The foremost characteristic, that property the soul is never bereft of, constitutes its dharma. More than just mere religion or a system of spirituality, dharma is the quality that defines a spirit soul’s existence. Therefore those who are in touch with this intrinsic feature are deemed to be in complete bliss and knowledge. Being a pure lover of God, or a bhakta, is something that all of us are, but in the conditioned state, one brought on by contact with material nature and then perpetuated by the cloud of illusion enveloping the phenomenal world, our true properties are forgotten and covered up. Therefore one who has realized their nature and thus achieved the highest standard of thought and behavior can be considered to have bhakti. Bhakti doesn’t have to be acquired from any external source because being an eternal servant of the Lord is something we all are, but nevertheless, outward symptoms are required to indicate a purified consciousness, a mindset taken over by the bhakti attitude. More than just saying we have a deep attachment for the Supreme Lord, we must back up the claims through actions.
Politicians, especially those running for high offices like the presidency, are in the spotlight all the time. No matter how hard they try to mask their nature, eventually their true colors will come out. When a seedy character wins office, the mistaken assumption is that somehow the citizens were fooled into thinking that the politician was something he was not. But in reality, all the short-comings and character flaws were well on display for everyone to see. When characters given to lying and having low moral values win office, it is to be understood that the voting public elected them despite their flaws.
Pollsters are always trying to get an edge regardless, even if their efforts are only meant for bolstering the credibility of their polling organization. Therefore one of the more typical poll questions posed after an election relates to why a certain voter voted the way they did. If they liked the politician’s outlook on life and his high moral standing, the voter will say things like, “I liked his character. He shared my values. I liked that he was optimistic instead of pessimistic. I liked that he had faith in the country.” These answers all reflect observations pertaining to the qualities visibly displayed by the politician during their time in the spotlight, where they interacted with fellow candidates and voters. These traits weren’t necessarily explicitly stated or purposefully highlighted during the campaign, but the voters ascertained them through watching and hearing from the candidates. Therefore it’s quite humorous to see politicians during the subsequent election cycle give answers to prior poll questions as part of their campaign speeches and platforms. “I’m optimistic about the country. I believe in strong moral values. I think that character is important.” These statements are silly because just saying that you’re optimistic doesn’t mean that you have a positive outlook on life. You can tell everyone that you’re in favor of high moral values all you want, but it is your behavior, especially that exhibited during times of duress, that determines whether or not these qualities exist in you.
Another humorous example that illustrates the same principles comes from the television sitcom Friends. In one particular episode, two of the female characters, Phoebe and Rachel, enroll in a self-defense class geared for women. In modern day society, women are given independence and allowed to freely intermingle with men. One of the drawbacks to this is that women are now more prone to attack from men looking for money or sexual relations procured through force. Because of the potential for danger, women need to take extra steps for safety, such as learning self-defense. Ross, one of the male characters on the show and part of the friend-circle, learns of the class Phoebe and Rachel are taking and immediately deprecates it. He tells them that they should learn the ancient art of unagi instead, which is actually a type of eel. Ross mistakes unagi for zanshin, which is a state of total awareness.
Just as the politician’s optimism and good moral standing must be ingrained in them and the defender’s possession of a total state of awareness must be exhibited through outward behavior, the dedication we have to divine love must exist inside of us in an active state in order to be deemed present. In the game of women’s golf, there is an automatic entry system for the hall of fame. If a player should win a certain number of tournaments, she automatically gets honored as being one of the greatest female golfers of all time. In many theistic traditions, especially those run by establishments firmly grounded in politics, legislation and strict traditions, there are similar tests for eligibility, wherein one is advised to make a specific donation to get a better seat at the table. Send the religious leader money and you will be on the fast track to heaven, i.e. make a contribution and you’ll get the better seat on the boat travelling to the spiritual realm.
Other promises from spiritual leaders are less egregious and seemingly easier to believe. For instance, if we go to church every Sunday and don’t commit any overtly sinful activities in our daily lives, we’ll be okay in the afterlife. If we pray a certain number of times in a day and observe all the fasting regulations, we’ll be safe from eternal damnation. But since the identity of the individual comes from the spirit soul residing within, any future fortunes, spiritual or otherwise, must come from the soul’s disposition. Just as the face is the index of the mind, one’s consciousness is indicative of the individual soul’s desires and wants. If the spiritual spark desires material association, one which is divorced of any personal relationship to the Almighty, separation from the spiritual realm will remain perpetually. The soul is part and parcel of God, a disposition concisely described in Lord Chaitanya’s achintya-bhedabheda-tattva philosophy. We are similar to God in quality, but vastly inferior to Him in quantitative powers.
Bhakti, or the devotional attitude, is ingrained in every person, but at the same time the purified version of this loving sentiment is not necessarily something everyone has. We have love for lots of things, including friends, family and neighbors. But emotions are flickering, as love can turn into hate very quickly. The dharma of the soul, its affection for God, never diminishes or goes away. In the conditioned state, however, the natural loving propensity gets misdirected to other areas. Therefore we technically are already lovers of God, but without a shift in consciousness, the pure loving spirit is not something we have. In order to be a true bhakta, one who is in touch with their dharma, there must be a shift in consciousness, which is generally secured through an alteration in behavior, which means that the daily activities driven by material desire must change.
The bhaktas, those who are in bhakti, exhibit many laudable characteristics, which are indicated through outward symptoms. Devotees are nice to everyone; they are very compassionate; they have a deep love and respect for all forms of life. But most importantly, the devotees are always thinking of Krishna, or God. No matter where they go and what situation they find themselves in, memory of the Supreme Lord and His pleasure-giving pastimes is never too far away. In all areas of study the bhaktas present the proper conclusion in terms of its relation to Krishna. While eating, sleeping and working, thoughts never deviate from the transcendental realm. And most important of all, after maintaining their fidelity with the principles of the sublime engagement the only reward that the bhakta asks for is the ability to continue their bhakti practices. They don’t even explicitly desire a return to the spiritual world, to be recognized as a great devotee or to be saved from a future hellish condition. Rather, full surrender, or sharanagati, means relinquishing all responsibility for anything pertaining to the visible world, including reputation, peace of mind, anger, resentment and happiness. All experienced conditions are seen as blessings from the Lord.
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 17.31)
The grass has nothing to be proud of; it is simply stepped on constantly by others enjoying activities on the field. Indeed, the trees and other plants all stand much taller than the grass. As such, the grass is the greatest emblem of humility, making it an apt comparison for describing a devotee’s humble attitude. Lord Chaitanya, the founder of the modern-day bhakti movement that is spread through the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, or sankirtana, also advises that one remain humbler than the grass while chanting Krishna’s names and preaching His glories to others.
