[21] BHAKTI-YOGA : THE TOPMOST YOGA SYSTEM

BHAKTI-YOGA : THE ONLY MEANS OF

UNDERSTANDING KRISHNA AS HE IS

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He is the essence of all

knowledge. Krishna says,"Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedya" "By all the
Vedas, I am to be known" [B.G.15.15]. The different yogic processes, rituals,
mental speculation, pious activities etc.. which are devoid of loving devotional
service, cannot help one to understand Krishna. The Supreme Lord cannot be
understood by mental speculators and nondevotees. If anyone wants to understand
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he has to take to pure devotional service under
the guidance of a pure devotee. Otherwise, the truth of the Supreme Lord will
always be hidden. One who is actually engaged in Krishna consciousness and
devotional service can understand what Krishna is. Only one who is fully
conversant with the science of Krishna becomes eligible to enter into spiritual
kingdom, the abode of Krishna, as Krishna confirms:

bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas' casmi tatvatah

tato mam tattvato jnatva visate tad-anantaram

"One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by
such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God" [B.G.18.55].

Krishna can be understood only by the process of undivided devotional service

(bhakti). Krishna explicitly explains to Arjuna in the following verses so that
unauthorized commentators, who try to understand Bhagavad Gita by the speculative
process, will know that they are simply wasting their time:

naham vadair na tapasa na danena na cejyaya

s'akya evam-vidho drastum drstavan asi mam yatha

"The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be
understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious
penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one
can see Me as I am" [B.G.11.53].

The word `na', used repeatedly in the previous verse, indicates that one should not
be very much proud of such credentials as an academic education in Vedic literature.
One must take to the devotional service of Krishna. No one can understand Krishna
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or how He came from parents in a four-handed form and at once changed Himself
into a two handed form. These things are very difficult to understand by study of the
Vedas or by philosophical speculation. Therefore no one can see Him or enter into
understanding of these matters. Those who, however, are very experienced students
of Vedic literature can learn about Him from the Vedic literature in so many ways.

There are so many rules and regulations, and if one at all wants to understand
Krishna, he must follow the regulative principles, such as Austerity, Charity,
Sacrifice etc. described in the authoritative literature. One can perform penance in
accordance with those principles. For example, to undergo serious penances one
may observe fasting on Janmastami, the day on which Krishna appeared, and
on the two days of Ekadasi. As far as charity is concerned, it is plain that
charity should be given to the devotees of Krishna who are engaged in His
devotional service to spread the Krishna consciousness, throughout the world.
And if one worships as prescribed in the temple, that is a chance to progress by
offering worship and respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus
through the practice of bhakti, one can gradually begin to understand Krishna.
There is no other way other than bhakti (devotional service) to understand
Krishna. This is confirmed in the following verse:

bhaktya tv ananyaya sakya aham evam-vidho 'rjuna

jnatum drastum ca tattvena pravestum ca parantapa

"My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as

I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way
can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding" [B.G.11.54].

Krishna first appeared before His parents Devaki and Vasudeva in a four-handed
form, and then He transformed Himself into the two-handed form. This mystery is
very difficult to understand for those who are atheists or who are devoid of
devotional service. For scholars who have simply studied Vedic literature by
way of grammatical knowledge or mere academic qualifications, Krishna is not
possible to understand. Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go
to the temple to offer worship. They make their visit, but they cannot understand
Krishna as He is.

Krishna can be understood only through the path of devotional service. One who
has unflinching devotion for the Supreme Lord and is directed by the spritual
master, in whom he has similar unflinching faith, can see the Supreme
Personality of Godhead by revelation. The word `tu' is specifically used here to
indicate that no other process can be used, can be recommended, or can be
successful in understanding Krishna.

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BHAKTI YOGA: THE CULMINATION OF
ALL YOGIC PROCESSES:

CULMINATION OF KARMA YOGA IS

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA:

There are many many verses in Gita which confirm devotional service to be the
culmination of all yogic processes. If one wants to perform Karma Yoga, what is the
best way? Krishna says:

yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah

tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samacara

"Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed; otherwise work

binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your
prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in this way you will always remain
free from bondage" [B.G.3.9].

yat karosi yad as'nasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam

"Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and
whatever austerities you perform-- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to
Me" [B.G.9.27].

It is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will not forget
Krishna in any circumstance. Everyone has to work for maintenance of his body and
soul together, and Krishna recommends herein that one should work for Him.
Everyone has to eat something to live; therefore he should accept the remnants of
foodstuffs offered to Krishna. Any civilized man has to perform some religious
ritualistic ceremonies; therefore Krishna recommends,"Do it for Me", and this is
called `arcana'. Everyone has a tendency to give something in charity; Krishna
says,"Give it to Me", and this means that all surplus money accumulated should be
utilized in furthering the Krishna consciousness movement. Thus the topmost
KARMA YOGI is a Pure Devotee of Krishna.

CULMINATION OF JNANA YOGA IS

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA:

The living entity, while executing devotional service or transcendental rituals after
many, many births, may actually become situated in transcendental pure knowledge
that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of spiritual realization.
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In the beginning of spiritual realization, while one is trying to give up one's
attachment to materialism, there is some leaning towards impersonalism, but
when one is further advanced he can understand that there are activities in the
spiritual life and that these activities constitute devotional service. Realizing
this, he becomes attached to the Supreme personality of Godhead and surrenders to
Him. At such a time one can understand that Lord Sri Krishna's mercy is everything,
that He is the cause of all causes and that this material manifestation is not
independent from Him. He realizes the material world to be a perverted
reflection of spiritual variegatedness and realizes that in everything there is a
relationship with the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus he thinks everything in
relation to Vasudeva, or Sri Krishna. Such a universal vision of Vasudeva
precipitates one's full surrender to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna as the highest goal.
Such surrendered great souls are very rare. This is confirmed by Krishna in the
following verse:

bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate

vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah

"After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders

unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a
great soul is very rare" [B.G.7.19].

To the impersonalist, achieving the `brahma-bhuta' stage, becoming one with the
Absolute is the last word. But for the personalist, or pure devotee, one has to go still
further, to become engaged in pure devotional service as mentioned in the following
verse:

brahma-bhutah prasannatma na s'ocati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param

"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme

Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have
anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he
attains pure devotional service unto Me" [B.G.18.54].

In the material concept of life, when one works for sense gratification, there is
misery, but in the absolute world, when one is engaged in pure devotional
service, there is no misery (prasannatma).

Because a pure devotee has no thought other than Krishna, he is naturally always
joyful. He does not lament for any material loss or aspire for gain (na socati
na kanksati), because he is full in the service of the Lord.

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 He has no desire for material enjoyment, because he knows that every living
entity is a fragmental part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and therefore eternally
a servant.

He does not see, in the material world, someone as higher and someone as
lower (samah sarvesu bhutesu) ; higher and lower positions are ephemeral, and
a devotee has nothing to do with ephemeral appearances or disappearances. For
him stone and gold are of equal value.

This is the `brahma-bhuta' stage, and this stage is attained very easily by the
pure devotee.

The words `mad bhaktir labhate param' are very important, which indicate that such
a person in `brahma bhuta' stage purified of all material contamination begins to
execute pure devotional service. A JNANA-YOGI has thus only impersonal
realisation of brahman, but he has to progress to come to pure bhakti. Real
bhakti begins at `brahma-bhuta' stage.

In that brahma-bhuta stage, the idea of becoming one with the Supreme
becomes hellish, the idea of attaining the heavenly kingdom becomes
phantasmagoria, and the senses are like serpents' teeth that are broken. As
there is no fear of a serpent with broken teeth, there is no fear from the senses
when they are automatically controlled. The world is miserable for the materially
infected person, but for a devotee the entire world is as good as Vaikuntha, or the
spiritual sky. The highest personality in this material universe is no more significant
than an ant for a devotee. Such a stage can be achieved by the mercy of Lord
Caitanya, who preached pure devotional service in this age.

CULMINATION OF DHYANA YOGA

IS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA:

When we speak of YOGA we refer to linking our consciousness with the Supreme
Absolute Truth. Such a process is named differently by various practitioners in
terms of the particular method adopted. Krishna says:

tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogi jnanibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikah

karmibhyas' cadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjuna [B.G.6.46]

"A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater
than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a
yogi".

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Asceticism without self-knowledge is imperfect. Empiric knowledge without
surrender to the Supreme Lord is also imperfect. And fruitive work without
Krishna consciousness is a waste of time. Therefore, the most highly praised
form of YOGA performance mentioned here is BHAKTI-YOGA, and this is still
more clearly explained in the next verse:

yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana

sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah

"And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of
Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me-- he is
the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is
My opinion" [B.G.6.47].

The word `bhajate' in the above verse may be translated as `worship'. But `worship'
cannot be used in the same sense as `bhaj'. Worship means to adore, or to show
respect or honor to the worthy one. But service with love and faith is especially
meant for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can avoid worshiping a
respectable man or a demigod and may be called discourteous, but one cannot avoid
serving the Supreme Lord without being thoroughly condemned. So,`bhaja' is
applicable to the Supreme Lord only, whereas the word,`worship' can be
applied to demigods or to any other common living entity.

The ideal yogi concentrates his attention on Krishna, who is called Syama sundara,
who is as beautifully colored as a cloud, whose lotus like face is as effulgent as the
sun, whose dress is brilliant with jewels and whose body is flower-garlanded.
Illuminating all sides is His gorgeous luster, which is called the `brahmajyoti'. He
incarnates in different forms such as Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha and Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He descends like a human being, as the son of
mother Yasoda, and He is known as Krishna, Govinda and Vasudeva. He is the
perfect child, husband, friend and master, and He is full with all opulences and
transcendental qualities. If one remains fully conscious of these features of the Lord,
he is called the highest yogi. This stage of highest perfection in YOGA can be
attained only by BHAKTI-YOGA.

