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How to Succeed in Krishna Consciousness: Patience, Perseverance & Endeavour

There are many qualities required for sincere devotees to develop in order to become fixed in Krishna consciousness. In this extract of chapter 16 of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Conclusion of Teachings to Sanātana Gosvāmī, Srila Prahupada highlights the necessary mood for success. Krishna consciousness


Lord Chaitanya surrounded by His devotees

The word ātmā also means “an endeavor.” In every practice there is some endeavor, and the ultimate endeavor is the endeavor to reach the highest perfectional stage of devotional service. In Śhrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.18) it is stated that one should try to attain the highest goal, which cannot be attained either in the higher or lower planetary systems. The idea is that material happiness and misery are automatically available in all planetary systems in the course of time, but the highest achievement, devotional service, cannot be attained anywhere without endeavor. Therefore in the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa it is said that one who is serious about understanding the highest perfectional stage of devotional service can become successful simply by his endeavor. One cannot attain the highest perfectional stage of devotional service without personal endeavor. As Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):


teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ   bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ   yena mām upayānti te


“To those who are constantly rendering devotional service to Me with love, I, who am situated in everyone’s heart, give the intelligence by which they can make undeterred progress in devotional activities.”


The word ātmā also means dhṛti, “patience and perseverance.” By patience and perseverance one can achieve the highest stage of devotional service.

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