Are Rituals alone sufficient to go Back to Godhead / Krishna / Vaikunta / Goloka?
A girl devotee asked this question:
“Prabhuji. How to Go Back to Godhead Krishna’s Kingdom Vaikunta or Goloka at the earliest? Are these rituals enough? or something else we want?”
REPLY:
No. Rituals alone are not sufficient to go Back to Godhead / Krishna / Vaikunta / Goloka. Change of consciousness is the most important to go back to Krishna. Whichever devotional practice you do, or, Whichever yoga you follow, or, Whichever temple you go, or Whichever Varna or Ashrama you belong to, Let them be.
If you do not follow the following formula, immediate elevation to Krishna’s kingdom Goloka is not possible.
All these devotional practices, yogas, etc, are recommended as the practices only to develop the mindset come to the stage of following this formula:
The simple and single formula to Go Back to Godhead Krishna immediately is:
“DETACH FROM MATERIALS AND ATTACH WITH KRISHNA!”
There is no short cut or magic to get Krishna. Krishna is not a food item to achieve through different modes, ie, either by cooking in home spending 30-60 minutes, or ordering in a big hotel spending 15 minutes, or eating in a fast food shop immediately.
If you need to associate with a thief, you too need to be a thief. If you like to associate with a cine actor, you too should be an actor or any other cine personality. Even among animals, a cat is unable to associate with a dog.
Since Krishna is the 100% pure personality, we too must become Pure devotees!
I have given these examples just to show that only the like minded persons can remain in association. Same applies in associating with Krishna.
As said above, Krishna is 100% pure. THEREFORE, WE TOO SHOULD PURIFY US WITHOUT MATERIAL ATTACHMENTS. We are contaminated with so much of material attachments. We are unable to remain without spouse, children, variety of hotel foods, variety of devices and instruments, variety of dresses, etc.
In other words, we remain happy with the addition of materials and material relations. Side by side, we are taking care of Krishna also. Thus, we spare just about 1-2% of our time and care to Krishna in our day to day life. Like pickles or jam for a roti. We are using Krishna like pickles or jam while enjoying the big share of roti, ie, material pleasures.
Then, how to go Back to Godhead Krishna in Goloka too fast?
I will say thousand times:
We can not reach Krishna’s abode unless we detach 100% from material attachments (to become pure from contamination) and attach 100% with Krishna!
We may chant many times. We may do all the rituals.
But, unless we do not develop the material detachment and attachment to Krishna, these rituals will remain just as rituals.
Of course, these rituals play major role in developing our dedication to Krishna. But, real dedication to Krishna should NATURALLY follow detachment in material affairs and things and attachment to Krishna.
Does this happen in us?
If you observe great acharyas and many exalted vaishnavas you can notice that they are not thinking anything except Krishna.
Until we develop such mentality, we are just doing rituals.
This equation is final Go Back to Godhead Krishna:
ATTACHMENT TO KRISHNA + DETACHMENT FROM MATERIAL DESIRES.
This formula is the basis for my recommendations in this website and it is based on the scriptures. Not just created words.
You need not get demotivated with my above explanation. Just evaluate yourself. If you still give much attachment to materials, you are slowly growing in devotion and you need to show more dedication to Krishna.
We are thinking Gopis as just playful girls. Not so. They are in great spiritual platform in which they see only Krishna everywhere. Only Krishna is everything for them. Their other relatives are just bodily relations.
We too should come to that stage. Take Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu. He was always remaining immersed in the Krishna Prema. This is the topmost level of devotion.
We may be a good devotee of Krishna. No doubt. We are all sincere devotees. We too speak about Krishna. Do some rituals. Good. Very good.
But, what to do, we still have some material attachments. This is preventing us from going totally surrendered to Krishna.
When our wife scolds us, we get bothered. When we do not get expected returns in business or increments in job, we get disturbed. When someone cheats us, we get disturbed. If someone appreciates us, we get elated.
Have we come out of these attachments? Not yet, it seems.
Therefore, whether all of you accept this or not, or continue in this sathsangha website or not, I do not bother; I can not advise against the fact and my conscience just to please you immediately. Rituals alone are not sufficient to go Back to Godhead / Krishna / Vaikunta / Goloka?
My only and ever lasting advice to go back to Krishna is: Develop total dedication to Lord. Keep on checking whether you are developing material detachment and hence losing interest in excessive material additions.
If you have come to this position, you need not Go Back to Godhead Krishna in Goloka or Vaikunta to get Krishna. You have already got Krishna in this body itself.
Develop your consciousness fully as Krishna Consciousness. Keep away the materials and desert your desires to achieve them unnecessarily. Instead, use those essential materials for Krishna’s service.
This change of consciousness may take some time. But, it is achievable if we have serious determination.
Do that and get Krishna even today. Why to wait for tomorrow?
(I have written this article from my heart. Just the fact. Though it may seem very difficult. Good things never taste good. isn’t it?)
Now, read this article to know 12 THINGS TO FOLLOW TO GO BACK TO KRISHNA’s GOLOKA AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE!