Go to Vanipedia | Go to Vanisource | Go to Vanimedia


Vaniquotes - the compiled essence of Vedic knowledge


Real bhakti

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Real bhakti, as I have explained, means no other desire than to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is pure bhakti.
Lecture on SB 1.1.3 -- Caracas, February 24, 1975:

Hṛdayānanda: What is the position of a person who takes to devotional service with the idea of liberation?

Prabhupāda: That is not pure bhakti. You can take devotional service with any idea. That will be fulfilled. But anyone who wants liberation by devotional service, he is not a pure devotee. That is called jñāna-miśra-bhakti, means bhakti adulterated with jñāna. Real bhakti, as I have explained, anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Brs. 1.1.11], means no other desire than to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is pure bhakti. Jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167], means the karmīs, they want promotion in the heavenly planets, and the jñānīs, they want to become one with the Supreme or liberation, so it should be uncovered by the result of jñāna and karma and fully devoid of any other desire. That is bhakti. So those who are bhaktas and desiring after liberation, they are not pure bhakta. Because why a devotee shall aspire after liberation? As soon as (he is) a bhakta, he is already liberated.
Understanding about the Absolute Truth from Vedic knowledge. That is bhakti. That is real bhakti. Sentiment is not bhakti.
Lecture on SB 1.2.10 -- Bombay, December 28, 1972: And in the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa also says, "Not by yoga system or by jñāna system or by karma system, but bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ [Bg. 18.55]." This tattvataḥ means the tattva-jñāna. Bhaktyā. And what kind of bhakti? Not that simply I sit I sit down and cry a little, I practice how to cry, sentiment. No. Śruta-gṛhītayā: understanding about the Absolute Truth from Vedic knowledge. That is bhakti. That is real bhakti. Sentiment is not bhakti—I stand and I practice how to cry: "Oh, this man cries always." No. Of course, crying is there, just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to cry. But that stage is very, very high. It is not possible. You are crying, but next moment you are engaged in ordinary thing, that crying is artificial. One who can cry for Kṛṣṇa, he becomes mad, just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Govinda-viraheṇa me. Śūnyāyitaṁ jagat-sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me. He says, crying, "Everything is now over. There is I cannot see Kṛṣṇa." So that crying is different crying. Not that in the meeting I cry, and, next moment, I am now dry, "I want this, I want that..." But that not crying.
Real bhakti, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī has commented that bhakti based on understanding of Vedānta-sūtra is perfect, on the basis of jñāna, knowledge, and vairāgya.
Lecture on SB 1.2.12 -- Delhi, November 18, 1973: Sevā mean there is a sevaka and there is a master, sevya, one who is worshiped and one who serves. Then the process is called bhakti. Here it is also said, bhaktyā. What kind of bhakti? Bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā. Śruta, by hearing śruti, or Vedas. Completely on the basis of Vedic knowledge, that bhakti, not sentimental. Sentimental bhakti is also there, because the acceptance of Kṛṣṇa is there. Therefore there is some value. But real bhakti, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī has commented that bhakti based on understanding of Vedānta-sūtra is perfect, on the basis of jñāna, knowledge, and vairāgya.
Real bhakti, parā-bhakti, that is rāgānugā-bhakti. This rāgānugā-bhakti, we have to come after surpassing the vaidhī-bhakti.
Lecture on SB 1.2.33 -- Vrndavana, November 12, 1972: So you have to uncover. You have to discover. That discovering process is devotional service. The more you are engaged in devotional service, the more your senses become pure or uncovered. And when it is completely uncovered, without any designation, then you are capable to serve Kṛṣṇa. This is apprenticeship. Vaidhī-bhakti, that is apprenticeship. Real bhakti, parā-bhakti, that is rāgānugā-bhakti. This rāgānugā-bhakti, we have to come after surpassing the vaidhī-bhakti. In the material world, if we do not try to make further and further progress in devotional service, if we are simply sticking to the shastric regulation process and do not try to go beyond that... Shastric process also regulation, that is required. Without shastric process you cannot go to that platform. But if we stick to the shastric process only and do not try to improve ourself... The shastric process is kaniṣṭha-adhikāra, lowest stage of devotional service.
