Category:Following God
Theme Analysis
The concept of religion is frequently misunderstood as a matter of cultural faith or mental speculation. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly defines true religion (bhāgavata-dharma) with one profound statement from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: dharmam tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam—religion means the laws given directly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because God is one, the ultimate religious principle is one: to know His orders and follow them perfectly. The sectarian concepts of "my religion" and "your religion" are completely absent in true bhāgavata-dharma. A genuine follower of God does not artificially imitate Him—which is considered irreligious (adharma)—but humbly executes His instructions as presented in authorized scriptures like the Bhagavad-gītā and taught by the bona fide ācāryas. By following the Lord's dictation, either through the scriptures or the Supersoul within the heart, a devotee automatically transcends the dualities of material existence. Because they act under the direct order of the Supreme, their actions are completely liberated from the contamination of the material modes of nature, and all secondary benefits—such as peace, economic development, and liberation—naturally follow them like maidservants.
- The Absolute Definition of Religion: Religion is not a mental concoction or blind faith; it is the strict execution of the laws and orders given by the Supreme Lord.
- Universal and Non-Sectarian: True bhāgavata-dharma has no contradictions. It transcends sectarian designations because it is based on the universal principle of surrendering to the one Supreme God.
- Following versus Imitating: A conditioned soul must never attempt to imitate the extraordinary activities of the Lord, but must strictly follow His instructions to achieve perfection.
- Transcendental Immunity: A devotee who acts solely on the order of the Supreme Lord is immediately freed from material dualities and the dictations of their own senses.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Essence of Religion - Following the Orders of God.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
Pages in category "Following God"
The following 55 pages are in this category, out of 55 total.
A
- A devotee sometimes appears to be in a very opulent position, but he accepts that position to follow the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore a devotee is never affected by material influences
- Action in accordance with the Vedic principles is called religion. Religion means following the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- All of them-as they surrender unto Me-I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha. BG 4.11 - 1972
- Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated God, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spiritual master."
- Although Sankara was attempting to cover the Supreme Lord by his Mayavadi philosophy, he was simply following the order of the Supreme Lord. It should be understood that his teachings were a timely necessity but not a permanent fact
- As long as we are in the material world, our duty is to follow the orders of the Lord, and if by the grace of the Lord we are liberated from the clutches of the material world, then in our liberated stage also we can render transcendental loving service
B
- Be master of something. It doesn't differ. Either you follow Lord Jesus Christ or Lord Buddha or Krsna, it doesn't matter much. But do it perfectly. That is our request
- Because he is following the words of God, therefore he is not different from the words of God. It is practical. Just like a lawyer is not different from the law, therefore he is called lawyer
- Because this transcendental position (automatically following the Paramatma) is at once achieved by one who is in KC, the devotee of God is unaffected by the dualities of material existence, namely distress & happiness, cold & heat, etc. BG 1972 purports
- Bhagavata-dharma has no contradictions. Conceptions of "your religion" and "my religion" are completely absent from bhagavata-dharma. Bhagavata-dharma means following the orders given by the Supreme Lord, Bhagavan
- By hearing the words of Lord Krsna and following them carefully, we will attain not only peace in the world, but the supreme peace - param santim
F
- Faith may be wrong, belief may be wrong. That perfect knowledge can be received from the perfect source. So God is perfect. God is perfect. And one who follows the path of God, he is also perfect
- Following the will of the S P of Godhead, I create, Lord Siva destroys, and He Himself in the form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Visnu
- Following without knowing - that is absurd. You must know the order of God. And if you follow that, then that is honesty
G
- Generally, according to Buddhist philosophy, there is no individual soul and no supreme soul, but actually since Lord Buddha is accepted by Vedic literatures as an incarnation of God, by obeying Lord Buddha one is actually following God
- Good citizen means who follows the laws of the state. He is good citizen. Good citizenship means strictly following the laws of the government. Similarly, first-class human being means who follows the laws of God
I
- I am engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to create. Following His orders, Lord Siva dissolves everything. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu maintains all the affairs of material nature
- If one actually follows Rsabhadeva, he will certainly be delivered from the clutches of maya and return home, back to Godhead
