Category:Giving Up Material Desires
Theme Analysis
The concept of Giving Up Material Desires is central to the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, yet it is distinct from the artificial repression advocated by voidist philosophies. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a living entity, being spiritual by nature, cannot cease to desire; rather, the quality of desire must change from material to spiritual. This transformation is not achieved by solitary endeavor alone but through the potent process of devotional service and the association of pure devotees. By engaging in the service of the Lord, one naturally develops a higher taste, making the relinquishment of lower material attachments a natural byproduct rather than a painful austerity.
- The Myth of Voidism: To be completely desireless is akin to being a stone or a dead body. As long as there is life, there must be desires; therefore, true desirelessness means possessing no material desires, only spiritual ones.
- The Power of Devotional Service: Devotional service is described as a strong force and a "potent medicine." Engagement in hearing kṛṣṇa-kathā and chanting cleanses the heart more effectively than dry renunciation.
- The Role of Association: The conditioned soul is often trapped by the false happiness of the material world. It is the mercy and instructions of an unalloyed devotee that enlighten the soul to give up material enjoyment.
- Liberation defined: True mukti or liberation is not merely the negation of material existence but being situated in one's original constitutional position as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Giving Up Material Desires through the Transcendental Strength of Devotional Service.
Pages in category "Giving Up Material Desires"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
D
- Devotional service is so strong that when one engages in it, he gradually gives up all material desires and becomes fully attracted to the lotus feet of Krsna. All this is brought about by attraction for the transcendental qualities of the Lord
- Dhruva Maharaja said: Even those who believe that the body is the self, or those who are full of material desires, are also atmarama. When they associate with pure devotees, they give up their material desires & become perfect in the service of the Lord
I
- If a person gives up all material desires and completely engages in the transcendental loving service of Krsna, as enjoined in the revealed scriptures, he is never indebted to the demigods, sages or forefathers
- In this way (by performing devotional service to God) one can give up material desires, and as soon as one is freed from material desires, he is free from the repetition of birth and death, old age and disease
K
- Kama chadi' 'da' haite haya abhilase: He (the devotee) then gives up all material desires and wants to become an eternal servant of the Lord
- Karmis, or persons attached to material sense enjoyment, generally cannot give up their material desires, but krsna-katha is such a potent medicine that if one is induced to hear krsna-kirtana, he will certainly be freed from this disease
O
- O my Lord, when a human being is able to give up all the material desires in his mind, he becomes eligible to possess wealth and opulence like Yours
- 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 who is actually intelligent gives up all material desires and engages in the transcendental service of Krsna
S
- Sages said, "Self-controlled person, in householder life, should give up the three kinds of material desires, namely the desire for the acquisition of material opulences, for the enjoyment of wife and children, and for elevation to higher planets"
- Sunyavadi-nirvana means to give up material desires. It is not possible to give up desires. That is not possible. To give up desires means I am dead body, a stone. If I have got life, if I am not a stone, there must be desires
T
- The advantage for materialistic devotees is that they sometimes give up their material desires and become pure
- The influence of DS is such that when a person engages in it, he gives up all material desires and becomes fully attached to Krsna, being inspired by the transcendental qualities of the Lord. Such is the beauty of the Lord in the eyes of His devotee
- The king of this planet, Maharaja Ambarisa, thus performed devotional service to the Lord and in this endeavor practiced severe austerity. Always satisfying the S P of Godhead by his constitutional activities, he gradually gave up all material desires
- They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are characterized
W
- We have to give up all other material desires, simply stick to Krsna to serve Him, always ready to serve Him. Anukulyena krsnanu-silanam
- When a person engages in devotional service, he gives up all material desires and becomes fully attached to Krsna, being inspired by the transcendental qualities of the Lord. Such is the beauty of the Lord in the eyes of His devotee
- When one gives up these material desires, then he is desireless. But one cannot be desireless. That is not possible. Then he is dead and gone. So desirelessness means no material desires
- When someone engages in Lord Krsna's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste for serving Krsna, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Krsna