Category:Elevated to Devotional Service to God
Theme Analysis
The process of being elevated to the platform of pure devotional service is a highly specific, transcendental science. According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, one cannot be elevated to this supreme stage through mundane methods such as karma-kāṇḍa (fruitive rituals) or jñāna-kāṇḍa (philosophical speculation). Even the cultivation of dry knowledge and renunciation are rejected as the chief items for elevation. Instead, true elevation begins solely by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and His pure representatives. When a fortunate soul associates with a bona fide spiritual master, they are instructed on how to cut the knot of material attachment and are gradually elevated through the strict execution of sādhana-bhakti.
This elevation requires rigorous adherence to the regulative principles. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu outlined sixty-four items of devotional service, but five are considered the most potent for immediate elevation: associating with pure devotees, chanting the holy names, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, engaging in Deity worship, and residing in a holy place like Mathurā or Vṛndāvana. By faithfully executing these practices, a devotee's heart becomes illuminated, and they naturally develop intense, spontaneous attachment to the Supreme Lord. This process is so powerful that even the lowest of human beings can be elevated to the highest perfectional stage if properly trained.
However, Śrīla Prabhupāda issues a severe warning against premature imitation. One must never artificially attempt to jump to the stage of prema-bhakti (spontaneous love) without first undergoing the rigorous purification of sādhana-bhakti. Furthermore, even after becoming highly elevated in devotional life, a practitioner must never think themselves above the rules; they must continue to strictly follow the scriptural injunctions. By maintaining this humble, regulated attitude, the devotee is safely and permanently elevated to the eternal, blissful association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The True Path of Elevation: Elevation to pure devotion cannot be achieved by fruitive activities or philosophical speculation; it requires the mercy and guidance of a pure Vaiṣṇava.
- The Five Potent Practices: Associating with devotees, chanting, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, serving the Deity, and residing in a holy place are the most powerful means for elevation.
- Universal Accessibility: The process of bhakti-yoga is so potent that even the lowest individuals can be elevated to the highest stage if properly trained.
- The Danger of Imitation: One must never artificially jump to spontaneous love or abandon the regulative principles, even after achieving a highly elevated status.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Elevated to Devotional Service to God - The Process of Transcendental Elevation.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
Pages in category "Elevated to Devotional Service to God"
The following 56 pages are in this category, out of 56 total.
A
- A preacher-devotee is meant to show mercy to innocent persons, whom he can elevate to devotional service
- A pure Vaisnava is very happy to see a person elevated in devotional service. Unfortunately, there are many so-called Vaisnavas who become envious to see someone actually recognized by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- According to the pancaratrika system, however, even though everyone is a sudra due to the absence of garbhadhana-samskara, if a person has but a little tendency to become KC, he should be given the chance to elevate to the transcendental platform of ds
- Anyone who hears this description of the car festival will attain Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will also attain the elevated state by which he will have firm conviction in devotional service and love of Godhead
- Anyone who understands the basic principle of Sankhya philosophy is elevated in devotional service and becomes fully Krsna conscious, or liberated, even within this material world
- Automatically the symptoms of happiness come unto him, and his distress of material condition simultaneously becomes vanquished if one is elevated to the position of devotional service. That is the test of how one is advanced in devotional service
B
- Because Ajamila constantly chanted his son's name, Narayana, he was elevated to the platform of bhakti, although he did not know it
- By executing devotional service under the regulative principles, one can become very highly elevated and then begin to appreciate the dealings of pure love under the management of yogamaya
- By executing regulative devotional service, one is elevated to the platform of an eternally perfect associate, such as a servant, friend, superior or beloved woman. Each of these is of four varieties
- By hearing the activities of pious Dhruva, one can enhance one's faith in God and can directly connect with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus one can very soon be elevated to the transcendental platform of devotional service
- By the process of executing regulated devotional service, one is actually elevated onto the transcendental stage, beyond the material modes of nature. At that time one's heart becomes illuminated like the sun
D
- Devotional service manifests as the most elevated, pure love for God
- Due to his (Bharata's) having been elevated to the topmost platform of devotional service, he did not forget the incidents of his past life. This special benediction saved him from further deterioration
- Due to their unclean habits they are prohibited, but at the same time they are given other facilities so they may be elevated to the highest grade of devotional service by association with pure devotees
E
- Even after becoming elevated in devotional life, one should not think - Oh, I am already elevated to the highest stage; therefore I may violate the scriptural regulations for executing devotional service
- Even after being elevated to the highest platform of devotional service, one must continue following the scriptural injunctions for devotional life
- Everyone begins his devotional life from the neophyte stage, but if one properly finishes chanting the prescribed number of rounds of hari-nama, he is elevated step by step to the highest platform, uttama-adhikari
- Everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga
H
- Having been elevated to that platform (of devotional service), Ajamila began to lament for his past materialistic activities and glorify the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- He (the sadhu) will give us instructions on how to cut the knot of the contamination of material attraction and how to elevate ourselves in devotional service. That is the result of associating with a sadhu
I
- If the ultimate goal of life is to elevate oneself to the platform of devotional service, then why is it observed that a devotee of Lord Visnu is generally not very prosperous materially, whereas a devotee of Lord Siva is found to be very opulent?
