impersonal philosophy that seeks to strip the Absolute Truth of His divine form and personality.
The ultimate manifestation of being convinced about God is absolute surrender (śaraṇāgati). A devotee with firm determination understands that by simply rendering loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, all other material and spiritual obligations are automatically fulfilled. This conviction eradicates all material anxiety and calculation. The pure devotee ceases to worry about daily maintenance or future security, resting in the unshakable certainty that the Supreme Lord will personally provide all necessities and offer ultimate protection in all circumstances.
- The Source of Conviction: Firm faith is acquired exclusively by hearing from an authorized spiritual master who is fully convinced of the Absolute Truth.
- The Stage of Niṣṭhā: Freedom from sinful activities allows one's faith to solidify into firm conviction, resulting in enthusiastic preaching and practical service.
- Protection from Illusion: Unshakable faith in the personal nature of God protects the sincere seeker from the dangerous pitfalls of atheism and impersonalism.
- Perfect Surrender: The ultimate proof of being convinced about God is complete reliance on His protection and the realization that serving Him fulfills all other duties.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Convinced about God - From Submissive Hearing to Perfect Surrender.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
C
Pages in category "Convinced about God"
The following 24 pages are in this category, out of 24 total.
A
- A person should not be in the renounced order of life unless he is firmly convinced of being protected by the Lord
- As soon as one becomes free from all sinful activities, he becomes firmly convinced of God consciousness. That is called nistha. Tato nistha tato ruci. Then you taste, - Oh, it is so nice, Krsna consciousness
- Astikyam means completely convinced of God and his relationship with God. That is called astikyam. Or full faith in the statement of the Vedas. Whatever Veda says, that's right. Yes. No argument
B
- Being fully convinced of the substantiality afforded by shelter at Your lotus feet, he (Prahlada) took shelter of Your lotus feet, against the will of his father and demoniac friends, who were killed by Your own self
- By attaining knowledge and knowing its practical application in life, one becomes convinced about the Absolute Truth
I
- I (Prabhupada) was also attracted by my Guru Maharaja when he convinced me that God lives and we can live with Him. I find the same conviction in you and it has given me so great pleasure. Yes, it is the greatest discovery
- If one saw the personal characteristics and activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one would certainly be convinced that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can ascertain this by following in the footsteps of the sastric injunctions
- If you find a person (one who is coming in disciplic succession & fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth), surrender & try to please him, serve him & question him. Surrender unto him is surrender to God. Question to learn, not to waste time
- It is required, sadhu-sanga. Then if he meets sadhu . . . By one or two words from him, he can convince you about supremacy of the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, he'll take birth after birth, bahunam janmanam ante
O
- One should know with firm conviction that the Lord, being transcendental, is never subject to any curse or benediction. Only ordinary living entities are subjected to curses and the punishments of Yamaraja
- One who considers the Lord on the level of one's limited potency is only a common man. Such a man cannot be convinced that the Personality of Godhead is always unaffected by the modes of material nature
- 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
- One who is factually convinced of this opulence and mystic power of Mine (Krsna) engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt
S
- Sravanam kirtanam, hearing and chanting, are especially important. By hearing from her husband about the greatness of Lord Vasudeva, Devayani certainly became convinced and surrendered herself unto the lotus feet of God - om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
- Surrender to authority and know Him by signs. Don't surrender to a fool or a rascal. Find one who is coming in disciplic succession, one who is fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth
T
- This awakening of divine consciousness enthralls a devotee, who thus relishes his eternal transcendental mellow. Such an awakening is awarded only to those convinced by devotional service about the transcendental nature of the Personality of Godhead
- This clear understanding of God is not available anywhere else but from our books, so if you are convinced on this point, then produce books voluminously
- To accept this principle (sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja) means firm determination: "Yes, if I serve Krsna, then all my other duties will be automatically done." This is firm conviction. "By one stroke, I'll kill so many birds
W
- We should be very much careful not to become their (duskrtina's) victim. So although the atheists say there is no God, jagad ahur anisvaram, but we are convinced that God is the origin - janmady asya yatah - of both matter and spirit
- We should not materially calculate, thinking, “It is better to stock food for a week. Why give the Lord trouble by having Him bring food daily?” One should be convinced that the Lord will provide daily. There is no need to stock food for the next day
- When one is convinced of the presence of the Lord by a practical service attitude, there is a revelation by the Lord's mercy, and such a pure devotee of the Lord can perceive the Lord's presence always and everywhere
- When one is firmly convinced that Visnu is the only object of love and worship and that there is no one else - not even a demigod - worthy of receiving devotional service, one feels intimacy in his love relationship with God, and this is approved