Using everything for Gods service-Yukta Vairagya
January 6, 2023 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Nov 20 1971 letter Hamsadutta
Regarding your question about incense, Karandhara has just informed me that our Spiritual Sky incense business is making now $1,000,000 a year to spend for Krishna. How can that be Maya? My Guru maharaja used to say, “Anything material, if it is used for the service of Krishna, it is a mistake to give it up.” Because I have understood this principle, he used to appreciate me in front of my godbrothers. I have given this idea all along—why you big leaders do not understand it? You should take it to heart as a guiding principle that somehow or other we always please Krishna by doing what is practical and necessary, according to time and place. Not that we should be whimsical. But one test is that all the devotees should be satisfied. They have given their lives to Krishna, so we should see they are always happy. Their service is voluntary. It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss. Everyone must be encouraged to do what he likes to do for Krishna, so if someone likes to do business for Krishna, let them make $1,000,000 for Krishna.
Oct 27 1968
Our Gosvāmīs, they have prescribed yukta–vairāgya: accept everything in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Then it is yukta–vairāgya. It is also vairāgya. Śuṣka-vairāgya and yukta–vairāgya. Śuṣka-vairāgya means simply renunciation without assimilation. Māyāvādī sect, Śaṅkara sect, they have got stringent laws for renunciation. But Vaiṣṇavas, they have no stringent law. They accept everything as Kṛṣṇa–prasādam, actually offering Kṛṣṇa, working for Kṛṣṇa, living for Kṛṣṇa. This is the best use. My GuruMahārāja used to say, “The best use of a bad bargain.” Everything in Kṛṣṇarelationship. That is yukta–vairāgya. Nirbandhaḥkṛṣṇa–sambandheyukta–vairāgyamucyate. Vairagya means detachment. So when we are attached to Kṛṣṇa, automatically we are detached to māyā. Not artificially we want to be detached from māyā. Just like theoretically I know that I am not this body, but the bodily necessities are there because I am encaged in the body. Therefore the bodily necessities-eating, sleeping, mating, defending-should be done in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Then it is all right. Then my consciousness is always in Kṛṣṇa, and I am detached to my bodily demands. And those who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, their bodily demands is on the materialistic platform. They are going on, increasing the degree of fever and coming to the 107 degree.
SB 8.1.14 purport….Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the infallible [God].” Jnānīs recommend that one adopt naiṣkarmya by not doing anything but simply meditating and thinking of Brahman, but this is impossible unless one realizes Parabrahman, Kṛṣṇa. If there is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, any kind of activity, be it philanthropic, political or social, simply causes karma–bandhana, bondage to material work.
As long as one is entangled in karma–bandhana, one must accept different types of bodies that spoil the human form of facility. Therefore, in Bhagavad-gītā (6.3) karma–yoga is recommended:
“For one who is a neophyte in the yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who has already attained to yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.”…….
NOTE-Therefore in the following conversation with Srila Prabhupada he explains that karma yoga is BETTER than vaidhi (regulative) bhakti…. In other words for the neophytes (most of us) it is better to use what we already have gotten thru our past karma and then dovetail those assets for Krsna seva. This is called yukta vairagya
———————————–
Karma yoga superior to vaidhi bhakti
740401mw.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: Karma-yogi means one who does everything for Krsna. He’s
karma-yogi.
Guest (1): One who does everything for…?
Prabhupada: For Krsna.
Guest (1): For Krsna.
Prabhupada: Just like you are doing, doing some work. For whom you are
doing?
Guest (1): For my own benefit.
Prabhupada: That’s all. So that is karma. But when you do the same
thing for Krsna, that is karma-yoga.
Prabhupada: Karma-yogi means one who does everything for Krsna. He’s
karma-yogi.
Guest (1): One who does everything for…?
Prabhupada: For Krsna.
Guest (1): For Krsna.
Prabhupada: Just like you are doing, doing some work. For whom you are
doing?
Guest (1): For my own benefit.
Prabhupada: That’s all. So that is karma. But when you do the same
thing for Krsna, that is karma-yoga.
Prabhupada: That’s all. (break) …done not meant for Krsna, that is
for his own satisfaction. Just like Arjuna wanted to become
nonviolent: “No, no, Krsna. I cannot kill my kinsmen.” That is a good
proposal. But that was his satisfaction.
Guest (1): That is very correct.
Prabhupada: Yes. That was his satisfaction. But Krsna wanted that “You
must fight.” And when he agreed to that, that is his perfection.
Before that, he was trying to satisfy he.
… Whatever you do, that is your satisfaction. That is karma.
Guest (1): But not yogi.
Prabhupada: No, karma. (break) …for your own sense satisfaction,
that is karma. And if you do it for Krsna’s satisfaction, that is
karma-yoga.
for his own satisfaction. Just like Arjuna wanted to become
nonviolent: “No, no, Krsna. I cannot kill my kinsmen.” That is a good
proposal. But that was his satisfaction.
Guest (1): That is very correct.
Prabhupada: Yes. That was his satisfaction. But Krsna wanted that “You
must fight.” And when he agreed to that, that is his perfection.
Before that, he was trying to satisfy he.
… Whatever you do, that is your satisfaction. That is karma.
Guest (1): But not yogi.
Prabhupada: No, karma. (break) …for your own sense satisfaction,
that is karma. And if you do it for Krsna’s satisfaction, that is
karma-yoga.
Makhanlal: Pure bhakti and karma-yoga considered to be exactly the
same?
Prabhupada: Exactly the same.
