Members of the Krishna Consciousness movement practice bhakti yoga – devotional service to God – just as taught by the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava parampara – Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Definition of Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.1.11
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."
Surrender and Duty
Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that the essence of all religious principles is Krishna. Therefore, ultimately Krishna wants us to surrender to Him, and not follow various rules and rituals. The essence of restrictions, rituals, and rules is to prepare a person for complete surrender, when a person depends only on God.
The excuse that I cannot leave everything and surrender to God because I have many duties shows not a person's dutifulness, but his weakness. The fact that surrender to God is above any religious rules and human duties is stated in BG 18.66:
Bhagavad-gyta 18.66
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
Surrender First, Then Act
Krishna allows the living entity to try everything. When it gets a human body, it can practice religion, but when a person understands the relationship with God, he must become a servant of God. Often people tend to act in such a way as to satisfy their needs, and give the leftovers to God. However, Prabhupāda explains that one must first give oneself, one's body, mind, and words to Krishna, and then act as He wants.
When Does Surrender Begin?
Surrender begins when we realize that Krishna is the supreme proprietor. To surrender to Krishna means to give up one's plans and make Krishna's plans one's own plans. As long as we are impure, we do not know how to perfectly execute Krishna's will, but Krishna will take care of us as much as we surrender to Him.
BG 4.11
"As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha."
Prabhupāda says that surrender is:
- Firm faith that wherever and however the surrendered soul lives, Krishna will always protect it.
- Conviction: avasya raksibe krsna visvasa palana – “Krishna will indeed protect me.”
- Remembering that your activities and desires are not independent. A devotee is completely dependent on Krishna.
- Surrender means full knowledge. To surrender means to turn to someone when your intelligence no longer means anything.
- A person has finished all his material business. Nothing more. This is called akincana.
- Surrender means the beginning of prema (love).
- To surrender means that you commit Ego suicide in the presence of Krishna.
- “Krishna, now I have surrendered to You. If You want, You can protect me. If You want, You can kill me. Do what You want.”
Six Principles of Surrender
Hari Bhakti Vilasa 11.676
ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ
1. Ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
Accept that which is favorable for devotional service.
2. Prātikūlyasya varjanam
Reject that which is unfavorable. A devotee should not strive for unnecessary material things. He does not desire to use anything for himself, but only for Krishna's service.
3. Rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
Feel Krishna's protection in all circumstances of life. No one else can protect a devotee. This is called faith.
4. Goptṛtve varaṇaṁ
Accept the Lord as one's master and supreme guardian. A devotee must be firmly convinced that in all three worlds he has no other protector but Krishna.
5. Ātma-nikṣepa
Complete self-surrender. To throw oneself at the Lord's feet, to renounce one's independence. A devotee completely depends on Krishna.
6. Kārpaṇye
Humility. Krishna is in everyone's heart and from Him comes knowledge. To His devotee Krishna gives complete knowledge. This is the understanding of one's insignificance.
Memorize
ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā
ātma-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ
Self-Check Questions
- Explain the meaning of the word bhakti.
- List the six symptoms of surrender.
- Briefly recount what surrender means? What does it mean in your life?
Dive Deeper
BG 18.66 purport.