STEP-BY-STEP GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS &

DIRECT PROCESS TO ATTAIN PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE:

In the following translations of verses, Krishna offers various opportunities for the
conditioned living entities to return back to Him depending on their ability to
surrender. If one goes through these verses of 12th chapter entitled,"Devotional

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Service", one can appreciate how ultimately everyone has to come to the platform of
remembering Krishna 24 hours a day:

"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" [B.G.12.8]

A devotee chants Hare Krishna and fixes his mind constantly on the lotus feet of
Krishna. When he offers Krishna food, Krishna directly accepts these eatables, and
the devotee becomes Krishna-ized by eating the remnants. A devotee performs all
activities connected only to Krishna. This way he ALWAYS REMEMBERS
KRISHNA, and NEVER FORGETS KRISHNA. Thus a devotee does not live in a
material plane. His position is transcendental from the very beginning-- he lives in
Krishna.

"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" [B.G.12.9].

In the above verse, two different process of BHAKTI-YOGA are indicated. The
first applies to one who has actually developed an attachment for Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, by transcendental love. This is known as
RAGANUGA BHAKTI. And the other is for one who has not developed an
attachment for the Supreme Person by transcendental love. For this second class
there are different prescribed rules and regulations one can follow to be ultimately
elevated to the stage of attachment to Krishna. This is known as VAIDI BHAKTI.

Love Of Krishna: Love of Krishna is in a dormant state in everyone's heart. We

are not able to experience that due to contamination by material association. Now
the heart has to be purified of the material association, and that dormant, natural love
for Krishna has to be REVIVED. We do not ACQUIRE Love of Krishna, but we
REVIVE Love of Krishna. Acquire means to achieve something which you don't
have. Revive means to get back what we already possessed. Love of Krishna is like
a fiery coal covered by the contamination of ashes. Once ashes are blown off, the
fire can be perceived. Similarly when contaminations are removed, through
surrendering to Krishna's instructions, one can perceive Love of Krishna in one's
heart.

Under the guidance of an expert spiritual master, one should follow certain
principles: one should rise early in the morning, take bath, enter the temple and offer
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prayers and chant Hare Krishna, then collect flowers and offer to the Deity, cook
foodstuffs to offer to the Deity, take prasadam and so on. One should constantly
hear Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from pure devotees. This practice of
BHAKTI-YOGA, under the rules and regulations, with the direction of a spiritual
master, will surely bring one to the stage of love of God.

"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"
[B.G.12.10].

One who is not able even to practice the regulative principles of BHAKTI-YOGA,
under the guidance of a spiritual master, can still be drawn to this perfectional stage
by working for the Supreme Lord. How can one work for the Supreme Lord?
There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Krishna
consciousness, and they require help. One should be sympathetic to the propagation
of Krishna consciousness. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative
principles of BHAKTI-YOGA, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor
requires land, capital, organization and labor. Just as in business one requires a
place to stay, some capital to use, some labor and some organization to expand, so
the same is required in the service of Krishna. The only difference is that, in
materialism, one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be
performed for the satisfaction of Krishna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has
suffecient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krishna
consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of
activity, and one should be interested in such activities. This voluntary service to
the cause of Krishna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for
God, whereupon one becomes perfect.

"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"[B.G.12.11].

It may be that one is unable even to sympathize with the activities of Krishna
consciousness because of social, familial or religious considerations or because of
some other impediments. If one attaches himself directly to the activities of Krishna
consciousness, there may be objections from family members, or so many other
difficulties. For one who has such a problem, it is advised that he sacrifice the
accumulated result of his activities to some good cause. When one is not even
interested in the activities of Krishna consciousness, and gives charity to some
hospital or some other social institution, he gives up the hard-earned results of
his activities. That is also recommended here because by the practice of giving up
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the fruits of one's activities one is sure to purify his mind gradually, and in that
purified stage of mind one becomes able to understand Krishna consciousness.
Krishna consciousness itself can purify one's mind, but if there are impediments to
accepting Krishna consciousness, one may try to give up the results of his actions.
In that respect, social service, community service, national service, sacrifice for
one's country, etc., may be accepted so that some day one may come to the stage of
pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

"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" [B.G.12.12].

As mentioned before, there are two kinds of devotional service: the way of
regulative principles and the way of full attachment in love to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. For those who are actually not able to follow the principles
of Krishna consciousness, it is better to cultivate knowledge, because by knowledge
one can be able to understand his real position. Gradually knowledge will develop
to the point of meditation. By meditation one can be able to understand the Supreme
Personality of Godhead by a gradual process.