As soon as you become learned scholar about Kṛṣṇa, then you become immediately detached to this material world and then real bhakti begins.
Lecture on SB 3.25.18 -- Bombay, November 18, 1974: This is real dharma. This is real dharma. So we have to learn this, what Kṛṣṇa says. We have to understand Kṛṣṇa by tattva, by truth. Then we become liberated. That is called jñāna-vairāgya. And as soon as you become learned scholar about Kṛṣṇa, then you become immediately detached to this material world, and... Jñāna-vairāgya-yuktena bhakti-yuktena [SB 3.25.18]. Then real bhakti begins.
A realized soul knows the fact what is the dog and what is the brāhmaṇa. That is Brahman realization. Then the real bhakti begins.
Lecture on SB 3.25.29 -- Bombay, November 29, 1974: So one who has realized that "I am not this body," he does not make any difference of body.
vidyā-vinaya-sampanne
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śva-pāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
[Bg. 5.18]
He does not make any difference that "Here is a learned brāhmaṇa and here is a dog." Because he knows the learned brāhmaṇa has got a different body and the dog has got a different body. Ultimately the dog is also a spirit soul and the brāhmaṇa is also a spirit soul. That is his vision. It does not mean that he's so fool he makes a brāhmaṇa equal to the dog. No. That is not. But he knows the fact what is the dog and what is the brāhmaṇa. That is Brahman realization. Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu. Then mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām [Bg. 18.54]. Then the real bhakti begins.
This is real bhakti. There cannot be any motive behind bhakti-yoga.
Lecture on SB 7.5.1, Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, January 12, 1973: Bhakti-yoga, the process of devotional service, if one is engaged, avyabhicāriṇi, without any adulteration... Real bhakti-yoga means,
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
[Brs. 1.1.11]
This is real bhakti. There cannot be any motive behind bhakti-yoga. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam and jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167], and transcendental to the position of philosophical speculation and fruitive activities. Jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam. Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanam. Just simply to serve Kṛṣṇa favorably, ānukūla, that is bhakti. So this bhakti is called avyabhicāriṇi-bhakti, without any adulteration, without any mutilation, perfect bhakti.
Bhakti must be without any motive, without any motive of personal sense gratification. That is real bhakti.
Lecture on SB 7.9.3 -- Mayapur, February 10, 1976: The devotional service is nothing material. It is spiritual. So there is nothing impossible, impossible. That is real appreciation of spiritual life. If one thinks that "Prahlāda Mahārāja was only five years old. How he could offer such nice verses in glorifying the Lord?" that is possible. Bhakti does not depend on the age. Bhakti depends on sincerity of service. It is not that because one man is older than me, therefore he will be greater devotee. No. Ahaituky apratihatā. First of all, bhakti must be without any motive, without any motive of personal sense gratification. That is real bhakti. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. We have to make all our desires zero. Jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam. People are trying to understand the whole creation by knowledge, but bhakti does not depend on knowledge. Jñāna-karma... Or karma. Karma means fruitive action. Not that because you are a very big businessman, you are very successful, therefore it will be easy for you to understand Kṛṣṇa. No. That is not possible. Or if you think one is very poor in knowledge, lowborn, no education, still he can understand bhakti and Lord, provided he is pure devotee.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

