“When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krishna favorably, as Krishna desires.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 19.167)

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अन्याभिलाषिता-शून्यं ज्ञान-कर्माद्यनाबृतम्‌
आनुकूल्येन कृष्णानुशीलनं भक्तिरुत्तमा

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

“The aim in bhakti-yoga is to become a pure devotee. I also understand that this affords a kind of elevated social status. The pure devotee has more followers, you see. They are eligible to take disciples. With disciples you get name, fame, distinction, honor, notoriety, and most importantly, support. You no longer have to work for a living. You can practically say or do anything. Others will rationalize any inconsistencies, any incongruities in your words, to your status as a pure devotee.

“For this discussion, I am talking about the genuine pure devotee; not the person who is only looking for financial support. How do we actually reach that status? The society of devotees is a yoga society, after all. With yoga there is progression. Progression indicates changing states. From novice, to veteran, to expert. The pure devotee is supposedly the expert.

“How do I reach that status? I understand the textbook definition. We are supposed to be free of impurities. We are supposed to even push aside jnana and karma. No desire for perfect knowledge. No pursuit of a more comfortable future through good deeds.

“The jnana part is a little strange, considering that the basis of our advancement is knowledge. We hear Hari-katha. We read books. We discuss within a society of devotees. Is that not knowledge? If we are after knowledge, jnana, does that not invalidate the entire proposal of reaching a pure status? Regardless, I am always falling down. I have so many desires in the course of a given day. How can any person ever attain the pure devotee platform?”

The jnana stipulation pertains particularly to the end-goal of merging into the Brahman effulgence. That is the endpoint of actual wisdom, if we think about it. Up and down are the same, within the Vedanta culture. Happiness and sadness should be tolerated in the manner that we experience the seasons.

मात्रा-स्पर्शास् तु कौन्तेय
शीतोष्ण-सुख-दुःख-दाः
आगमापायिनो ऽनित्यास्
तांस् तितिक्षस्व भारत

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ‘nityās
tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.14)

Birth and death are the paired events carrying the most significance in the human society, and within that range there are so many conditions in duality. Hot and cold. Winning and losing. Male and female. Rich and poor. Elevated and degraded. Celebrated and disgraced. Sober and intoxicated.

Through jnana we can begin to identify the distinctions. Through further assimilation of jnana we realize the equivalence, in how duality is nothing more than illusion. The happiness we experience is in illusion, as described by Prahlada Maharaja. It is like seeking relief from a troubled condition. But we fail to realize that any condition in duality spells trouble.

The end of such knowledge is a removal of the distinctions. This is the Brahman platform. It is spiritual, since there is no dependence on duality. Brahman is the identity of the individual. Brahman realization is knowing that true identity and moving forward with that proper understanding.

ब्रह्म-भूतः प्रसन्नात्मा
न शोचति न काङ्क्षति
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु
मद्-भक्तिं लभते पराम्

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.54)

Bhagavad-gita explains that the brahma-bhutah platform is the ideal place for entering devotion, bhakti. This is the culmination of the elimination of desire. It is the final resting place of knowledge. Bhakti is the conclusion from the conclusion of conclusions, Vedanta.

With respect to purifying an existence, to eliminating desires, the transition is not difficult to understand. We give one thing for another; we replace, based on knowledge and experience. We realize that something is no longer useful. We have a bad experience with it. Therefore, we will not repeat it. Not only will we stay away, but we have a firm justification, rooted in knowledge, for making that choice.

In the same way, we will automatically give up desires in karma, jnana, and mystic yoga once we have sufficient knowledge. Through further experience in the bhakti culture, in the systematic implementation guided and assisted by dedicated transcendentalists, we will have no interest in chasing something that lacks taste. Krishna consciousness is that higher taste we have been looking for since time immemorial.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते
निराहारस्य देहिनः
रस-वर्जं रसो ऽप्य् अस्य
परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते

viṣayā vinivartante
nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso ‘py asya
paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate

“The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.59)

The hidden truth which is easy to overlook is that the person sincerely interested in reaching pure devotion is already at that stage of perfection. They are trying their best. Though they may fall down occasionally, though they may have accidental mishaps, their heart is in the right place. They are always looking to please Krishna, and so their success is guaranteed directly by the one who is satya-sankalpa.

In Closing:

As soon as foot to place,
The impurities to erase.

Because within that path landing,
Supreme now outcomes commanding.

Whether tomorrow to see,
Or in next lifetime to be.

Guaranteed that elevation,
To status of pure devotion.

Categories: questions

Tags: bhakti, god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, religion, yoga