If one is not able to meditate, then there are prescribed duties, as enjoined in the
Vedic literature, for the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. But in all cases,
one should give up the result of fruits of labor; this means to employ the result of
karma for some good cause.

In summary, to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal, there
are two processes: (1) gradual development (2) direct method. Devotional service
in Krishna consciousness is the direct method, and the other method involves
renouncing the fruits of one's activities. Then one can come to the stage of
knowledge, then to the stage of meditation, then to the stage of understanding the
Supersoul, and then to the stage of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One may
take either the step-by-step process as illustrated below or the direct path.

___Fixing one's mind upon Krishna without deviation

___Following the Regulative principles of BHAKTI-YOGA
___Trying to work for Krishna & come to perfect stage
___Giving up all results of one's work & be self-situated
__Cultivating knowledge to understand one's real position, better than Knowledge if
Meditation, better than meditation is Renunciation of the fruits of action.

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The direct process is not possible for everyone; therefore the indirect process is also
good. It is, however, to be understood that the indirect process is not recommended
for Arjuna, because he is already at the stage of loving devotional service to the
Supreme Lord. It is for others, who are not at this stage; for them the gradual
process of Renunciation, Knowledge, Meditation and Realisation of the Supersoul
and Brahman should be followed. But as far as Bhagavad Gita is concerned, it is the
direct method that is stressed. Everyone is advised to take to the direct method and
surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

advesta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva ca

nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah ksami
santustah satatam yogi yatatma drdha-niscayah
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah

"One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does
not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both
happiness and distress, who is tolerent, always satisfied, self-controlled, and
engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence
fixed on Me-- such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me" [B.G.12.14].

Coming again to the point of pure devotional service, the Lord is describing the
transcendental qualifications of a pure devotee in these two verses.

A pure devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of

anyone. Nor does a devotee become his enemy's enemy; he thinks,"This
person is acting as my enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to
suffer than to protest".

Whenever a devotee is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is

the Lord's mercy upon him. He thinks,"Thanks to my past misdeeds I should
suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the
Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just
getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead". Therefore
he is always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions.

A devotee is also always kind to everyone, even to his enemy. `Nirmama' means
that a devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and trouble pertaining
to the body because he knows perfectly well that he is not the material body. He
does not identify with the body; therefore he is freed from the conception of false
ego and is equipoised in happiness and distress.

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 He is tolerent, and he is satisfied with whatever comes by the grace of the
Supreme Lord. He does not endeavor much to achieve something with great
difficulty; therefore he is always joyful.

He is a completely perfect mystic because he is fixed in the instructions received

from the spiritual master, and because his senses are controlled he is determined.
He is not swayed by false arguments because no one can lead him from the fixed
determination of devotional service. He is fully conscious that Krishna is the
eternal Lord, so no one can disturb him.

All these qualifications enable him to fix his mind and intelligence entirely on the
Supreme Lord. Such a standard of devotional service is undoubtedly very rare, but a
devotee becomes situated in that stage by following the regulative principles of
devotional service. Furthermore, the Lord says that such a devotee is very dear to
Him, for the Lord is always pleased with all his activities in full Krishna
consciousness.

NINE PROCESSES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE:

BHAKTI or Devotional Service refers to the worship of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Krishna, performed with sincere love and great
attachment. True worship is performed with the mind, the senses, and all the
bodily limbs. Therefore worship includes the engagement of all one's sensory and
mental functions in the service to the Supreme. In the Seventh Canto of Srimad
Bhagavatam, Prahlad Maharaj mentions nine processes of devotional service: (1)
Hearing about the Lord (2) Chanting His glories (3) Remembering Him (4)
Serving and meditating upon His lotus feet (5)Worshiping Him (6) Praying to Him
(7) Thinking oneself His eternal servant (8) Becoming His friend (9) Surrendering
everything to Him. By faithfully executing any of the nine processes of BHAKTI,
one can achieve fond attachment to worshipping the Lord. The first two items,
namely, Hearing and Chanting the glories of the Lord are considered to be the most
important processes especially in the present age.

(1) SRAVANAM: Hearing of the holy name of the Lord is the beginning of
devotional service. Attachment for hearing KRISHNA-KATHA is very important.
One type of KRISHNA-KATHA consists of words directly spoken form the mouth
of the Lord, such as the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Caitanya advocated that we repeat the
words spoken BY Krishna (KRISHNA-UPADESA) to whomever we meet.
Another kind of KRISHNA-KATHA consists of words spoken ABOUT Krishna,
such as those spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit in Srimad
Bhagavatam. There he speaks about the wonderful pastimes of the Lord in His
various incarnations. In the Tenth Canto he describes the original form of the

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Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna in Vrindavana, Mathura and Dvaraka. All of
this is KRISHNA-KATHA.

