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(a) Two kinds of devotional service
- Way of regulative principles
- Way of full attachment in Love of Godhead
(b) Cultivation of knowledge – For those unable to take to Krishna conscious path – It is better to cultivate knowledge
(c) Result of knowledge – One understands his real position
(d) Knowledge will develop to meditation – Then one can gradually understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Some processes make one understand that one himself is the Supreme, that sort of meditation is preferred if one is unable to engage in devotional service
- If one is unable to meditate in such a way, then there are Vedic prescribed duties for different Varnas
- But always one should give up the result of labor – Employ the result for some good cause
(e) Why ‘renunciation of fruits’ is mentioned as better than ‘meditation’ – Although karma-yoga is the lowest on the yoga-ladder, Krishna says that it is better than meditation, because it is more practical and it does not disturb the mind with harsh and impractical requirements for renunciation.
(a) Reasons – One may be unable to sympathize for Krishna conscious acts because of social, familial, religious considerations or any other impediments.
(b) What is the hope/recommendation for them – Sacrifice the accumulated results to some good cause
(c) Authority for such matter – Such procedures are given in Vedic rules:
- Many yajnas
- Special functions of punya, etc.
(d) How that helps – One may gradually elevate to the state of knowledge
(e) Practical examples – Charity to hospitals / Social institutions – such sacrifices of hard earned results purify the mind and one can gradually understand Krishna consciousness.
(f) In what cases social service, community service, national service is recommended: Krishna consciousness is not dependent on any other experience because Krishna consciousness itself purify the mind, but if there are impediments to Krishna consciousness then one can try to give up the results of his actions for some good causes
- In that respect, social service, community service, national service etc. may be accepted
(g) Principle behind this philosophy – Ref. Bg. 18.46 – If one decides to sacrifice for the Supreme cause, even if he does not know , that the Supreme Cause is Krishna, he will gradually understand.
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(a) Reasons – One may be unable to sympathize for Krishna conscious acts because of social, familial, religious considerations or any other impediments.
(b) What is the hope/recommendation for them – Sacrifice the accumulated results to some good cause
(c) Authority for such matter – Such procedures are given in Vedic rules:
- Many yajnas
- Special functions of punya, etc.
(d) How that helps – One may gradually elevate to the state of knowledge
(e) Practical examples – Charity to hospitals / Social institutions – such sacrifices of hard earned results purify the mind and one can gradually understand Krishna consciousness.
(f) In what cases social service, community service, national service is recommended: Krishna consciousness is not dependent on any other experience because Krishna consciousness itself purify the mind, but if there are impediments to Krishna consciousness then one can try to give up the results of his actions for some good causes
- In that respect, social service, community service, national service etc. may be accepted
(g) Principle behind this philosophy – Ref. Bg. 18.46 – If one decides to sacrifice for the Supreme cause, even if he does not know , that the Supreme Cause is Krishna, he will gradually understand.
(a) How to perform work for Krishna – based on Bg. 11.55
- Sympathetic to propagation to Krishna consciousness
- e.g. Every endeavor needs land, capital, organization, labor like in any other business
- e.g. Can build a temple / Help in publication
(b) If one cannot sacrifice results of his activities, at least sacrifice some percentage of his results.
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(a) How to perform work for Krishna – based on Bg. 11.55
- Sympathetic to propagation to Krishna consciousness
- e.g. Every endeavor needs land, capital, organization, labor like in any other business
- e.g. Can build a temple / Help in publication
(b) If one cannot sacrifice results of his activities, at least sacrifice some percentage of his results.
(a) Text 12.8 vs. Text 12.9 – Text 12.8 refers to those who have already developed attachment to Krishna and 12.9 refers to those who have not developed
(b) Definition of ‘bhakti-yoga’ – bhakti-yoga is the “purification of the senses” by prescribed rules and regulations
- Material existence – Senses engaged in sense gratification
- Bhakti-yoga – Senses when engaged in direct contact with Supreme Lord are purified.
(c) Service in spiritual existence is the ‘platform of pure love’
- In contrast – Service in material existence – One serves some master but there is no love; only wants some salary
(d) How to achieve that stage of pure love – Practice devotional service with present senses
(e) Is “Love” an external imposition – No
- Love is dormant in all
- Heart is contaminated by material association
(f) How to follow regulations of devotional service – Guidance of spiritual master / rise early / enter temple and offer prayers / chant Hare Krishna / offer flowers to Deities / cook for the Deities, honour prasadam, constant hearing of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from pure devotees
(g) Qualifications to practice –‘Anyone’ can practice;
(h) Guarantee of success – There is surity of love of Godhead
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(a) Text 12.8 vs. Text 12.9 – Text 12.8 refers to those who have already developed attachment to Krishna and 12.9 refers to those who have not developed
(b) Definition of ‘bhakti-yoga’ – bhakti-yoga is the “purification of the senses” by prescribed rules and regulations
- Material existence – Senses engaged in sense gratification
- Bhakti-yoga – Senses when engaged in direct contact with Supreme Lord are purified.
(c) Service in spiritual existence is the ‘platform of pure love’
- In contrast – Service in material existence – One serves some master but there is no love; only wants some salary
(d) How to achieve that stage of pure love – Practice devotional service with present senses
(e) Is “Love” an external imposition – No
- Love is dormant in all
- Heart is contaminated by material association
(f) How to follow regulations of devotional service – Guidance of spiritual master / rise early / enter temple and offer prayers / chant Hare Krishna / offer flowers to Deities / cook for the Deities, honour prasadam, constant hearing of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from pure devotees
(g) Qualifications to practice –‘Anyone’ can practice;
(h) Guarantee of success – There is surity of love of Godhead
(a) Devotee is transcendental from very beginning – Lives in Krishna without a doubt
- In devotional service one lives in direct relationship with Supreme Lord
- Not lives on a material plane, but lives in Krishna
o When one chants the Holy name (Holy Name and Krishna are non-different ), Krishna and internal potency dances on the tongue
o When the devotee honours prasadam he becomes ‘Krishna-ized’
(b) Service gives realizations – One who does not engage in such service, cannot understand how it is possible, although the process is there in the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures
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(a) Devotee is transcendental from very beginning – Lives in Krishna without a doubt
- In devotional service one lives in direct relationship with Supreme Lord
- Not lives on a material plane, but lives in Krishna
o When one chants the Holy name (Holy Name and Krishna are non-different ), Krishna and internal potency dances on the tongue
o When the devotee honours prasadam he becomes ‘Krishna-ized’
(b) Service gives realizations – One who does not engage in such service, cannot understand how it is possible, although the process is there in the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures