Category:Engaging Our Mind in Devotional Service to God
Theme Analysis
The mind is the central pivot of human existence, acting as the architect of the soul's future and the master of the physical senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that engaging the mind in the service of Kṛṣṇa is not merely a psychological exercise but a factually absolute activity. In the state of advaya-jnana, or nondual knowledge, mental service is considered as potent as external physical service. This analysis explores how bhakti-yoga provides the necessary framework to stabilize the restless mind, subduing its internal enemies and ensuring that the living entity transcends the platform of material nature. By fixing the mind on the lotus feet of the Lord, as demonstrated by great personalities like Ambarīṣa Mahārāja and the South Indian brahmana, the practitioner achieves a state of perpetual liberation, remaining unaffected even in the most adverse conditions.
- The Absolute Nature of Thought: Activities performed within the mind for the satisfaction of the Lord are as effective as those performed with the other senses, situating the devotee on the platform of absolute knowledge.
- The Criteria for the Future: At the moment of death, the mind determines the next body of the spirit soul; however, by engaging the mind in Kṛṣṇa’s service, the devotee resists degradation and secures a spiritual destination.
- Automatic Sense Control: When the mind is fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the senses are naturally subdued, preventing mental concoctions and the influence of the "enemies of the mind."
- Liberation in All Conditions: A person who has dedicated their mind to the Lord is considered jivan-mukta, or liberated while still in the body, remaining a pure devotee regardless of whether they are in heaven or hell.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Absolute Platform of Thought – Engaging Our Mind in Devotional Service to God.
Pages in category "Engaging Our Mind in Devotional Service to God"
The following 30 pages are in this category, out of 30 total.
A
- "A person who devotes his mind, body and speech to the service of the Lord, even though in the midst of a miserable life fraught with past misdeeds, is assured of liberation." Bhattacarya changed the word mukti (liberation) to bhakti - devotional service
- At the time of death the mind sets the criteria for the spirit soul's being carried to another type of body. If a living being resists the dictation of the mind and engages the mind in the loving service of the Lord, the mind cannot degrade him
E
- Even while preaching in hell, a pure devotee remains a pure devotee by his constant association with the SPG. To attain this state, one has to control his senses. The senses are automatically controlled when one's mind is engaged in the service of God
- Everywhere means in every part of the creation of the Lord. The Lord can be served by all the senses, or even simply by the mind. The South Indian brahmana who served the Lord simply on the strength of his mind also factually realized the Lord
I
- If one cannot externally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can serve the Lord within one's mind, since the activities of the mind are as good as those of the other senses. This is called the nondual or absolute situation - advaya jnana
- If our minds, senses, speech, money & energies are thus engaged in the service of Krsna, we cannot be considered to be existing in material nature. By virtue of spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, we transcend the platform of material nature
- If the mind is engaged in bhakti-yoga, however, by the grace of Krsna one can very easily control it
- In Hardwar, Ajamila took shelter at a Visnu temple, where he executed the process of bhakti-yoga. He controlled his senses and fully applied his mind in the service of the Lord
O
- One should never think that his mind is trained & that he can do whatever he likes. One interested in spiritual life should always engage his mind in the service of the Lord so that the enemies of the mind, who always accompany the mind, will be subdued
- One should not imagine so-called happiness through mental concoction. Rather, the best course is to engage the mind in the service of the Lord, Hrsikesa, and thus feel real blissful life
- One who acts to serve Krsna with his body, mind, intelligence and words is a liberated person, even within this material world. - Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187
- One who engages in the transcendental service of the Lord in body, mind and words is to be considered liberated in all conditions of material existence. (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.187) The Krsna consciousness movement is based on this principle
S
- SB 10.14.8: One who engages always in Your (God's) devotional service with his mind, words and body, and who always offers obeisances to You is certainly a bona fide candidate for liberation
- Some of the senses are meant for acquiring knowledge, and some are meant for executing the conclusions of our thinking, feeling and willing. So practice means employing both the mind and the senses in practical devotional service
- Srila Rupa Gosvami has explained that those who are always engaged in Krsna consciousness by body, mind & activities are to be considered liberated even within this body
- Srila Rupa Gosvami has said that anyone who has dedicated his life to the service of the Lord by his activities, his mind and his words may stay in any condition of life and yet is no longer actually conditioned but is liberated - jivan-muktah sa ucyate
- Srila Rupa Gosvami says that if a person is always engaged in the service of the Lord with his body, words and mind, he is to be considered liberated, although living in the material world
- Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 11.2.36) states that one should submit everything - his fruitive activities, body, speech, mind, senses, intelligence, soul and modes of nature - to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana
T
- The human form of life is a chance for one to understand his position. Therefore the most intelligent person takes to devotional service just to engage his mind, senses and body in the service of the Lord without deviation
- The sixty-four items of devotional service should include all of our activities of body, mind and speech. The regulative principle of devotional service enjoins that all of our senses must be employed in the service of the Lord
- The three rods, or tridanda, indicate that a Vaisnava sannyasi vows to render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his body, mind and words
- The transcendental loving service of the Lord is performed in three ways - with the body, with the mind and with words. Here (in SB 3.15.49) the sages (four Kumaras) pray that their words may always be engaged in glorifying the Supreme Lord
- This (attaining the Lord's mercy) is actually possible when one fully engages in Krsna consciousness. A person whose senses and mind are always engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord has no possibility of engaging in material activities
- Those who are cultivating spiritual life and executing devotional service are always engaged in activity. Such activity can be performed with the body or with the mind
Categories:
- Engage
- Engagement
- Our
- Mind
- Engaging in Devotional Service to God
- Devotional Service to God
- Categories With Theme Analysis
- In Devotional Service to God - Umbrella Category
- Nurturing Devotional Service to God - Umbrella Category
- Devotional Service and Krsna Consciousness - Umbrella Category
- Devotional Service to God - Umbrella Category
- Engagement - Umbrella Category
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