It is a characteristic of pure devotees that they speak only on transcendental

subjects. A devotee's `mauna', or silence, is by refraining from all mundane talk, but
he is always pleased to speak KRISHNA-KATHA. As Krishna states in the
Bhagavad Gita [B.G.10.9]:

mac-citta mad-gata-prana bodhayantah parasparam

kathayantas' ca mam nityam tusyanti ca ramanti ca

"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted
to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always
enlightening one another and conversing about Me".

One should regularly hear transcendental literatures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad
Bhagavatam from a pure devotee of Krishna, coming in unbroken chain of disciplic
succession-- and not from a nondevotee, a professional reciter of scriptures. The
more one hears about the Supreme Lord, the more one becomes fixed in devotional
service. One should always hear about the Lord in the association of devotees; that
will enhance one's devotional service.

One should give up the endeavour to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative
reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge
of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee,
hear from him about self-realisation and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually
elevated to the position of a pure devotee. Faithful hearing from an authoritative
person will help one to transcend this material existence and go back home, back to
Godhead.

Hearing about Krishna is a very powerful transcendental method for purging the
mind of all misgivings like lust, pride, anger, greed, envy and illusion. The more one
hears about Krishna, the more one becomes enlightened and detached from
everything that draws the mind away from Krishna. By detaching the mind from
activities not devoted to the Lord, one can very easily learn Vairagya. Vairagya
means detachment from matter and engagement of the mind in spirit. It is just like
the feeling of satisfaction a hungry man has for every morsel of food he eats. The
more one eats while hungry, the more one feels satisfaction and strength. Similarly,
by discharge of devotional service one feels transcendental satisfaction as the mind
becomes detached from material objectives. It is something like curing a disease by
expert treatment and appropriate diet.
Disease - Misidentification of oneself with the body
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Expert Treatment - Hearing of transcendental activities of Krishna
Appropriate diet - Eating the foodstuff offered to Krishna
This treatment is the process of Krishna consciousness. Sukadeva tells Maharaja
Pariksit:

nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat

ka uttamas'loka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pas'u-ghnat

"Descriptions of the Lord spoken by those who are free of material desires
are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and
death, and they delight the ear and the mind. Therefore who will cease
hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing
his own self?" [S.B.10.1.4]

Emperor Pariksit attained highest perfection by SRAVANAM.

(2) KIRTANAM: Kirtanam is the process of chanting the holy name of the
Supreme Lord. Especially in this degraded age of Kali-Yuga, chanting of Hare
Krishna Maha Mantra (`maha' means `great'; `mantra' means `sound vibration that
liberates the mind from ignorance') is recommended:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

One can chant these holy names of the Lord anywhere and at anytime, but it is best
to set a specific time of the day to regularly chant. Early morning hours are ideal.

The Chanting can be done in two ways:

(i) singing the mantra, called KIRTANA (usually done in a group), and
(ii) saying the mantra to oneself and hearing, called JAPA (which literally means `to
speak softly'). In Japa one should chant, pronounce the names clearly and distinctly,
addressing Krishna in a prayerful mood. When the mind wanders, one should bring
it back to the sound of the Lord's names. Chanting is a prayer to Krishna that
means,"O energy of the Lord [Hare], O all-attractive Lord [Krishna], O Supreme
Enjoyer [Rama], please engage me in Your service". The more attentively and
sincerely one chants these names of God, the more spiritual progress can one make.
Scriptural Evidences For Chanting Holy Names:
Chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the `Yuga Dharma' for this age of Kali.
Every yuga has got a particular method of self-realisation. It is stated in Srimad-
Bhagavatam [12.3.52]:
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 krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad hari-kirtanat

"The self-realisation which was achieved in the Satya millennium by

meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices,
and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krishna, can be achieved
in the age of Kali simply by chanting the holy names, Hare Krishna". This is
also confirmed in Visnu Purana [6.2.17]:

dhyayan krte yajan yajnais tretayam dvapare 'rcayan

yad apnoti tad apnoti kalau sankirtya kesavam

"In this age there is no use in meditation, sacrifice and temple worship.
Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna-- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare
Hare-- one can achieve perfect self-realisation". In Kali Santaran Upanisad
it is stated:

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare
iti sodas'akam namnam kali-kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drs'yate

"The sixteen words--Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare

Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-- are especially
meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from
the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative but the chanting of these
sixteen words". Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaja Pariksit that the chanting of
the holy names is the saving grace of this age:

kaler dosa-nidhe rajan asti hy eko mahan gunah

kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet

"My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good
quality about this age; simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra,
one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the
transcendental kingdom" [S.B.12.3.51].

