(a) Chapter 12 recommends without doubt that ‘devotional service’ is the only Absolute path for self-realization

    • By good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service
    • Then one accepts a bona-fide spiritual master
    • Then one begins to hear and chant and observe regulative principles with faith, attachment and devotion

    (b) What about the Impersonal path

    • Is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization
    • Is beneficial as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee
    • Is for one who works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter
    • Fortunately if one develops directly a desire to engage in Krishna consciousness, he does not need to undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization

    (c) Conclusion of Chapter 12

    • Devotional service as described in the middle six chapters is more congenial
    • One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together because,
    • By grace of the Lord, everything is carried out automatically

    (a) Practical application: Krishna consciousness and good qualifications

    SUMMARISED THEME 

    QUALITIES OF PURE DEVOTEES (2.13-12.19):
    Classified summary of qualities that endear one to Krishna

    • Attitude towards one self
    • ‘Nirmama’ – Free from sense of proprietorship
    • Free from false-ego : Knows that “I am not the body”
    • ‘Gata-vyathah’ (Painfree)
    • ‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (Free from all endeavors)
    • Dealings with other living entities
    • ‘Non-envious’ – Kind to everyone even to his enemy
      o Equal to friends and enemies
    • ‘Udasina’ (without cares)
    • Always free from contaminating association
    • Silence
    • Reaction when things happen to him
    • Satisfied
    • Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic
    • Tolerant
    • Equipoised in happiness and distress
    • Anapeksah (Neutral)
    • Sucih (pure)
    • Daksa (expert)
    • Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss
    • Neither Laments Nor Desires
    • Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts
    • Equipoised in dualities
    • Does Not Care For Any Residence
    • Dealings with the Lord
    • Determined
    • Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord
    • Engaged in devotional service
    • Fixed
    Text 12.20

    THEME: Dearest of all is “One who makes Krishna as the goal of his life”

    • They follow this imperishable path of devotional service
    • Completely engage themselves with faith
    • Make ‘Me’ as Supreme goal of their life
    Learnings from Purport 12.20 – This purport summarizes Chapter 12

    (a) Chapter 12 recommends without doubt that ‘devotional service’ is the only Absolute path for self-realization

    • By good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service
    • Then one accepts a bona-fide spiritual master
    • Then one begins to hear and chant and observe regulative principles with faith, attachment and devotion

    (b) What about the Impersonal path

    • Is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization
    • Is beneficial as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee
    • Is for one who works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter
    • Fortunately if one develops directly a desire to engage in Krishna consciousness, he does not need to undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization

    (c) Conclusion of Chapter 12

    • Devotional service as described in the middle six chapters is more congenial
    • One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together because,
    • By grace of the Lord, everything is carried out automatically

      (a) Practical application: Krishna consciousness and good qualifications

      SUMMARISED THEME 

      QUALITIES OF PURE DEVOTEES (2.13-12.19):
      Classified summary of qualities that endear one to Krishna

      • Attitude towards one self
      • ‘Nirmama’ – Free from sense of proprietorship
      • Free from false-ego : Knows that “I am not the body”
      • ‘Gata-vyathah’ (Painfree)
      • ‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (Free from all endeavors)
      • Dealings with other living entities
      • ‘Non-envious’ – Kind to everyone even to his enemy
        o Equal to friends and enemies
      • ‘Udasina’ (without cares)
      • Always free from contaminating association
      • Silence
      • Reaction when things happen to him
      • Satisfied
      • Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic
      • Tolerant
      • Equipoised in happiness and distress
      • Anapeksah (Neutral)
      • Sucih (pure)
      • Daksa (expert)
      • Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss
      • Neither Laments Nor Desires
      • Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts
      • Equipoised in dualities
      • Does Not Care For Any Residence
      • Dealings with the Lord
      • Determined
      • Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord
      • Engaged in devotional service
      • Fixed
      Text 12.20

      THEME: Dearest of all is “One who makes Krishna as the goal of his life”

      • They follow this imperishable path of devotional service
      • Completely engage themselves with faith
      • Make ‘Me’ as Supreme goal of their life
      Learnings from Purport 12.20 – This purport summarizes Chapter 12

      (a) Chapter 12 recommends without doubt that ‘devotional service’ is the only Absolute path for self-realization

      • By good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service
      • Then one accepts a bona-fide spiritual master
      • Then one begins to hear and chant and observe regulative principles with faith, attachment and devotion

      (b) What about the Impersonal path

      • Is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization
      • Is beneficial as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee
      • Is for one who works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter
      • Fortunately if one develops directly a desire to engage in Krishna consciousness, he does not need to undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization

      (c) Conclusion of Chapter 12

      • Devotional service as described in the middle six chapters is more congenial
      • One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together because,
      • By grace of the Lord, everything is carried out automatically

      QUALITIES THAT ENDEAR ONE TO KRISHNA (12.13-12.20)

      LINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: Pointing out these qualities further substantiates the theme of Chapter 12: That bhakti is the most efficacious method of spiritual advancement. One engaged in bhakti-yoga exhibits transcendental qualities which mark him as a devotee. The Lord is pleased with such a devotee.

