How to choose between doing our worldly repsonsibilities devotionally and doing directly

devotional activities?
Transcribed by: Argha Maji
Question: How to choose between doing our worldly repsonsibilities devotionally and doing
directly devotional activities?
Answer: The first point to recognise is that often consciously or subconsciously spirituality
becomes excuse for irresponsibility. Because in our material life often there are lots of challenges ,
frustrations and spiritual life seems like joyful, just chant , dancing, hear some katha , worship
deities, it's all so nice. Often people start using that as an excuse. That may not happen every time,
it can be conscious or subconscious or it may not be there. First thing is that Krishna said very
clearly that
duhkham ity eva yat karma
kaya-klesa-bhayat tyajet
sa krtva rajasam tyagaa
naiva tyaga-phalam labhet (BG 18.8)
He said that just because something is troublesome , one gives that up, that is renunciation in
mode of passion and that will not lead to the fruit.
So overall it is not that just doing externally devotional activities will necessarily take us closer to
Krishna. Going close to Krishna is a matter of developing the disposition of service. That I am a
servant and I am meant to serve Krishna, that attitude of service is the essence of going closer to
Krishna. And that service can be done in various ways.
Of course it is important that we need to have a direct connection with Krishna.
There at least should be some time when we come to the temple, some time when we do explicitly
devotional service, because our consciousness is largely affected by externals.
When we come to temple, it is more likely we will remember Krishna than if we go to a movie
theatre or if we go somewhere else. So externally coming and doing devotional activity is
important but over a period of time, even externals can become mechanical, and we then come and
chant Hare Krishna externally and our mind is wandering somewhere else.
So that's why what is required is taking our heart closer to Krishna. And that happens primarily
through purification. Purification is something which doesnt result just by externally connecting
with Krishna. Purification is something that happens when we sacrifice for cause of Krishna. Even
when we are coming to temple, actually how much responsibilities we take up for sake of Krishna
that is what will truly lead to substantial spiritual advancement. So, rather than seeing that temple
is a place where I do devotional activities , and home or office is where I do material activities.
But then I acquire devotional consciousness and by acquiring devotional consciousness, I do
devotional activities, I infuse mood in devotion in my other activities also. So, by doing our other
duties responsibly we develop a certain level of realisation about the nature of material world. We
also develop understanding of pervasiveness of Krishna consciousness. Realisation about material
world means actually by living in the world, actually by doing our responsibilities , we get a
deep-rooted conviction that yes, this is not a place where I can get lasting happiness. And also the
pervasiveness of Krishna Consciousness means we start realising that what I am learning in the
philosophy, what I am learning in the scriptures is true. So in that sense, even doing our material
activities, can in a sense deepen our devotional convictions and realisations.

So we don't have to necessarily divorce the two.

So what level should we practice and how should we practice?
Krishna in 12th chapter, 12.8 to 12.12 , he gives multiple levels on which one can practice
bhakti .
mayy eva mana adhatsva
mayi buddhim nivesaya
nivasisyasi mayy eva
ata urdhvam na samsayah (BG 12.8)
Fix your mind on me, fix your intelligence on me and in this way, you will live in me, that is life
of pure devotion.
atha cittam samadhatum
na saknosi mayi sthiram
abhyasa-yogena tato
mam icchaptum dhananjaya (BG 12.9)
If you cannot fix your mind on me, practice concentrating on me, that is sadhana bhakti. That is
what we are trying to do. We chant Hare Krishna , we practice devotional activities. That is second
level. Third level is
abhyase 'py asamartho 'si
mat-karma-paramo bhava
mad-artham api karmani
kurvan siddhim avapsyasi. (BG 12.10)
If you cannot even try fixing your mind on Krishna then work for me. mat-karma-paramo bhava
Work for me can mean two things , we do seva, we can do book distribution , we can do various
seva. It is not that all the time when we are doing seva, we are thinking of Krishna directly , but
still we are working for Krishna or it can also mean doing our worldly work for sake of Krishna.
That means we do our profession and then we convert our home into temple, We give charity to
temple. That way our work also get spiritualized
And then he says. If we can't do that also, then we just work and sacrifice for a good cause.
athaitad apy asakto 'si
kartum mad-yogam asritah
sarva-karma-phala-tyagam
tatah kuru yatatmavan (BG 12.11)
He says just learn the mood of sacrifice and service. Whatever work you do , do it for a good
cause. Sacrifice. Even that will lead to progress.
Which level we should practice? We learn by our own experience, we can take guidance from
senior devotees, look at example of others and look at our own nature and then decide. Although
bhakti means to follow the scripture but there is a huge amount of individual initiative also in
bhakti.
So sometimes our material obligations are more so then at that time we have to spend more time ,

sometimes we don't have so many material obligations, then we can focus more on devotional
activities , so its not that one formula will work throughout. So it's like if somebody is riding on a
cycle or bike we want to go in a direction, but if there is a roadblock, we have to turn like this and
turn like that and go ahead. So to keep going straight one has to become tilted and has to again
become tilted. So if I stay tilted only like that then I will just go round in a circle.
The point is we generally understand that I want to become advanced in my bhakti but specifically
according to time, place and circumstance things will change.
So we can also learn from experience, the defining principle for practical application in bhakti is
anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam (Hari Bhakti Vilas 11.676) , that which is
favorable accept that that which is unfavorable neglect that. So with philosophy and with practice
we understand that these things are favourable. Now we will find that sometimes we do certain
devotional activities and feel very nourished by those activities. But then we also recognise that
Krishna is not just present in devotional activities. The whole purpose of Krishna consciousness is
to see him in all activities, so when we are nourished by devotional activities, we try to expand our
vision and see Krishna in all worldly responsibilities.
So the practical balance is something we learn by experience and guidance, but overall rather than
looking for one formula we just look more for this applicational principle. We try to understand
what is favourable and unfavourable , accept the favorable and reject the unfavourable, and
Krishna assures that dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te (BG 10.10). As I will give
guidance about how to come closer to me. So there is no need to worry too much about it.
It is like if we have two options by which we can go closer to Krishna, its not that if we choose
one option, its a disaster. No decisions are irrevocable on our part. So if we find this is not the best
thing we can learn from experience. Bhaktivinode Thakur says if you wanted to go like this and
you find you have gone like this , it is not that you have to go back again and start. You can just
turn back, what is important is regular association of devotees by which we can evaluate am I on
the right track?
Say a plane is going from here to Calcutta or to Mayapur , then it is said that plane is 90% of the
time off track, off-course , because there are so many environmental factors, the wind pressure ,
the clouds and everything , that the plane goes off track . Then how do they reach the destination ?
Because the pilot is watching and the pilot brings the plane back on track. Its like in a car also, we
are driving and the car tends to go off track. And using a steering wheel we bring the car back on
track. So like that at the very least we need periodic association of devotees and then we do
introspection then even we find that this I am doing too much and then I come back in track. If I
am going too much on that track then I come back. So introspection and association can help us to
find individually the best way to move closer to Krishna .
Thank you.