Chanting As Yuga-dharma For Kali Yuga:

The characteristics of the people of this age are all disqualifications for spiritual life.
In previous millennia the human condition was much more favorable for spiritual
advancement. In the Satya-yuga almost all people were in the mode of goodness,
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and the society was peaceful and religious. At that time the recommended form of
religion was meditation. The sage Valmiki is said to have meditated 60,000 years
before writing the `Ramayana', and Kardama Muni meditated 10,000 years. The life
span of the people also degrades logarithamically after every yuga. In Satya yuga,
people lived for 1,00,000 years, in Treta yuga for 10,000 years, in Dvapara yuga for
1000 years. In Kali yuga, presently, the average life span of a human being is about
100 years.

Also as the millennia proceeded from Treta to Dvapara, human society degraded
more and more. Five thousand years ago, when Lord Krishna recommended
ASTANGA-YOGA to Arjuna, Arjuna rejected it, saying it was impractical and
impossible for him.

Even in former ages, when more difficult processes were recommended, the goal
was always BHAKTI, or devotion to the Supreme Lord. In this age, the most
accessible form of BHAKTI is SANKIRTANA, or congregational chanting of the
holy names of Krishna. It is recommended as the YUGA-DHARMA, or religion of
the age. As stated in the Brhan-naradiya Purana:

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is
chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no
other way. There is no other way. There is no other way".

Chanting - A Very Practical Method For The Modern Man:

It is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam[1.1.10]:
prayenalpayusah sabhya kalav asmin yuge janah
mandah su-manda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah
"O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are
quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky, and, above all, always disturbed".

The method of chanting is very simple and sublime. One can chant any time, any
where. Chanting in a humble mood, considering oneself more humbler than a blade
of grass, being more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, ready
to offer all respects to others, one can become very peaceful and happy. Such
qualifications make it easier to chant the holy name of the Lord. The process of
transcendental chanting can be easily performed by anyone.

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Even if one is physically unfit, classified lower than others, devoid of material
qualifications, or not at all elevated in terms of pious activities, the chanting of the
holy name is beneficial. An aristocratic birth, an advanced education, beautiful
bodily features, wealth and similar results of pious activities are all unnecessary for
advancement in spiritual life, for one can very easily advance simply by chanting the
holy name.

Many people ask a question-- How can an active person perform double duty--work
and chant at the same time? But it is possible, through love. Prabhupada gives the
example of a man who goes to work in an office while his young son is very ill at
home. Out of natural affection, the father is always thinking,"How is the boy?"
Another example, given by the acaryas, concerns a married woman's attachment
for her paramour. The wife always thinks of her lover, even while doing her
household chores. In fact, she does her housework even more carefully so that
her husband will not suspect her. In the same way, we should always remember
the Supreme Lover, Sri Krishna, even while meticulously discharging our
material duties.

An outstanding example of a Krishna conscious devotee who was busy in the world
is Arjuna, Krishna's friend. And it was Lord Krishna Himself who insisted that
Arjuna not renounce the battlefield in favor of meditation:

tasmat sarvesu kalesu mam anusmara yudhya ca

mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mam evaisyasy asams'ayah

"Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and
at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your
activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you
will attain Me without doubt" [B.G.8.7].

No one can honestly say he has absolutely NO time to devote to hearing and
chanting `sravanam kirtanam'. Even the busiest people find time daily to go
through newspapers or magazines, and almost everyone finds some time for
television, as well as for idle talk. Much of this time could be spared for BHAKTI-
YOGA. If despite his best efforts a devotee finds his social and occupational duties
overwhelming, he should consider living in a different way. Sri Sukadeva Gosvami
attained the highest perfection by KIRTANAM, reciting Srimad Bhagavatam to King
Pariksit.

(3) SMARANAM: After one regularly performs the processes of hearing and
chanting and after the core of one's heart is cleansed, SMARANAM, remembering,
is recommended. According to different relationships with the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, there are five kinds of remembering: (a)conducting research into the
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worship of a particular form of the Lord, (b)concentrating the mind on one subject
and withdrawing the mind's activities of thinking, feeling and willing from all other
subjects, (c)concentrating upon a particular form of the Lord (called meditation)
(d)concentrating one's mind continuously on the form of the Lord (called
dhruvanusmrti or perfect meditation) and (e)awakening a likening for
concentration upon a particular form (called samadhi or trance). Mental
concentration upon particular pastimes of the Lord in particular circumstances is also
called remembrance. Therefore `samadhi', trance, can be possible in five different
ways in terms of one's relationship. Emperor Prahlada attained spiritual success
by SMARANAM.

(4) PADA-SEVANAM: According to one's taste and strength, hearing, chanting

and remembrance may be followed by Pada-Sevanam. Pada-Sevanam is being
intensely attached to thinking of the Lord's lotus feet. When one is particularly
adherent to the process of `pada-sevanam', this process gradually includes other
processes, such as seeing the form of the Lord, touching the form of the Lord,
circumambulating the form or temple of the Lord, visiting such places as Jagannatha
Puri, Dvaraka and Mathura to see the Lord's form, and bathing in the Ganges or
Yamuna. Service to the Vaisnava, Tulasi, Ganges and Yamuna are included in
PADA-SEVANAM. All these processes help one advance in spiritual life very
quickly. Laksmiji, goddess of fortune, attained success by PADA-SEVANAM.

