“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.41)

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व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिर्
एकेह कुरु-नन्दन
बहु-शाखा ह्य् अनन्ताश् च
बुद्धयो ऽव्यवसायिनाम्

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca
buddhayo ‘vyavasāyinām

FRIEND1: What is your take on the criticism about the presentation of bhakti-yoga being too simple?

FRIEND2: What presentation? Like within the books? Or is this from a person?

FRIEND1: Take the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, for instance. The criticism goes something like this: Everything is too simple. It is just the ABCDs of spiritual life. If you want to make real progress, if you want to ascend to the platform of uttama-adhikari, you need to study from someone who teaches raganuga-bhakti.

FRIEND2: Okay, do you know someone who is claiming to follow raganuga-bhakti? Because if they are, that is a little strange.

FRIEND1: Why is that?

FRIEND2: Because raganuga is something that is part of you. Vaidhi-bhakti is following devotional service under rules, vidhi. You have to be convinced of the effectiveness of the process. That is why you pay attention to rules, like waking up early, avoiding unwanted behaviors [anarthas], and chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

FRIEND1: How is raganuga-bhakti different?

FRIEND2: You no longer have to be convinced. You are not following devotion to the Supreme Lord, Bhagavan, due to any external cause. You are not trying to extract social mileage from the visual display. You are not trying to advance. If you will be sent to hell for chanting the holy names, you will still continue. In raganuga, you cannot be convinced out of the decision for devotion:

नारायण-पराः सर्वे
न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति
स्वर्गापवर्ग-नरकेष्व्
अपि तुल्यार्थ-दर्शिनः

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve
na kutaścana bibhyati
svargāpavarga-narakeṣv
api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

“Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.17.28)

FRIEND1: Okay, and so you are saying it is impossible to find someone who teaches the raganuga standard?

FRIEND2: I am saying it is strange for someone to advertise it, that’s all. Even the person at the highest standard will think of themselves as the lowest. Like the gopis of Vrindavana. They are not scholars. They are not yogis. They are not advanced in anything, and yet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu considers their devotion to be the highest. It is the model for everyone else to follow. Not imitate, but at least look up to and perhaps emulate, to a degree.

FRIEND1: I think it is the followers of a particular leader or guru who make the claim about raganuga. I don’t think the guru is the one saying they are on the highest standard. Anyway, we are getting sidetracked. What is your response to the criticism? You know, that chanting and reading books are not enough. We have to study all of the past acharyas, as well. We have to understand the hidden meaning to everything. We should be conversant enough to go beyond the surface, when discussing transcendental topics.

FRIEND2: Let me ask you this. Do you see many people following the simplified version?

FRIEND1: You mean, vaidhi-bhakti?

FRIEND2: Sure. Call it whatever you want. How many people are chanting on a regular basis? How many people are studying Bhagavad-gita or Shrimad Bhagavatam in a systematic way?

FRIEND1: You mean like on a schedule?

FRIEND2: Yes. Daily. Once a week. Once a month. How many people are even following the simplified version? You are criticizing the presentation as being too simple and I am arguing that it is not simple enough!

FRIEND1: Are you saying that it is a waste of time to strive for raganuga, then? Because no one will be able to follow?

FRIEND2: I am saying that it is foolish to criticize the presentation that you view as too simple. The acharya is an ocean of mercy. They are so kind that they go out of their way to try to help people who are otherwise in complete darkness. If the holy name is Absolute, if it is non-different from the person it represents, then how can advocating for association with that holy name be inferior to anything?

मच्-चित्ता मद्-गत-प्राणा
बोधयन्तः परस्परम्
कथयन्तश् च मां नित्यं
तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.9)

FRIEND1: Hmm. I never thought of it that way.

FRIEND2: Bhagavad-gita passes along the concept of “vyavasayatmika-buddhih”. This describes intelligence that has focus. We see that the opposite is true when dealing with karma. Practically everyone in the modern world is on the platform of karma. That is why they are not resolute in purpose. They keep jumping from one thing to another, beautifully symbolized by the recently manifest practice of doomscrolling.

FRIEND1: Okay, but if people are at such a low standard already, how do we help them focus on something like bhakti, then?

FRIEND2: That is why the presentation is simple. It is intentionally so. If you were to make everyone follow the strict rules and regulations, from morning until night, in accordance with texts like Hari-bhakti-vilasa or Manu-samhita, then their heads would spin. They would never get to first base. You introduce important figures such as Mahadeva, Parvati, and Ganesha, and the complexity would be too much to grasp. The Vaishnava is so kind in this regard. The recommendation is to instead think of one person. Chant their names. Worship in a regular way. You will move closer in the process. That is the meaning to upasana, after all.

मन्-मना भव मद्-भक्तो
मद्-याजी मां नमस्कुरु
माम् एवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवम्
आत्मानं मत्-परायणः

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, offer obeisances and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.34)

Even your original question highlights a deficiency. Rather than be satisfied in the continuation of worship, in advancing further at the personal level, there is this lingering desire to criticize others, to belittle their position relative to the so-called advanced. Create controversies over nothing. Debate ad nauseam over issues that are not really relevant to anything.

In Closing:

In sharp criticism to state,
Indulging desire to debate.

Rather than on progress my own,
Worried about bhakti standard shown.

That not at raganuga level to reach,
The hidden meanings should teach.

But notice that for simple barely a taker,
Holy names the inertia breaker.

Categories: conversations

Tags: dailyprompt, god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, religion