Devotional Service

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His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the
Hare Krishna Movement

We learn from Srila Prabhupada that "there are two kinds of devotional service; the way of regulated principles and the way of full attachment in love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Devotional service in Krsna consciousness is the direct method and the other method involves renouncing the fruits of one's activities. The direct method is not possible for everyone therefore the indirect method is also good. But as for as Mike Duncan (07-13-04)

Surrender to Krsna means surrender to Him in perpetual and unalloyed devotional service. Without such service there is no question of surrender.

"Without devotional service all other methods of self realization are weak and insignificant. Such service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self." [Srimad-Bhagavatam]

The question may arise: how can our service be uninterrupted? We have to sleep, work ect. The answer is in our mental condition: one should always think of Krsna, His transcendental form, pastimes, qualities, instructions, service etc.

We should consciously offer all of our activities [duties] unto the Lord. We should  definitely practice realizing His presence in ourselves and in all others. This is the topmost and direct method of devotional service and the Bhagavad-gita advises everyone  to take directly to this transcendental process. Everyone is advised to describe the glories of the Lord in all circumstances.

Of course in order to describe the glories of Krsna one must have some understanding of Him.

"One must be intelligent enough to understand the purpose of the Vedas without being attached to the rituals only." [Bg. ch 2 text 46]

"The purpose of the Vedas is to understand Krsna. In the pursuit of all Vedic injunctions the ultimate goal is the understanding of Krsna. One can understand Krsna, as He is, only by devotional service." [Bg. ch. 17, text 28]

"Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go to the temple to offer worship. They may make there visit, but they cannot understand Krsna as he is." [Bg.  ch. 11, text 53]

"There is no more auspicious means of deliverance than what is aimed at in the direct devotional service of the Lord." [Canto 2, ch.2 text 33]

The indirect method is a sort of probationary process for the aspiring devotee, and it involves formalities, rites and rituals. "It is not possible to perceive directly the touch of the Lord during this probationary stage of regulative devotional service." [Canto 1, ch. 6, text 20]

Unfortunately, this indirect process can last for hundreds of lifetimes, depending on the devotees ability and willingness to transcend his domineering mentality, which makes him try to control others and lord it over material nature. This propensity to dominate and control is the glue that binds one to the conditioned state of life. So called devotional service performed by persons with such selfish motivation yields no transcendental reward.

Prabhupada: There is a specific plan being carried out in this material world. This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned soul to go back to Godhead, back to home, but as long as they have this domineering mentality, which makes them try to lord it over material nature, they are conditioned. [Bg. ch. 11, text 33]

"Because of the desire to lord it over material nature, he is in the material world." [Bg. ch. 13, text 21]

"Due to his desire to lord it over material nature he is put into such undesirable circumstances. [Bg. ch. 13, text 22]

"As he reduces his desire to dominate, he comes to enjoy spiritual happiness." [Bg. ch. 13, text 22]

This domineering mentality is a product of the body conception of life. One should be very careful not to allow himself  to be influenced by those who would dominate. Having no spiritual understanding, they are simply situated in criticism. Some devotees try to qualify themselves on the basis of time served in the movement or at a particular institution. This process of spiritual qualification based on time served is not upheld by Vedic injunction and is therefore bogus.

"One may attain Krsna consciousness or divine life at once, within a second, or one may not attain such a state of life even after millions of births. It is only a matter of understanding and accepting the fact," [Bg, ch. 2, text 72]

"This advancement in spiritual life does not depend on any kind of previous education or qualification." [Bg. ch. 9, text 2]

All spiritual understanding and advancement are completely dependent on the sweet will of Krsna. Our duty is to understand Him and our relationship with Him. This knowledge and understanding of Krsna is bestowed upon the truthful devotee as a result of a pure service attitude. We must be truthful with ourselves, especially in the regards to what motivates us to render service. "Krsna is the benefactor of the truthful devotee." [canto 1, ch. 2, text 12]

The propensity to dominate, control and receive honour is a disabilitating impurity and it is a product of sex desire. As explained by Prabhupada in his purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam canto 2, ch. 7 text 12: "Sex desire is summarized in three headings, namely, profit, adoration and distinction. Purification means getting free from sex desire. One's intelligence remains impure and conditioned due to being entrapped by such desires."

The spiritual world is meant for those who will never be reborn. Others, who are attached to family life and who do not strictly follow celibacy vows, must live within the three material worlds. [SB. canto 2, ch. 6, text 20]

"One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate other from the actual path." [Bg. ch. 4, text 4]

"One should act according to the order of Krsna. This is a very important point. That order of Krsna comes through disciplic succession from bona fide spiritual master. Following this order is the prime duty of life." [Bg, ch. 18, text 57]

"A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord." [Bg. ch. 4, text 43]

"And one cannot become an authorized spiritual master unless he has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master. Therefore the so-called formal spiritual master and disciple are not facsimiles of Brahma and Narada or Narada and Vyasa. One who is not self-controlled, especially in sex life, can become neither a disciple or a spiritual master. The relationship between Brahma and Narada is reality, while the so-called formality is the relationship between the cheater and the cheated." [SB. canto 2, ch. 9, text 43]

"We should not follow the mild nature of a women and thereby accept that which is not genuine." [SB. canto 1, ch. 7, text 42]

The foolish scholars of the Vedas who do not care to receive the transcendental message though the transcendental realized sources of disciplic succession are sure to be bewildered. To them, the ritualistic ceremonies are considered to be all in all. They have no depth of knowledge. [SB. canto 1, ch. 3, text 24]

"The prakrta, or third class devotees, are temple worshipers, without specific knowledge of the Lord or His devotees."  [SB. canto 1, ch. 18, text 12]