      Text 12.13 – 12.14

      COMMON THEME : Takes all sufferings as Krishna’s kindness to avoid reaction
      1. Tolerant – Never disturbed by any circumstances
      2. Non-envious – Kind to everyone even to his enemy

      • Not become his enemies’ enemy – considers all reactions as result of one’s past misdeeds (Ref. SB 10.14.8 “Tat te anukampa…”)
        o Takes distress as the Lord’s mercy: “I deserve much more”

      3. ‘Nirmama’ (Free from Proprietorship) – Devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and troubles of the body

      • Free from false-ego: Knows that “I am not the body”
      • Equipoised in happiness and distress

      4. Satisfied – Whatever comes by Lord’s grace; does not over-endeavor to achieve something
      5. Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic – Because completely fixed in instructions of spiritual master
      6. Determined because of Sense control – Therefore fully determined and cannot be swayed by false arguments
      7. Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord – Because Fully conscious that Krishna is the eternal Lord

      Text 12.15

      THEME : Never causes distress to others

      8. Not get affected – Because a devotee is always engrossed in Krishna consciousness, material circumstances cannot move him, not disturbed by anyone

      • Such a stage is obtained by grace of Lord to the Devotee

      9. Does not affect others – No-one is put into anxiety, difficulty, fearfulness or dissatisfaction by such a devotee, because he is kind to everyone.

      Text 12.16

      THEME : Detached from everything worldly

      10. ‘Anapeksah’ (Neutral) – Not dependent on ordinary course of activities

      • Money may be offered to a devotee, but he does not struggle to acquire it
      • If it comes automatically by Lord’s grace he is not agitated

      11. ‘Sucih’ (pure)

      • External: Bathing at least twice a day
      • Internal: Rising early for devotional acts

      12. ‘Daksa’ (expert)

      • Fully knows the essence of all activities of life
      • Convinced of authoritative scriptures

      13. ‘Udasina’ (without cares)

      • A devotee never takes the part of a particular party

      14. ‘Gata-vyathah’ (painfree)

      • Because he is free from all bodily designations

      15. ‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (free from all endeavors) – not striving for some fruit

      • Pure devotee doesn’t not endeavor for anything against the principles of devotional service
      • e.g. Constructing a big building requires great energy, a devotee takes such business only if it benefits him in devotional service e.g. constructing a big temple but not constructing a big personal house
      Text 12.17

      THEME : Unaffected by material emotions

      16. Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss

      17. Neither laments nor desires: Not anxious to get a son or a disciple / Not laments by not getting them

      18. Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts

      • Prepare to accept all kinds of risks for Lord’s satisfaction
      • Nothing is an impediment in the discharge of devotional service
      • Bhaktiman (devotee) – The essential quality from which all other qualities appear
      Text 12.18 – 12.19

      THEME: Further qualities mentioned

      19. Equal to friends and enemies

      20. Equipoised in dualities

      21. Always free from contaminating association

      22. Silence – implies “to speak only of essentials”

      • Most essential speech – To speak of supreme lord

      23. Satisfied – Happy in all conditions – Sometimes get palatable food and sometimes not

      24. Does not care for any residence

      25. Fixed in – Determination and knowledge

      26. Engaged in devotional service

      Learnings from Purport 12.19

      (a) Practical application: Krishna consciousness and good qualifications

      • One who wants to be recognized as devotee should develop all good qualification
      • Of course one does not extraneously endeavor to acquire these qualifications because engagement in Krishna consciousness and devotional service automatically helps one develop them
      • One who is not a devotee has no good qualifications
      SUMMARISED THEME 

      QUALITIES OF PURE DEVOTEES (2.13-12.19):
      Classified summary of qualities that endear one to Krishna

      • Attitude towards one self
      • ‘Nirmama’ – Free from sense of proprietorship
      • Free from false-ego : Knows that “I am not the body”
      • ‘Gata-vyathah’ (Painfree)
      • ‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (Free from all endeavors)
      • Dealings with other living entities
      • ‘Non-envious’ – Kind to everyone even to his enemy
        o Equal to friends and enemies
      • ‘Udasina’ (without cares)
      • Always free from contaminating association
      • Silence
      • Reaction when things happen to him
      • Satisfied
      • Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic
      • Tolerant
      • Equipoised in happiness and distress
      • Anapeksah (Neutral)
      • Sucih (pure)
      • Daksa (expert)
      • Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss
      • Neither Laments Nor Desires
      • Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts
      • Equipoised in dualities
      • Does Not Care For Any Residence
      • Dealings with the Lord
      • Determined
      • Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord
      • Engaged in devotional service
      • Fixed
      Text 12.20

      THEME: Dearest of all is “One who makes Krishna as the goal of his life”

      • They follow this imperishable path of devotional service
      • Completely engage themselves with faith
      • Make ‘Me’ as Supreme goal of their life
      Learnings from Purport 12.20 – This purport summarizes Chapter 12

      (a) Chapter 12 recommends without doubt that ‘devotional service’ is the only Absolute path for self-realization

      • By good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service
      • Then one accepts a bona-fide spiritual master
      • Then one begins to hear and chant and observe regulative principles with faith, attachment and devotion

      (b) What about the Impersonal path

      • Is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization
      • Is beneficial as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee
      • Is for one who works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to understand spirit and matter
      • Fortunately if one develops directly a desire to engage in Krishna consciousness, he does not need to undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization

      (c) Conclusion of Chapter 12

      • Devotional service as described in the middle six chapters is more congenial
      • One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together because,
      • By grace of the Lord, everything is carried out automatically
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