Devotees often talk about maintaining Krishna consciousness “till the moment of death.” But is pure, unbroken Krishna consciousness realistically achievable for ordinary practitioners?
What happens if one’s consciousness falters, especially at death? Is salvation / liberation / Krishna-prema still assured?
How do theistic philosophers reconcile human frailty, emotional turbulence, and the aspirational ideal of constant devotion?
Replies
Hare Krishna,
Hmm
That is why it is said in Bhagwat gita by Lord Sri Krishna
Bg. 2.40
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ ४० ॥
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt
Now.. you question:-
Devotees often talk about maintaining Krishna consciousness “till the moment of death.” But is pure, unbroken Krishna consciousness realistically achievable for ordinary practitioners?
Lord will remind us but try to do what is in you hands right now.
If you are not able to remember at the time of Death.. Krishna will give us some hint to remember HIM thru someone .. He will do something. Trust in Krishna.
But with questions and doubt... is it feasible.. can we remember.. what if I cannot remember.. we are not great saints.. we might forget.. we are just oridinary practicioners.. if you keep thinking like this and waste your precious time.. you will not only lose this time... .surely you wont get any help that Ajamila got in the end also.
Hare Krishna
idk but i personally personally believe that something like that is possible only when you are old. because realistcially and practically speaking you actively CANNOT focus on krishna when you are in your 20s or 30s and have a family. a normal human can meditate and can follow the guidance he has given but there are a lot of problems and situations in life that makes it almost impossible to think about him 24/7
the only time a human can think about krishna is when he is old enough and has made either enough money or someone else is taking care of them. that is the realistic point of time when a person can actually think about krishna all the time.
if i am wrong then question me. i am new to this and i am practical in life and do not follow anything blindly. i like questioning every thoughts and actions amongst everyone... im still young and would love to know your opinion and perspective
Hare Krsna
i personally personally believe that something like that is possible only when you are old
Everyone is entitled to their belief.
the only time a human can think about krishna is when he is old enough and has made either enough money or someone else is taking care of them.
if i am wrong then question me.
No question. But based on lives of great devotees, the assertion made is wrong.
Dhruva Maharaj had no money, no mother, father taking care of him. He was not old.
He was close to 5 years, he was in forest, barely eating anything. He meditated on Sri Vishnu and pleased Sri Vishnu in about 6 months.
Similar is case with many devotees - Prahlad, Narada boy, Draupadi, Arjuna, Gajendra, Sita, Parikshit, Valmiki, Bali, Hanuman.
If somone wants to meditate upon Sri Krsna nothing in this entire material world that is outside of that person can stop them.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna,
Thank you for the examples. I genuinely appreciate them and I find them fascinating.
But I want to be honest about something.
Dhruva was 5 years old and went to the forest specifically to meditate. He had no other responsibilities. No family to feed. No rent to pay. No career to build. His entire context was designed for that singular focus.
Prahlad was born with extraordinary devotion from the womb itself the Bhagavatam describes this as a special grace.
Arjuna had Krishna physically sitting next to him as his charioteer.
These are genuinely inspiring examples. But are they realistic models for an ordinary 19 year old in Dehradun with a family situation, financial pressure, goals to build, and no such extraordinary circumstances?
I am not saying Krishna consciousness is impossible for young people. I am saying the examples you gave are exceptional by definition — that is why they are in scripture.
My actual question is more practical —
For an ordinary person without extraordinary grace or extraordinary circumstances — what does maintaining Krishna consciousness actually look like practically while also working, building a career, supporting a family and navigating real life challenges?
Because if the answer is only possible for exceptional souls in exceptional circumstances — then what guidance does that give ordinary people like me?
I am asking sincerely. Not to argue. Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna
But are they realistic models for an ordinary 19 year old in Dehradun with a family situation, financial pressure, goals to build, and no such extraordinary circumstances?
Sri Krsna doesn't expect everyone to perform austerities like Dhruva Maharaj from day 1.
But anyone can start by small steps. Anyone can aspire to reach perfection like Dhruva maharaj. Anyone can please Sri Krsna like Dhruva Maharaj.
Any human under any circumstances can begin Krsna consciousness. No circumstantial excuses are valid to NOT begin Krsna consciousness.
Sri Krsna in 12th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita gives different levels of practicing Krsna consciousness. There is no doubt which is highest. There is no doubt anyone can start small under any circumstances. Below are transalations. Purports by Srila Prabhupada provide many more insights and practical aspects.
TEXT 8: Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
TEXT 9: My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.
TEXT 10: If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect stage.
TEXT 11: If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.
TEXT 12: If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.
what does maintaining Krishna consciousness actually look like practically while also working, building a career, supporting a family and navigating real life challenges?
Question of Maintaing Krsna consciousness comes, only after when one knows what is krishna consciousness and has attained Krsna consciousness.
Chanting of the Hare Krsna mahamantra is the best way to begin one's Krsna consciousness
Because if the answer is only possible for exceptional souls in exceptional circumstances — then what guidance does that give ordinary people like me?
Bhagavad Gita , Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Caritamrita are the guidance.
Krsna consciousness is practicable by any human on this planet.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
But is pure, unbroken Krishna consciousness realistically achievable ?
YES
What happens if one’s consciousness falters, especially at death? Is salvation / liberation / Krishna-prema still assured?
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ
Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will attain without fail. ( BG 8.6)
How do theistic philosophers reconcile human frailty, emotional turbulence, and the aspirational ideal of constant devotion?
Don't know how theistic philosophers do. But this is Krsna's assurance in Bhagavad Gita
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. ( BG 18.66)
Hare Krsna