"The Vedic rites and rituals are imperative for neophytes. If one can reach the platform of understanding by devotional service to the Supreme Lord Krsna, he has no longer  to execute the different types of austerities and penances as recommended in the scriptures ." [Bg. ch. 2, text 52]

"A slightly developed Krsna conscious person may be directly engaged in the service of the Lord without waiting for other Vedic formulas. For this fortunate man there is no need to follow the Vedic rituals." [Bg. ch. 3, text 26]

"The beauty of Krsna consciousness, however, is that in one stroke, by engaging in devotional service, one can surpass all rituals of the different orders of life." [Bg. ch. 8, text 28]

"A devotee who faithfully engages in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not behave properly toward other devotees is called a prakrta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee, and is considered to be in the lowest position." [SB. canto 11, ch. 2,text 47}

Such unauthorized persons may be very learned by academic qualification, but because they do not follow the principles of devotional service, hearing from them becomes a useless waste of time. Sometimes the text is interpreted fashionably to suit their own purposes. [SB. canto 1, ch. 8 text 36]

Lord Caitanya: The authority of the Vedas is unchallengeable and stands without question or doubt. And whatever is stated in the Vedas must be accepted completely, otherwise one challenges the authority of the Vedas. The Vedic injunctions are self-authorized and if some mundane creature adjusts the interpretations of the Vedas, he defies their authority. [SB. introduction, pg. 21]

"The third class devotee is one whose faith is not strong, and who at the same time does not recognize the decision of the revealed scripture." [Nectar of Devotion, p. 30]

Prabhupada: The third class devotee, or the neophytes, who have no knowledge nor are detached from the material association, but who are simply attracted to the preliminary process of worshipping the Deities in the temple, are called material devotees. Material devotees are more attracted to material benefit than transcendental profit. Therefore, one must make definite progress from the position of material devotional service to the second class devotional position. In the second class position, the devotee can see four principles in the devotional line, namely, the Personally of Godhead, His devotees, the ignorant and the envious. One has to raise himself at least to the standard of second class devotee and thus become eligible to know the absolute truth. [Cc. Adi-Lila, ch. 7,text 102]

"We can actually understand Krsna simply by studying His words in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be conceived unless one is in the transcendental position." [Bg. ch 6, text 8]

"By transcendental knowledge one can remain steady in his convictions, but by mere academic knowledge one can easily be deluded and confused by apparent contradictions." [Bg. ch. 6, test 8]

"The first business of a transcendentalist is to always keep his mind on Krsna. A transcendentalist should always try to keep his mind on the Superself." [Bg. ch. 6, text 10]

"The mind is generally addicted to self-centred processes; but when the mind turns to the Superself, one becomes advanced in spiritual knowledge."

"It should be noted that spiritual knowledge means understanding the self and the superself." [Nectar of Devotion, page 40]

"When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of spiritual understanding. This understanding is the mature fruit of devotional service." [Bg. ch. 4, text 38]

"But if one engages in Your devotional service for material purposes, he should be considered a number one fool." [Antya, ch. 9, text 69]

"Only a man who transcends the limited knowledge of a brahmana and reaches knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, becomes a person in Krsna consciousness, or in other words a Vaisnava. [Bg. ch. 4, text 13]

Sri Jiva Gosvami:  Because the kanistha-adhikari's faith is not actually based on the statements of the Vedic literature he cannot understand the exalted position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, seated as Supersoul in everyone's heart. The essential qualification of a Vaisnava, which is to offer all respects to others, is conspicuous by it's absence in a kanistha adhikari. When one climbs to the Madhyama or second class platform he is able to understand the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, while the kanistha adhikaris entire knowledge of the Lord is limited to the Deity. [SB. cant 11, ch. 2 text 47]

"Deity worship is especially meant for purifying the neophyte devotees."

"One who worships the Deity must, therefore, be extremely respectful to preachers; otherwise simply worshiping the Deity will keep one in the lower stages of devotion. [SB. canto 7, ch. 15, text 28]

Prabhupada: Intelligence refuses to the power of analysing things in proper perspective and knowledge refuses to understanding what is matter and spirit. Nothing should be accepted blindly: everything should be accepted with care and caution.

According to social convention, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in a straight and forward way so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and the people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth. [Bg. ch. 10, text 45]

The path of regulated principles according to the orders of social life and according to the different courses of religion may be a confidential path of knowledge in as for as the rituals of religion are confidential, but one is still involved in meditation and cultivation of knowledge. Surrender unto Krsna in devotional service in full Krsna consciousness is the most confidential instruction and it is the essence of the Bhagavad-gita [Bg. ch. 18, text 78]

"One who endeavours for purification outside of the loving service of the Lord has not actually understood the transcendental potency of  bhakti-yoga and does not appreciate the extent of the Lord's mercy." [SB. canto 11, ch. 20, text 31]

"Devotional service to Lord Krsna, being itself the supreme transcendental process, never depends upon the secondary methods involving the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation." [SB. canto 11, ch. 20, text 31]

Krsna: Therefore, for a devotee engaged in My loving service, with mind fixed on Me, the cultivation of knowledge and renunciation are generally not the means of achieving the highest perfection in this world. [SB. canto 11, ch. 20, text 31]

"My dear Uddhava, neither though the study of the Vedas, through austerities, charity, or acceptance of sannyasa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me. [Cc. Madhya, ch. 20, text 137]

"The conclusion is that devotional service is the only means of approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the verdict of all revealed scriptures." [Cc. Madyha, Ch. 20, text 139]

Yours in service to Prabhupada

Mike Duncan

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