But real bhakti - it must be untouched by the process of jñāna and karma. It should be spontaneous. Spontaneous. That is bhakti.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, January 5, 1973: Then Rāmānanda Rāya suggested karma-miśra-bhakti, then jñāna-miśra-bhakti-bhakti with jñāna, mixed with jñāna, process of jñāna, speculative philosophy; and bhakti mixed with karma, karma-kāṇḍīya. Karma-kāṇḍīya vicāra. But real bhakti is jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. It must be untouched by the process of jñāna and karma. It should be spontaneous. Spontaneous. That is bhakti. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam, ānukūlyena kṛṣṇa [Brs. 1.1.11]. Spontaneous means when we shall rise to the platform that "Here is a service for Kṛṣṇa. Let me do it." Immediately. "Let me do it." Just like Yudhiṣṭhira was advised by Kṛṣṇa that "You just go to Dronācārya and speak him lie that his son is dead." Yudhiṣṭhira hesitated: "Oh, how can I speak lie? I never done it in my life." This is karma-kāṇḍīya vicāra. This is karma-kāṇḍīya vicāra. He is, he is looking after his own benefit. Karma-kāṇḍa vicāra means I do something and I profit and I enjoy it. I do some sacrifices, I become elevated to the heavenly planet, and I enjoy life. This is karma-kāṇḍa. And jñāna-kāṇḍa means that this world is false: brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā; therefore let me merge into the Brahman effulgence. Nirbheda brahmānusandhana. This is jñāna-kāṇḍa. Nirbheda brahmānusandhana. But bhakti means jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. One must be free from this karma-kāṇḍīya vicāra and jñāna-kāṇḍa vicāra. Must be pure devotee. What is that? Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanam. Simply to carry out.
Ahaitukī, without any cause of motive. This is real bhakti. Therefore this bhakti word is applicable only in relationship with God, or Kṛṣṇa.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 28, 1972: Just like we have got our relationship with master and servant. So this relationship is a perverted reflection of the real master and servant. Here it is perverted because the master also does not love the servant, and the servant also does not love the master. The servant serves the master so long there is payment. If the payment is stopped, then no more the servant will be available. But in the eternal world, the Kṛṣṇa's servant... So that is eternal, without any payment. Mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī [Cc. Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4]. Ahaitukī. The servants of God, or Kṛṣṇa, they serve Kṛṣṇa not for any material gain. Ahaitukī. Therefore this word is used, ahaitukī, without any cause of motive. This is real bhakti. Therefore this bhakti word is applicable only in relationship with God, or Kṛṣṇa. In the material world, there cannot be any use of the word bhakti. Because here the so-called devotional service is motivated. So this bhakti word is monopolized by Kṛṣṇa, and nobody else.
Bhakti begins when is..., one is actually liberated from the influence of the modes of material nature. That is real bhakti.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972: Bhakti begins when is..., one is actually liberated from the influence of the modes of material nature. That is real bhakti. Otherwise, when you are, we are in training, that is called prakṛta-bhakta. Actually, we are in the material state, but we are being trained up, the Deity worship. This is, following the rules and regulations under the instruction of spiritual master. Or Vedic injunction, this is training period. But even in the training period, if one is sincere and serious, he's liberated. He's liberated. It is so nice. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so nice that even in the training period, although he's not mature, and even one falls immature stage, there is no loss.
That is real bhakti. Bhakti should not be contaminated by karma and jñāna. Bhakti should remain pure.
The Nectar of Devotion -- Calcutta, January 25, 1973: Karma-kāṇḍa means if you act very piously, next life you get good birth, good opulence, money, janma iśvarya-śruta, good education, beautiful body. These are the resultant actions of sat-karma. And asat-karma means you become poor, ugly, without any education, no riches, always hungry. These are the results of asat-karma. So this is called karma-kāṇḍa. And jñāna-kāṇḍa means to try to merge into the existence of the Lord, which, even if we do, but because you are under the impression of impersonalism, you again fall down. So both by the action of karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa one is not secure. Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, sakali viṣera bandha. Poison, either in a golden pot or in iron pot, it is the..., the effect is the same. So bhakti is neither for karma-kāṇḍa nor for jñāna-kāṇḍa. Jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. That is real bhakti.
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
[Brs. 1.1.11]
Bhakti should not be contaminated by karma and jñāna. Bhakti should remain pure. Then the result will be very quick and nice.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

