Knowledge and devotional service

Knowledge is that which establishes the supremacy of God – all other so-called knowledge is simply useless information. Knowledge is that which leads one towards God, and which establishes one in devotional service to God. One endeavoring for self-realization can adopt various paths – working without a desire for fruitive results, or practicing control of the senses and the mind, but one must necessarily come finally to devotional service to God to attain the highest perfection. The highest perfection lies in surrendering to the will of God, and carrying out His will in all circumstances.

The Supreme Lord is the proprietor of everything. The living entities are eternally the servants of God. When one is established in this consciousness, he is said to be in knowledge. The Supreme Lord grants the living entities independence to act as they desire, and the living entities being attracted by the external material nature, desire to lord it over material nature, and become more and more entangled in it, and hence, suffer greatly in the material world. When one instead uses his independence wisely and strives for self-realization, one progresses gradually out of the clutches of material nature, and into the spiritual kingdom.

Wisdom means to act according to the desire of God, and foolishness means to act whimsically for one’s own sense gratification. One who does not perform austerity or practice any regulations cannot progress in self-realization. One must, with determination, strive for self-realization, and with the causeless mercy of God and the spiritual master, one can attain it.

One who strives sincerely for self-realization is never doomed – even a little progress on the path of self-realization is always hugely beneficial. Progress on the spiritual path in never lost. If one makes a little progress, and then stops at some point due to worldly-mindedness, the progress that he has made is never lost. Later, he can start from where he left off, and determinedly make further progress. Hence, one must always strive to engage in self-realization. There is no other duty for a living entity other than engaging in self-realization, and one who with determination engages in this, is certainly extremely fortunate and would certainly attain success.

The practice of devotional service

Devotional service to God has been recommended by spiritual masters like Ramanuja, Madhva, Chaitanya and others as the highest perfection of life. A question then arises as to how devotional service is to be practiced. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His Shikshashtaka prayers says – “O Lord, I do not desire wealth or followers or women; what I simply want is unmotivated devotional service to You life after life.”

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also says – “Becoming more tolerant than a tree, and more humble than a blade of grass, it becomes possible to continuously chant the holy name of God.”

Unmotivated devotional service is the highest perfection. However, it is to be understood that anyone who has approached God – for whatever reason, is fortunate in that he has approached God even though the practice of devotional service in this case might not be unmotivated. A person approaches God in distress, or out of inquisitiveness, or out of material desire, or in knowledge.

The declarations made by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita establish the supremacy of God over all that there is. There is no one equal to or superior than God. God is the supreme proprietor and the supreme owner. All living entities are eternally the servants of God, and when one engages in devotional service to God, one becomes established in his original constitutional position.

The material world is an illusory play, and the eternal living entity, desiring to lord it over material nature becomes entangled in it, and hence, suffers in the material world. However, with the causeless mercy of God, one can get liberation from the clutches of material nature. When one becomes situated in one’s constitutional position as servant of God, one becomes situated in the spiritual kingdom.

One can meditate upon God in one’s heart through active service. In whatever engagements one is involved in, when one’s consciousness is purified, and one becomes situated in God-consciousness, one can meditate upon God through those actions.

Gradually, the mind and intelligence become purified by engaging in activities of devotional service. When the intelligence becomes firmly established, and one accepts as truth the words of great spiritual masters, with that intelligence, the mind can be controlled. Gradually, and very easily, one’s whole existence becomes purified simply by engaging in devotional service.

One should know for certain that the Supreme Lord is competent to give protection to His devotee, and with that determination, one should become fearless, and act for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord – the eternal well-wisher of all living entities, and the omnipotent and omniscient one, ignites the fire of knowledge in the heart of the devotee, cutting to pieces all doubts born of ignorance.

Great trials and tribulations in the practice of self-realization are not unexpected. One who has firm faith in God and the spiritual master overcomes all miseries, which are otherwise very difficult to overcome. One who in a time of acute distress remembers God is at once freed from all miseries born of material existence, and at once attains the spiritual kingdom.

Knowing the greatness of God, and with sincerity worshiping Him, and endeavoring to work for His satisfaction, one assuredly attains Him.

The science of devotional service to God

The mind is always engaged in thinking of material things due to association with matter. The process of thinking and willing has to be purified. When the mind is polluted, one performs activities that are not very beneficial to spiritual life. By engaging in devoti0nal service to God, the mind is gradually purified. All the effects of all sinful actions are completely eradicated simply by devotional service.

When one comes to the stage of true knowledge, one realizes the foolishness and madness of ignorance. Arising to the platform of true existence, doubts vanish, and one becomes established in firm knowledge.

Intelligence should be purified, and with one’s intelligence, one can control one’s mind. One’s intelligence gets firmly established when one engages in the habit of hearing regularly about the activities of God from the scriptures. By engaging in various activities of devotional service such as chanting, hearing, worshiping etc, the intelligence becomes firmly established. The material nature is very difficult to overcome, but for one who is devoted to God, it is very easy to overcome. Material world and its associated miseries are very easily overcome for a devotee of God – the Supreme Lord Himself favors the sincere and persistent devotee with knowledge which cuts to pieces the delusion born of ignorance.

One acting with steady faith in God, and with great determination always endeavoring for self-realization, is sure to attain to the supreme goal. At whatever station of life one finds oneself in, if one simply acts according to the instructions of the Supreme Lord, as revealed by spiritual masters, one is sure to progress steadily towards the supreme goal.

The scriptures mention the qualities of one endeavoring for self-realization. One should try to become established in patience, perseverance, determination, tolerance of happiness and distress, not concerning oneself with social honor or dishonor, faith in God, cultivation of knowledge, self-control and simplicity. It is almost impossible to overcome the power of material nature, but with devotional service it is very easily overcome.

Great sacrifices that when done lead one to progress towards the spiritual kingdom include chanting the names of God, and hearing or reading regularly about God and His qualities and activities from realized souls. By making a habit of engaging in such devotional activities, one will assuredly progress towards self-realization.

Leading a God-conscious life

God-consciousness is the highest aim of life. One should strive to meditate upon the Supreme Lord, the one by whose will all the manifestation in front of us is created, at all times. One who is completely dependent upon the Supreme Lord for help is assuredly to find help in all circumstances. God is all-merciful and ever the well-wisher of all living entities. When one arises to the stage of actual existence by performing devotional service to God, one puts an end to all foolishness and madness, and enters into the spiritual kingdom.

One should always proceed gradually. Extremes should be avoided in general. One should not try to be too hasty. One should not have too many desires. One should try to be self-controlled. One should try to hear about God and His activities from the scriptures and from spiritual masters. The more one hears about God, the more one’s attraction for Him grows. At the height of devotional service, the devotee perfectly surrendered to the will of the Supreme Lord leads an eternal blissful life full of knowledge in the spiritual kingdom.

Devotional service to God is extremely effective, and is an extremely simple path. With steady faith in God, knowledge arises within the heart cutting all doubts born of ignorance to pieces. Devotional service can be accomplished by engaging in various activities for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord – chanting the names of God, hearing about the activities of God from the scriptures, going to the temple to perform worship of God in His form as the Deity, eating food that has been sanctified by offering to God, giving in charity to those who are engaged in the service of God, talking about the glories of God, and meditating upon God in one’s heart.

One should know in all circumstances of the inconceivable potency of God. The Supreme Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. The Supreme Lord is the only proprieter of all that there is, and is the ultimate well-wisher of all living entities.

May the blessings of God be upon all. May all progress towards self-realization. May all proceed to the spiritual kingdom. May the light of knowledge arise in the hearts of all.

 

 

Devotional service to God – the highest perfection

Devotional service to God is the highest perfection of human life. One who is engaged in transcendental loving service of God can be understood to be the highest of all persons.

We can engage in devotional service in many different ways, and by doing so, all our engagements will become purified. Chanting of the names of God is the most suitable method of spiritual realization in this age. The chanting of Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is said by pure self realized souls to be the most suitable process for God realization in this age. Apart from chanting, we can engage in other activities also in devotional service. One must eat only food that has been offered to God or Krsna prasadam. Krsna says in the Bhagavada Gita – “whoever offers to me with love even simply a fruit, or a flower, or a leaf, or even water, that I gladly accept”. So, the criteria for offering anything to God is only love – there is no other consideration. Krsna accepts the love with which anything is offered to Him. Krsna is self-sufficient, and yet He accepts out of causeless mercy, anything that His devotee offers to Him in pure love and devotion. From Krsna’s instructions, we can also see that one should not eat meat, or food derived from killing animals. It is very sinful to kill a helpless animal simply to satisfy one’s tongue. We should not do so, and should instead eat vegetarian food that has been offered to God.

Hearing the pastimes of God, the wonderful activities of God and His eternal associates, is also very auspicious. Transcendental literature has been given to the people in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, in the form of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. We should try to listen to these from the mouths of pure devotees of God. By the causeless mercy of pure devotees, one progresses in devotional service.

Going to the temple and worshiping the Deity form of the Lord is another activity that we can engage in. We should lovingly offer foodstuff to the Deity. By engaging in the worship of the Deity, and engaging in the other devotional activities, gradually we become purified.

Engaging in devotional service

It is said that in this present age that we are living in, we are all very unfortunate in that we have short life spans, are less intelligent, are lazy and misguided, are always disturbed, and always troubled by anxieties. The scriptures and great spiritual masters, say however, that despite all these bad conditions, there is a very great blessing bestowed upon people in this age – that of chanting the names of God. This process of chanting the names of God is so powerful that it can gradually purify the mind and take us to the spiritual platform.

We must engage ourselves in devotional service to God. When Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was personally present on this planet, He instructed Arjuna, His intimate friend and devotee, at the end of Bhagavad Gita – “abandon all your mental speculations, and just surrender to Me. I will liberate you from all sins, do not fear.” So, that is the sum and substance of religion – to engage oneself in devotional service to God.

Devotional service means to chant the names of God, to discuss about God and His pastimes, to hear transcendental literature related to God such as Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, to worship the Deity form of the Lord in temples, to engage in the service of devotees of God and to eat prasadam or food that has been offered to God. If we engage ourselves in these activities, we will surely be able to, in the very near future, end our material miseries.

A devotee is always peaceful and calm, and ever blissful within himself, he is very compassionate towards everyone. Indeed, a devotee is the most sincere friend to all living entities – not just human beings, but cats, dogs, trees and other living entities. A devotee is naturally very kind to the fallen souls, and he engages in God’s work of bringing all living entities back home, back to Godhead.

By engaging in the activities of chanting the names of God, hearing the pastimes of God, eating Krsna prasadam and worshiping the Lord in the temple, we can gradually become purified, and can rise to the platform of transcendental devotional service to God. Also, by engaging in such activities, automatically one does not have time to engage in nonsense activities that one would otherwise engage in. By engaging in positive devotional services, and refraining from taking part in nonsense activities, slowly anyone, even the greatest of sinners, can put an end to the problems of material existence.

Always remembering God, and never forgetting Him

Great self-realized masters have stressed that the purpose of human life is to attain self-realization – to figure out the solution to the problems of birth, death, disease and old age. If we do not engage our lives in this endeavor, then we are simply wasting our life, and living like animals.

Srila Prabhupada said that we should always remember Krsna, and never forget Krsna for even one moment. By chanting the names of God, we can associate with Him. It has been stressed that the names of God – Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is transcendental sound vibration – and that Krsna’s name is non-different from Krsna Himself. All that one needs to do is chant attentively and sincerely – one should sincerely pray – O Lord, I have turned away from You, and forgotten You for so long; now I have remembered You, and I wish to come back home, back to Godhead.

Gradually, the process of chanting cleanses the heart of material desires, and one arises to the platform of transcendental loving devotional service to God. It has been said that the process of chanting the names of God is the prime benediction given to us in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy. There is no other way out of the material miseries other than chanting the names of God.