KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND LIBERATION (13.8 – 13.12)

(a) ‘Less intelligent’ understand this process as ‘interaction of the field of activity’, but this is ‘the real process of knowledge’ (first line of purport) – This means that:

Acquisition of knowledge involves proper bodily and mental behavior and therefore one may wrongly deem it as a parcel of field of activity. (kshetra)
However since these perfect actions liberates jiva from body, we do not count them as part and parcel of bodily activities

(b) Most important quality is described in Bg. 13.11 – “mayi ca ananya-yogena…”

Process of knowledge terminates in “unalloyed devotional service to the Lord”
If one takes to full Krishna consciousness, all the other mentioned qualities are automatically developed (Ref. SB 5.18.12)

(c) Essential quality – Accepting spiritual master, even for one who takes to devotional service

(d) Ignorance – Anything speculated beyond these items of knowledge is nonsense

(e) How to test one’s progress – Judge by qualities like humilty and pridelessness, etc.

(f) Why discuss the miseries of material life, like birth, old-age disease etc

Unless we have a pessimistic view of material life, there is no impetus for making spiritual advancement

(g) Best process to make home life pleasant – Krishna consciousness (especially four things)

Chant Hare Krishna
Honor prasadam
Discussions on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam
Deity Worship

(h) Be convinced that “I am subordinate”

‘’Humility’’ is the beginning of knowledge
Anyone who wants to compete with God and still advance, will be frustrated

TWENTY ITEMS OF KNOWLEDGE (13.8 – 13.12)
SNo	Quality	Definition
1	Humility (अमानित्वम्)	Not to be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others
2	Pridelessness (अदाम्भित्वम्)	Not to be anxious to be famous for one’s religion and entering into a group not actually following principles and wanting to advertise as a religious mentor
3	Non-violence (अहिंसा)	Not to put others into distress Unless one elevates one to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence Try your best to distribute real knowledge
4	Tolerance (क्षान्तिः)	Be practiced to bear insult and dishonor from others e.g. Prahlada Maharaja
5	Simplicity (आर्जवम्)	So straightforward that you can disclose the real truth even to an enemy Without diplomacy
6	Accepting a spiritual master (आचार्य-उपासनम्)	Approach spiritual master with all humility and offer all services If he bestows blessings, that will make it easier to follow all the regulative principles and one immediately advances
7	Cleanliness (शौचम्)	Bathing (external) and chanting (internal)
8	Steadiness (स्थैर्यम्)	Determined to make progress in spiritual life
9	Self-control (आत्म-विनिग्रहः)	Reject anything unfavorable to spiritual advancement
10	Renunciation of sense objects (इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु वैराग्यम्)	Not cater to unnecessary demands Cater the demands only to keep body fit for devotional service How to control – Engage by a systematic regulation especially chanting Hare Krishna and Prasadam
11	Absence of false ego (अनहंकारः)	Reject: “I am this body, mind etc” Accept: I am a servant of Krishna
12	Perception of evils of birth, death, disease, old-age (जन्म मृत्यु जरा व्याधि दु:खदोषानुदर्शनम्)	Must regularly hear about these topics from the proper source
13	Detachment (आसक्तिः)	Be ready to sacrifice everything for Krishna
14	No entanglement with wife, children, etc (अनभिष्वङगः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु)	Affection is natural Renounce if not favorable for spiritual advancement e.g. Arjuna is asked to renounce family connections
15	Even mindedness (सम-चित्तत्वम्)	Not elated or distressed at material gain or loss Possible by performing unbreakable devotional service
16	Unalloyed devotional service (अनन्य-योगेन)	Engage in nine processes of bhakti
17	Aspiring to live in a solitary place (विविक्तदेशसेवित्वम)	Not desiring to mix with materialistic men Living in the association of devotees
18	Detachment from general masses (अरतिः जन-संसदि)	Not desiring to mix with materialistic men Living in the association of devotees
19	Accepting the importance of self-realisation (अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं)	Give up unnecessary sporting, cinema going, social activities and such wastage of time
20	Philosophical search for the Absolute Truth (तत्त्व ज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्)	Rejection of useless research of philosophical topics like sex life etc. Research into the nature of soul by philosophical discretion

TWENTY ITEMS OF KNOWLEDGE (13.8 – 13.12)
SNo	Quality	Definition
1	Humility (अमानित्वम्)	Not to be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others
2	Pridelessness (अदाम्भित्वम्)	Not to be anxious to be famous for one’s religion and entering into a group not actually following principles and wanting to advertise as a religious mentor
3	Non-violence (अहिंसा)	Not to put others into distress Unless one elevates one to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence Try your best to distribute real knowledge
4	Tolerance (क्षान्तिः)	Be practiced to bear insult and dishonor from others e.g. Prahlada Maharaja
5	Simplicity (आर्जवम्)	So straightforward that you can disclose the real truth even to an enemy Without diplomacy
6	Accepting a spiritual master (आचार्य-उपासनम्)	Approach spiritual master with all humility and offer all services If he bestows blessings, that will make it easier to follow all the regulative principles and one immediately advances
7	Cleanliness (शौचम्)	Bathing (external) and chanting (internal)
8	Steadiness (स्थैर्यम्)	Determined to make progress in spiritual life
9	Self-control (आत्म-विनिग्रहः)	Reject anything unfavorable to spiritual advancement
10	Renunciation of sense objects (इन्द्रिय-अर्थेषु वैराग्यम्)	Not cater to unnecessary demands Cater the demands only to keep body fit for devotional service How to control – Engage by a systematic regulation especially chanting Hare Krishna and Prasadam
11	Absence of false ego (अनहंकारः)	Reject: “I am this body, mind etc” Accept: I am a servant of Krishna
12	Perception of evils of birth, death, disease, old-age (जन्म मृत्यु जरा व्याधि दु:खदोषानुदर्शनम्)	Must regularly hear about these topics from the proper source
13	Detachment (आसक्तिः)	Be ready to sacrifice everything for Krishna
14	No entanglement with wife, children, etc (अनभिष्वङगः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु)	Affection is natural Renounce if not favorable for spiritual advancement e.g. Arjuna is asked to renounce family connections
15	Even mindedness (सम-चित्तत्वम्)	Not elated or distressed at material gain or loss Possible by performing unbreakable devotional service
16	Unalloyed devotional service (अनन्य-योगेन)	Engage in nine processes of bhakti
17	Aspiring to live in a solitary place (विविक्तदेशसेवित्वम)	Not desiring to mix with materialistic men Living in the association of devotees
18	Detachment from general masses (अरतिः जन-संसदि)	Not desiring to mix with materialistic men Living in the association of devotees
19	Accepting the importance of self-realisation (अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं)	Give up unnecessary sporting, cinema going, social activities and such wastage of time
20	Philosophical search for the Absolute Truth (तत्त्व ज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्)	Rejection of useless research of philosophical topics like sex life etc. Research into the nature of soul by philosophical discretion

KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND LIBERATION (13.8-13.12)

Text 13.8 – 13.12

Learnings from Purport 13.8 – 13.12