- If the ultimate goal of life, or the conclusion of the Vedas, is to elevate oneself to the platform of devotional service, then why is it observed that a devotee of Lord Visnu is generally not very prosperous materially
- In the beginning, no one can be elevated to the highest stage of devotional service. Here (in SB 3.32.42) bhakta means one who does not hesitate to accept the reformatory processes for becoming a bhakta
- In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.115-28), Lord Caitanya lists sixty-four regulative principles one must follow to be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service
- It is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 11.2.45): One who is highly elevated in devotional service sees the Supersoul, Krsna, who is the Soul of all individual souls
O
- Offering service and surrendering to the spiritual master, one is elevated to devotional service, and by performing devotional service one gradually becomes attached to the SP of Godhead. Because of this attachment to the Lord, one can understand God
- One cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-kanda or jnana-kanda. Pure devotional service can be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees
- One has to become faithful by practicing the controlling process of the yoga system and must elevate himself to the platform of unalloyed devotional service by chanting and hearing about Me
- One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaisnava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Krsna. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people
- One should not try to elevate himself artificially to the stage of prema-bhakti without seriously following the regulative principles of sadhana-bhakti
- One who associates with pure devotees or an elevated devotional society goes to the next stage - bhajana-kriya, or acceptance of the regulative principles of worshiping the Supreme Lord
S
- Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact
- Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati says that if one is elevated to real, pure devotional service, he considers even great demigods like Brahma and Indra to be on an equal level with an insignificant insect
- Sukadeva Gosvami has recommended that anyone who hears from the right source about the dealings of the gopis with Krsna and who follows the instructions laid down by the previous acaryas will be elevated to the topmost position of devotional service
T
- Ten principles to properly elevate oneself to the platform of sadhana-bhakti
- That is the best form of religion which, performing, one becomes elevated to devotional service of the Lord - Not religious formalities. One has to test by the result. Phalena pariciyate
- The bhakti-yoga process directly elevates the soul to the spiritual planets, where life is eternally blissful and full of knowledge; therefore bhakti-yoga is considered to be the greatest of all yoga systems
- The liberated soul in devotional service, attracted by the transcendental qualities of Krsna, becomes more and more elevated, whereas those who engage in dry speculation and simply cultivate knowledge without devotion fall due to their many offenses
- The lowest of human beings can be elevated to the highest stage of devotional life if they are trained by the bona fide spiritual master well versed in the transcendental loving service of the Lord
- The processes of speculative knowledge and renunciation are not actually the chief items for elevation in devotional service
- The word atma also means "this body." The yogis who practice bodily exercises, considering the body to be the self, are also elevated to the transcendental service of the Lord if they associate with pure devotees
- There are nine different kinds of devotional service. Devotional service to Krsna in feelings of separation elevates the devotee to the highest perfectional level, to the level of the gopis
- They (the brahmanas) regretted very much that, although their wives were elevated to the platform of pure devotional service, they themselves could not understand even a little bit of how to love & offer transcendental loving service to the Supreme Soul
- This incident shows that by serving Krsna the devotee immediately becomes elevated to the most exalted position in all respects. Devotional service is so potent that anyone who takes to it becomes qualified with all godly qualities
- This is the mentality of one who is becoming a pure devotee. When one is elevated to the platform of devotional service by the grace of the Lord and the spiritual master, one first regrets his past sinful activities. This helps one advance
- To be elevated to a point of devotional life, one has to execute the directions of the scriptures
- To be elevated to the platform of devotional service, the following five items should be observed: association with devotees, engagement in the service of Krsna, the reading of SB, the chanting of the holy names and residence at Vrndavana or Mathura
W
- We cannot expect him (the sadhu) to give us instructions on how to improve our material condition, but he will give us instructions on how to cut the knot of the contamination of material attraction and how to elevate ourselves in devotional service
- When the Lord is satisfied, the performer of sacrifices is elevated to the platform of devotional service. Prthu Maharaja therefore expected that his insignificant service to the Lord would be accepted by Him as being greater than that of Laksmiji
- Why you should falsely initiate a person? If you cannot make him a brahmana and elevate him to the highest stage of devotional service, why should you cheat others? Initiation means making him dvijatvam . Tatha diksa-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrnam
- Without following the above-mentioned ten principles, one cannot properly elevate himself to the platform of sadhana-bhakti, or devotional service in practice