Faith in Krishna - an essential subject

Faith in Kṛṣṇa is an essential aspect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa helps one becomes very happy and prosperous. The only thing needed is that one should work very sincerely, with full faith in Kṛṣṇa and the Spiritual Master. Then all help will come automatically. If one has got some faith and if one tries to engage oneself in Kṛṣṇa consciousness within association of devotees, not alone. Alone is not possible. Therefore Srila Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Society is required. Sādhu-saṅga. Just to give opportunity to persons who have got little faith to develop that faith into Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Faith in Krishna category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 14 quotes.

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books


vanipedia.org 		All the members of these different clans respected Lord Kṛṣṇa in a manner befitting His divine position, and all of them were His devotees heart and soul. Thus all the members of the Yadu dynasty were very opulent, happy and prosperous, and they had no anxieties. Because of their implicit faith in and devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa, they were never defeated by any other kings. (Kṛṣṇa Book, Chapter 90)



vanipedia.org 		In the spiritual world this religious principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is maintained in harmony, and therefore that world is called Vaikuṇṭha. If the same principles can be adopted here, wholly or partially, then it is also Vaikuṇṭha. So it is with any society, such as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness: If the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, putting faith in Kṛṣṇa as the center, live in harmony according to the order and principles of Bhagavad-gītā, then they are living in Vaikuṇṭha, not in this material world. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.33)



vanipedia.org 		A sādhu is described in Bhagavad-gītā as one who unflinchingly engages in devotional service. Even though one is found not to be following the strict rules and regulations of devotional service, if one simply has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, he is understood to be a sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). A sādhu is a strict follower of devotional service. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.20)



vanipedia.org 		Faith in Kṛṣṇa is divided into three stages and described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. First-class attachment, second-class attachment and third-class attachment are also explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the Eleventh Canto. Those who have no faith even after hearing about Kṛṣṇa and the excellence of devotional service, who think that it is simply eulogy, find the path very difficult, even if they are supposedly engaged in devotional service. For them there is very little hope of gaining perfection. Thus faith is very important in the discharge of devotional service. (Bhagavad-gītā 9.3)



vanipedia.org 		Prahlāda Mahārāja, being an exalted devotee, had acquired all the qualities of education. Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā, sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ, harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇa, manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ. "One who has unflinching devotional faith in Kṛṣṇa consistently manifests all the good qualities of Kṛṣṇa and the demigods. However, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord." (SB 5.18.12). (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.5)



vanipedia.org 		Simply by raising one's staunch faith in Kṛṣṇa and His instructions, one can understand reality without a doubt (asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ mām). One can understand how Kṛṣṇa's material and spiritual energies are working and how He is present everywhere although everything is not Him. This philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda, inconceivable oneness and difference, is the perfect philosophy enunciated by the Vaiṣṇavas. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.58)



vanipedia.org 		Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has stated that if one has developed faith in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered an eligible candidate for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those who have faith are divided into three categories—uttama, madhyama and kaniṣṭha (first class, second class and neophyte). (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-lila 22.71)



vanipedia.org 		If, by good fortune, a living entity develops faith in Kṛṣṇa, he begins to associate with devotees. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-lila 23.9)



vanipedia.org 		If one has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, the result is tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ: all the conclusions of the revealed scriptures will be open to such a person. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-lila 24.255)



vanipedia.org 		If one can fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa without deviation, he can attain a steadfast position in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, śānta-rasa. When one attains śānta-rasa, unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa is established, and all material desires cease. (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 1)



vanipedia.org 		It is said by Śukadeva Gosvāmī in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Eighteenth Chapter, verse 12, "My dear King, persons who have unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa and are without any duplicity can develop all the good qualities of the demigods. On account of a devotee's high grade of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even the demigods like to live with him, and therefore it can be understood that the qualities of the demigods have developed within his body." (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1)



vanipedia.org 		By rendering transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities.' This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā." Śraddhā, faith in Kṛṣṇa, is the beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Faith means strong faith. (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5)



vanipedia.org 		Śraddhā, or faith, is the beginning. One who has developed his faith in Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Spirit Soul, can both describe and hear the rāsa-līlā. Śukadeva also uses the word anuśṛṇuyāt. One must hear from the disciplic succession. Anu means "following," and anu also means "always. (Krsna Book, Chapter 33)



vanipedia.org 		Throughout the Bhagavad-gītā Lord Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should give up all other processes of self-realization and fully surrender unto Him. That is faith. One who has full faith in Kṛṣṇa (śraddhā) and surrenders unto Him is eligible for being raised to the level of prema, which Lord Caitanya taught as the highest perfectional stage of human life. (Nārada-bhakti-sūtra, Chapter 1, Sūtra 2)


Faith in Krishna - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.


   
 

HOME

Choose Another
Essential Subject

   


Retrieved from "https://vanipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Faith_in_Krishna_-_an_essential_subject&oldid=531226"