(5) ARCANAM: Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Lord is known as

ARCANAM. One must positively take shelter of a bonafide spiritual master and
learn process of worship. In this age, the `Pancaratrika' system is particularly
recommended for ARCANA, Deity worship. For the householder devotees who are
opulent in material possessions, the path of Deity worship is strongly recommended.
An opulent householder devotee who does not engage his hard-earned money in the
service of the Lord is called a miser. One should not engage paid brahmanas to
worship the Deity. If one does not personally worship the Deity but engages paid
servants instead, he is considered lazy. An opulent householder can collect luxurious
paraphernalia for Deity worship, and consequently for householder devotees the
worship of the Deity is compulsory. The special purpose of Deity worship is to keep
oneself always pure and clean. Any householder devotee circumstantially unable to
worship the Deity must at least see the Deity worship, and in this way he may
achieve success also. Observing the various types of festivals, such as Sri
Janmastami, Rama-navami and Nrsimha-caturdasi, is also included in the process of
Deity worship. King Prthu attained success simply by ARCANAM.

(6) VANDANAM: Although prayers are a part of Deity worship, they may be
considered separately like the other items, such as hearing and chanting. The Lord
has unlimited transcendental qualities and opulences, and one who feels influenced
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by the Lord's qualities in various activities offers prayers to the Lord. In this way he
becomes successful. Offering prayers to the deity in a prayerful mood is called
VANDANAM. Akrura attained success by VANDANAM, chanting prayers.

(7) DASYAM: Assisting the Lord as a servant is called as DASYAM. After many
many thousands of births, when one comes to understand that he is an eternal
servant of Krishna one can deliver others from this universe. If one simply continues
to think that he is an eternal servant of Krishna, even without performing any other
process of devotional service, he can attain full success, for simply by this feeling
one can perform all nine processes of devotional service. Hanuman attained
success by DASYAM, carrying out the orders of the Lord.

(8) SAKHYAM: Out of intense love, one serves Krishna as a friend. Friendship is
better than servitude. In the stage above, `dasya-rasa', the devotee accepts the
Supreme Personality of Godhead as a friend. This is not at all astonishing, for when
a devotee is pure in heart the opulence of his worship of the Deity diminishes as
spontaneous love for the Personality of Godhead is manifested. Arjuna attained
success by SAKHYAM, making friends with the Lord.

(9) ATMA-NIVEDANAM: The word ATMA-NIVEDANAM refers to the stage at

which one who has no motive other than to serve the Lord surrenders everything to
the Lord and performs his activities only to please the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Such a devotee is like a cow that is cared for by its master. When cared
for by its master, a cow is not in anxiety over its maintenance. Such a cow is always
devoted to its master, and it never acts independently, but only for the master's
benefit. Some devotees, therefore, consider dedication of the body to the Lord to be
ATMA-NIVEDANAM, and as stated in the book known as Bhakti-viveka,
sometimes dedication of the soul to the Lord is called ATMA-NIVEDANAM. The
best examples of ATMA-NIVEDANAM are found in Bali Maharaja and
Ambarisa Maharaja.

REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE:

The basic principles for a candidate who wants to sincerely practice devotional
service and return to the Kingdom of God are as follows:

{1} The serious candidate must accept a bonafide spiritual master in order to be
trained scientifically. Because the senses are material, it is not at all possible to
realize the transcendence by them. Therefore the senses have to be spiritualised by
the prescribed method under the direction of the spiritual master.
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{2} When the student has chosen a bonafide spiritual master, he must take the
proper initiation from him. He should learn how to discharge devotional service
from him. This marks the beginning of spiritual training.

{3} The candidate must be prepared to obey the orders of the spiritual master
with faith and devotion. A bonafide spiritual master who is fully cognizant of the
methods of spiritual science, learned in the scriptures, must be satisfied in all
respects, because simply by his good wishes a candidate can make wonderful
progress along the path.

{4} The intelligent candidate places intelligent questions to the spiritual master in
order to clear his path of all uncertainties. The spiritual master shows the way, not
whimsically, but in accordance with the principles of the authorities who have
actually traversed the path, the mahajanas. The names of these authorities are
disclosed in the scriptures, and one has simply to follow them under the direction of
the spiritual master. The spiritual master never deviates from the path of the
authorities.

{5} The candidate should always try to follow in the footsteps of the great
acaryas who have practiced the method and obtained success, under the guidance of
the spiritual master. This should be taken as a motto in life.