- If we follow God, then we become good. If we follow God or God's representative, then we also become good. Because God is always good. A good cannot give you bad direction
- If we follow the instruction of acarya, or spiritual master, then we are directly following the orders of Krsna, and thus I become a bhagavad-duta. No more I am the duta or the follower of the dictation of my senses
- If you want to know Krsna, then Krsna gives the formula. Or if you want to know God, then you follow God's formula. What is that? Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah
- It is stated that as the personal attendants and maidservants of a queen follow the queen with all respect & obeisances, similarly the joys of religiousness, economic development, sense gratification, liberation follow the devotional service of the Lord
- It is up to you to reestablish their (unfortunate peoples) lost relationship with Krsna by being sincere to preach the message of Krsna purely by yourself following the instructions of the Lord and his bona-fide representative, the spiritual master
K
- Kapila Muni explained the glories of devotional service to His mother, Devahuti. If we follow Him, we may learn the truth of devotional service
- Kapila Muni is explaining to His mother the glories of devotional service. So if we follow Him, then we also get informed what is the truth of devotional service. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
- Krsna said: these wasps and bees are not as they appear; they are great sages who are taking this opportunity to worship the supreme soul. Although You (Balarama) are not known by ordinary persons, they know You, & they are following and glorifying You
L
- Lord Brahma was following the orders of the Supreme Lord, and it would be worthwhile for Priyavrata to accept Lord Brahma's order, as the Lord desired
- Lord Krsna said, "They (unattached persons) show how by proper distribution of wealth one can become an ideal householder and at the same time a great devotee. Such ideal householders are to be considered followers of My footsteps"
- Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, descends to this material universe by the agency of His internal potency and personally exhibits the principles which, if followed, can lead one to achieve the ultimate goal of life
O
- One has to abide by superior dictation. When one's mind is fixed on the superior nature, he has no other alternative but to follow the dictation of the Supreme. The mind must admit some superior dictation and follow it. BG 1972 purports
- Original idea of philosophy is practically demonstrated by Krsna. The ideal, original ideal of religion and philosophy is preached by Krsna. And all the acaryas followed that
S
- Simply by following the instructions imparted by Lord Krsna or Lord Kapila, one can obtain the highest benefit, even today
- Since the demigods, the devotees, always strictly follow the Supreme Lord's orders, because of sincerity they are victorious over the demons, who know that the Supreme Lord is Visnu but do not follow His instructions
- Svayambhuva Manu is the leader of mankind, and he has given a book called Manu-samhita to guide human society. Herein (SB 8.1.16) he directs us to follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations
T
- The entire world and all material knowledge is within the three modes of material nature. One has to transcend these modes, and to attain that platform of transcendence one must follow the instruction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- The goddess of fortune mother Sita followed her husband, Ramacandra, when He went to the forest
- The ideal, original ideal of religion and philosophy is preached by Krsna. And all the acaryas followed that
- The killing of Hiranyakasipu and saving of Prahlada Maharaja also strictly followed this law of the supreme controller's activities
- The Lord says in BG 4.11: Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha. One may be a karmi, a jnani, a yogi and then a bhakta or prema-bhakta. But the ultimate stage of realization is prema-bhakti, as actually demonstrated by mother Yasoda
- The Personality of Godhead, both in the Bhagavad-gita and in all other scriptures, has definitely instructed men to follow the Lord only
- The sixty-four regulative principles (of devotional service) are as follows: (34) To offer respect to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord by standing up at the appropriate time. (35) To follow the spiritual master or the Supreme Lord in procession
- The so-called follower is simply a mano-dharmi, a mental speculator. Mental speculation is not religion. Religion is the order of God, and one who follows that order - he is religious. That's all
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is everlastingly independent and who exists in everyone's heart, is very pleased with those who follow in His footsteps and engage without reservation in the service of the descendants of brahmanas and Vaisnavas
- There is actually only one religious principle: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam (SB 6.3.19). The only religious principle is to follow the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
W
- We cannot imitate God. We have to simply follow His order. That is dharma. And if you imitate Krsna, that is adharma
- When the living entity is directly seen by the Lord, the Lord dictates to him to act according to His desire, and when the living entity follows Him perfectly, the living entity ceases to discharge any other duty for his illusory satisfaction
- When this process is faithfully followed, the Supreme Lord reveals Himself to the devotee
- Without knowing, following, that is absurd. You must know that this is the order of God. And if you follow that, then that is honesty