True and False Renunciation
Srila Rupa Gosvami writes in Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu about the nature of devotional service. First of all, it is a practice, an activity. True spiritual activity means using everything for Krishna. Material things can also be spiritualized by using them for the preaching mission.
Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 2.255-256
anāsaktasya viṣayān
yathārham upayuñjataḥ
nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe
yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate
prāpañcikatayā buddhyā
hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ
mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo
vairāgyaṁ phalgu kathyate
"When one is not attached to sense objects and at the same time accepts everything in relation to Krishna, one is correctly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Krishna is not as complete in their renunciation."
6 Principles Favorable to Devotional Service
Srila Rupa Gosvami says in Verse 3 of The Nectar of Instruction:
Nectar of Instruction, Verse 3
utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
"There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles, (5) abandoning the association of non-devotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acharyas."
Six Favorable Principles
- Utsāha – enthusiasm
- Niścaya – confidence, conviction
- Dhairya – patience and determination
- Tat-tat-karma-pravartana – following regulative principles
- Saṅga-tyāga – giving up association with materialists
- Sato vṛtti – following in the footsteps of the acharyas
1. Enthusiasm (Utsāha)
Eagerness to achieve the result. If there were no enthusiasm, all our desires would go to waste. Our entire movement is driven by enthusiasm. People in the surrounding world create so many laws, ordinances, rules. All of this is necessary to force society to do at least something, because people lack the enthusiasm to sacrifice for others.
In the Krishna consciousness movement, there is also a danger, forgetting the spirit of service, to seek personal satisfaction or peace at the expense of others. People begin to practice Krishna consciousness not because of rules, but because of inspiration: "I must do this, I can achieve this."
There also exists false enthusiasm (utsaha mayi), which manifests at the beginning of devotional service, when a devotee thinks he will bring the whole world to Krishna Consciousness. Instead, we should think about how to change ourselves.
2. Endeavor with Confidence (Niścaya)
The word niścaya means firm conviction. When a person sets a goal for himself, he must believe that he will achieve this goal. A devotee must trust Krishna's words: "My devotee will never perish."
Ka ništha – means "what faith." A neophyte devotee can immediately change his convictions. However, when a devotee learns more and more about Krishna, when his trust in the spiritual master grows (guru niṣṭhā), no one will be able to convince him to give up devotional service.
3. Patience and Determination (Dhairya)
Let us remember the example of the sparrow. When the ocean carried away her eggs, she did not droop her wings and start lamenting, but determined to recover the eggs. The bird Garuda decided to help the stubborn sparrow and the Ocean was forced to return the eggs.
Our efforts never go in vain if they are connected with devotional service. Even if the result awaits far in the future, a devotee never gives up. Someone might say: "I don't feel inspiration." The answer to him would be: "Do not rush, everything has its time. The most important thing is to continue."
4. Following Regulative Principles
To achieve our goal, we must do what guru and Krishna have ordered. People dislike restrictions, thinking that spiritual life is total freedom. However, they do not understand that a long road leads to spiritual life, which has its own traffic rules. If there is a road, there are also rules to avoid traffic accidents.
A few rules:
- • Show respect to elders (guru, parents, devotees)
- • Try not to hurt anyone, always try to do good to others
- • Never speak ill of others
- • Do not sleep too long and do not stay awake longer than necessary
- • One should not travel alone, not seek shelter with fallen personalities
5. Giving up Association with Materialists (Saṅga-tyāga)
Materialistic association (asat-saṅga) is of 2 types: association with the opposite sex and association with those who have no devotion to the Lord. Crows do not like the company of swans, just as swans do not circle among crows.
What should those devotees do who work among materialists? Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that association takes place when we put our heart into it. When we associate with materialists out of duty, it is not considered asat-sanga. However, we should not be fascinated by them. With devotees, we must put our whole heart into the relationship.
Unfavorable association includes:
- • Watching commercial films and television
- • Reading novels and writings of non-devotees
- • Visiting places related to sense gratification (resorts, beaches)
6. Following in the Footsteps of the Acharyas (Sato vṛtti)
This means being simple and straightforward. No diplomacy, no duplicity. The word vṛtti means activity by which a person keeps his body and soul together.
Whatever position a sādhaka occupies in the varṇa and āśrama system, he can find the example of a saintly Vaishnava who occupied the same position. We must follow such examples, ignoring the temptation to sustain ourselves by quick but improper methods.
Self-Check Questions
- List in Sanskrit and explain the 6 principles favorable to devotional service.