{6} The candidate must be prepared to change his habits in terms of the
instructions contained in the books of authority, and for the satisfaction of the Lord
he must be prepared to sacrifice both sense gratification and sense abnegation,
following the example of Arjuna. ( this means that when we are engaged in the
devotional service of Krishna, we must be prepared to give up something which we
may not like to give up, and also we have to accept something which we may not
like to accept).

{7} The candidate should live in a spiritual atmosphere or in a sacred place of

pilgrimage like Dvaraka or Vrindavana.

{8} He must be satisfied with as much wealth as is sufficient for maintenance only.
He should not amass more wealth than is necessary to sustain himself in a simply
way.

{9} He must observe the fasting dates, such as Ekadasi

{10} He must show respect to sacred trees, the cow, the learned brahmana and the
devotee.
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These are the first stepping stones for beginning the discharge of devotional service
in regulative principles. Gradually one has to adopt other items, which are negative
in character:

{11} He should carefully avoid various offences in chanting the holy name of the
Lord or in worshiping the Deity in the temple.

{12} He should rigidly give up the company of nondevotees.

{13} He should not instruct a person who is not desirous of accepting devotional
service. He must not take on unlimited disciples. This means that a candidate who
has successfully followed the first twelve items can also become a spiritual master
himself, just as a student becomes a monitor in class with a limited number of
disciples.

{14} He must not pose himself as a vastly learned man simply by quoting statements
in books. He must have solid knowledge of the necessary books without
superfluous knowledge in others. He should not try to read too many books, nor
should he develop the idea of earning his livelihood by lecturing on or professionally
reciting Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavad Gita.

{15} He should not be under the spell of lamentation in loss or jubilation or gain and
should maintain mental equilibrium even amidst great trials of material loss and gain.

{16} In the next stage, the candidate does not become afflicted by lamentation and
illusion.

{17} He should not deride another's mode of religion or worship, or he should not
disrespect demigods.

{18} He should never tolerate blasphemy against the Lord or His devotees.

{19} He should not indulge in the discussion of topics dealing with the relationship
between man and woman; nor should he engage in useless topics concerning others'
family affairs.

{20} He should not inflict pain-- either in body or in mind-- upon other living beings,
whomsoever they may be.

Out of the above twenty items, the first three positive items are imperative and most
essential for the serious candidate.
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There are forty-four other items to be followed by the serious candidate, but Lord
Caitanya has selected five as the most important, as mentioned below:

{1} One should associate with the devotees.

{2} One should chant the holy name of the Lord in all circumstances.

{3} One should hear the transcendental topics enunciated in the Srimad
Bhagavatam.

{4} One should make his home at Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna or one
may make his nome as good as Mathura by installing the Deity or the Lord to be
worshiped by all members of the family after proper initiation from the spiritual
master.

{5} One should worship the installed Deity with attention and devotion so that the
whole atmosphere of one's home becomes the replica of the Lord's abode.

The above five items can be adopted by any man in any part of the world. Thus
anyone can prepare himself for returning home, back to Godhead, by the simple
method recognized by authorities such as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who
specifically advented Himself to deliver the fallen souls of this age.

The perfection of love of God by a devotee actualy situates him on the spiritual
platform, even though he may still maintain a gross material body. He becomes like
a red-hot iron which, when in contact with fire, actually ceases to be iron and acts
like fire. One should therefore engage himself in devotional service with absolute
faith, and to make his faith steadfast one should seek the association of the standard
devotees of the Lord by personal association or by thinking of them. This
association will help one develop factual devotional service to the Lord, which will
cause all material misgivings to disappear like a flash of lightening. All these
different stages of spiritual realization will be personally felt by the candidate, and
this will create in him a firm belief that he is making positive progress on the way
back to the spiritual sky. Then he will become sincerely attached to the Lord and
His abode. Such is the gradual process of evolving love of God, which is the prime
necessity for the human form of life.

A devotee of the Lord is never a disturbing element in society-- on the contrary, he is

a great social asset. Since no sincere devotee is attracted to sinful actions, as soon
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as a man becomes a pure devotee he can do inestimable selfless service to society
for the peace and prosperity of all concerned, in this life and in the next. But even if
such a devotee commits some offense, the Lord Himself rectifies it in no time.
Therefore, there is no need for a devotee to cultivate materialistic knowledge, not
does a devotee need to renounce everything and live as a hermit. He can simply
remain at home and execute devotional service smoothly in any order or life. And
there are instances in history of extremely cruel men becoming kindhearted simply
by the execution of devotional service. Knowledge and abnegation of an inferior
way of life follow automatically in the life of a pure devotee without his having to
make extraneous effort.

For further information contact:

Radheshyam Das, M.Tech.(IIT), Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir of ISKCON,

7, K.M.Munshi Marg, Opp. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Girgaum Chowpatty,
Bombay-400 007, Tel: 362 5532 / 363 4078.

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