"Bhakti Lies Beyond Renunciation Those who possess kṛṣṇa-prema are neither enjoyers nor renunciants. They are not karmīs (fruitive workers); neither are they jñānīs (persons cultivating knowledge of impersonal brahman). Those who perform activities opposed to scriptural injunctions honour karmīs who abide by scriptural injunctions; and when karmīs, who are eager to enjoy the results of their endeavours see the external renunciation of jñānīs and renunciants, they may be attracted to them. However, those who hanker for bhagavat-prema disregard both of these paths. They are attracted only by behaviour that nurtures the cultivation of this prema. Someone who is not aspiring for prema for Bhagavān will perceive only enjoyment or renunciation in the behaviour of the devotees. If he takes shelter of them upon observing their external renunciation, he may for a while consider himself blessed to be in their company. Kṛṣṇa-prema, however, cannot be attained by external renunciation. Unless one has faith grounded in philosophical truth (tattvika śraddhā), or has affection for the svarūpa of Śrī Bhagavān, he cannot become attracted to the behaviour of Bhagavān’s devotees. The characteristic of such one-pointed devotees is that directly or indirectly they only cultivate love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa: anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu śīlanaṁ bhaktir-uttamā Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.11) “The cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, or in other words the uninterrupted flow of service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, performed through all endeavours of the body, mind and speech, and through the expression of various spiritual sentiments (bhāvas), which is not covered by jñāna (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), and which is devoid of all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is called uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service.”"
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 18:23:47 +0000