As soon as one develops real bhakti, he will be averse to all these material things. That is the first sign.
Morning Walk -- April 12, 1974, Bombay: Prabhupāda: When one becomes ecstatic, "Oh, now I have to do something for Kṛṣṇa," then he renounces everything. Only Kṛṣṇa. Only Kṛṣṇa's business. That is the test. That is the test. What is the use of spiritual advancement? Spiritual advancement means these material things given up. That is spiritual advancement. That is... The example is given, bhaktiḥ pareṣānubhavoḥ viraktir anyatra syāt. As soon as one develops real bhakti, he will be averse to all these material things. That is the first sign. "No more these things." Bhaktiḥ pareṣānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt [SB 11.2.42]. Just like if you are hungry and if you are given some food, if you are satisfied, then the same food will be denied by you. "No, no, no. I don't want anymore." Full satisfaction.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

"Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme, and if I am part and parcel of the Supreme, it is my duty to serve Him to My best capacity." That is real bhakti.
Morning Walk -- October 28, 1975, Nairobi: Prabhupāda: ....Four kinds of men, they take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, the arto 'rthārthī. Ārtaḥ means distressed, and arthārthī means those who are in need of money. So they are arto 'rthārthī, and better than the rogues and ruffians, but their Kṛṣṇa consciousness, chanting Kṛṣṇa, means they want to get some money and to get out of some distress. That is ninety-nine percent people. And some of them are jñānī. They want to learn about Kṛṣṇa very seriously, not to fulfill their material desires. They are called jñānī. Jñānī and jijñāsu, inquisitive. So in jnani, those who are after knowledge, and inquisitive, they are better than this arta and arthārthī. But devotee is transcendental to all of them. They are neither arto, not distressed, nor in need of money. They do not want to speculate for knowledge or... They know, "Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme, and if I am part and parcel of the Supreme, it is my duty to serve Him to My best capacity." That is real bhakti. And those who are trying to exploit Kṛṣṇa for their, some material fulfillment of desire, they are not on the platform of bhakta. They are pious, not bhakta. A bhakta is above piety. Bhakta's position is sarvopadhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. He is cent percent pure, without any mat... These are all material things. But beginning is all right. If you go to the fire, some way or other you will get the heat. So either be arta, arthārthī, jñānī, jijñāsu, if you somehow or other, you have come to Kṛṣṇa, it is good for you.
If you have real bhakti, then you can understand Vaiṣṇava.
Morning Walk -- December 23, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: No, Viṣṇu should not be utilized for curing your fever. (laughter) That is not bhakti. That is business.

Indian man: So you are always reaching for bhakti point. That is too high for mundane people to reach.

Prabhupāda: That is bhakti, high, highest. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. If you have real bhakti, then you can understand Vaiṣṇava. To know Viṣṇu-avan manasā-gocara: it is very difficult.

manuṣyāṇāṁ sahareṣu
kaścit yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścid māṁ vetti tattvataḥ
[Bg. 7.3]
To understand Viṣṇu—very, very difficult. And.... If, but you can understand Viṣṇu by bhakti. So bhakti is so easy thing.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Real bhakti is anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Brs. 1.1.11]. When it will be tintless of any karma and jñāna, then it is pure bhakti. That is Kṛṣṇa's mission.

Meeting with Endowments Commissioner -- August 24, 1976, Hyderabad: Prabhupāda: If you have to execute the mission of Kṛṣṇa, you have to take instruction of Kṛṣṇa and do it rigidly. Then you'll be successful. Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's mission is that one must know Kṛṣṇa and surrender to Him. This is mission. Kṛṣṇa does not say that by karma-yoga one can understand Him. Kṛṣṇa says bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ [Bg. 18.55]. You cannot say "We are karma-yogīs." Karma-yogī means the third-class. He's karmī and little mixed up with bhakti. Adulterated. Jñāna-yogī, he's not a bhakta. He's jñānī, but just to bring him gradually, a little bhakti. You see? And real bhakti is anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Brs. 1.1.11]. When it will be tintless of any karma and jñāna, then it is pure bhakti. That is Kṛṣṇa's mission. Sarva-dharmān parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. Not mixed up with jñāna, karma, yoga. Otherwise, how Kṛṣṇa says bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. He could have said, "Any way," as these rascals say, "Any way go, you will get Kṛṣṇa." That Kṛṣṇa does not say.
Page Title:Real bhakti
Compiler:Laksmipriya
Created:06 of Sep, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=12, Con=4, Let=0
No. of Quotes:16