Prabhupada: Pure bhakti is above karma-yoga. Pure bhakti is above
karma-yoga.
Bhagavata: That is the difference between the Chapter Karma-yoga and
Karma-yoga in Krsna Consciousness.
Prabhupada: Yes. Pure, pure devotion means Sravanam kirtanam.
Makhanlal: …you’re performing, is the vaidhi-bhakti stage of…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Makhanlal: …of the sadhana-bhakti, the regulative principles.
Prabhupada: Yes, vaidhi-bhakti means regulative principles, and when
you are accustomed, automatically you perform, that is raga-bhakti.
Makhanlal: So vaidhi-bhakti is considered superior to karma-yoga then.
Prabhupada: No. Karma-yoga is better.
Makhanlal: Karma-yoga is better?
Prabhupada: Yes.
same?
Prabhupada: Exactly the same.
Prabhupada: Pure bhakti is above karma-yoga. Pure bhakti is above
karma-yoga.
Bhagavata: That is the difference between the Chapter Karma-yoga and
Karma-yoga in Krsna Consciousness.
Prabhupada: Yes. Pure, pure devotion means Sravanam kirtanam.
Makhanlal: …you’re performing, is the vaidhi-bhakti stage of…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Makhanlal: …of the sadhana-bhakti, the regulative principles.
Prabhupada: Yes, vaidhi-bhakti means regulative principles, and when
you are accustomed, automatically you perform, that is raga-bhakti.
Makhanlal: So vaidhi-bhakti is considered superior to karma-yoga then.
Prabhupada: No. Karma-yoga is better.
Makhanlal: Karma-yoga is better?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Indian man: Pure bhakti is superior.
Prabhupada: Pure bhakti is sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam kirtanam
visnu-smaranam pada-sevanam, that is pure bhakti. (break)
Yasomatinandana: …formed by anybody.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Karma-yoga.
Prabhupada: Unless one is inclined to take to devotion, it is not
possible to take to karma-yoga. Who can sacrifice the profit?
Yasomatinandana: Does karma-yoga mean to follow exactly the sastras?
Prabhupada: Karma-yoga means yat karosi yaj juhosi kurusva tat
mad-arpanam.
Yasomatinandana: Doing only for Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is karma-yoga.
Devotee: Which means?
Prabhupada: “Whatever you do, the result give Me.”
Devotee: To Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yasomatinandana: So we are also, those who are on the vaidhi-bhakti
(indistinct) on karma-yoga path because we are…
Prabhupada: Yes. They are acting under the order of the spiritual
Prabhupada: Pure bhakti is sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam kirtanam
visnu-smaranam pada-sevanam, that is pure bhakti. (break)
Yasomatinandana: …formed by anybody.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Yasomatinandana: Karma-yoga.
Prabhupada: Unless one is inclined to take to devotion, it is not
possible to take to karma-yoga. Who can sacrifice the profit?
Yasomatinandana: Does karma-yoga mean to follow exactly the sastras?
Prabhupada: Karma-yoga means yat karosi yaj juhosi kurusva tat
mad-arpanam.
Yasomatinandana: Doing only for Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is karma-yoga.
Devotee: Which means?
Prabhupada: “Whatever you do, the result give Me.”
Devotee: To Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yasomatinandana: So we are also, those who are on the vaidhi-bhakti
(indistinct) on karma-yoga path because we are…
Prabhupada: Yes. They are acting under the order of the spiritual
master. That is bhakti-yoga.
Bhagavata: So when one follows the nine activities of devotion purely,
that is pure bhakti.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Bhagavata: Then when he’s following those nine activities, then he’s
superior.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Bhagavata: Then that’s superior to karma-yoga, to follow those nine
principles purely.
Prabhupada:Yes.
Makhanlal: Raganuga-bhakti is also superior to karma-yoga then?
Prabhupada: Bhakti is perfect stage. That is not for ordinary man.
Yasomatinandana: What is the difference between karma-yoga and… or
bhakti because they also (indistinct) Krsna?
Prabhupada: Now go on doing your duty, you’ll understand (indistinct).
Don’t try to understand in one day.
Bhagavata: It will be revealed to us as we act.
Prabhupada: Yes, the more you become in service attitude, things will
be revealed to you. (Sanskrit) prakasante. Becomes, it becomes
manifest. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau sam eva sphuraty adhah.(break)
Bhagavata: So when one follows the nine activities of devotion purely,
that is pure bhakti.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Bhagavata: Then when he’s following those nine activities, then he’s
superior.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Bhagavata: Then that’s superior to karma-yoga, to follow those nine
principles purely.
Prabhupada:Yes.
Makhanlal: Raganuga-bhakti is also superior to karma-yoga then?
Prabhupada: Bhakti is perfect stage. That is not for ordinary man.
Yasomatinandana: What is the difference between karma-yoga and… or
bhakti because they also (indistinct) Krsna?
Prabhupada: Now go on doing your duty, you’ll understand (indistinct).
Don’t try to understand in one day.
Bhagavata: It will be revealed to us as we act.
Prabhupada: Yes, the more you become in service attitude, things will
be revealed to you. (Sanskrit) prakasante. Becomes, it becomes
manifest. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau sam eva sphuraty adhah.(break)
Some Conclusions–The first example SP gives is that spiritual sky incense was making a million dollars a year-he asks-how can this be maya? Some might think its just money and lots of it so it is maya and will take us away from pure bhakti -Just like women and wealth can do.
But Prabhupada says no- this principle of using everything for Krsna seva is called yukta vairyaga which means knowing how to utilize everything, which belongs to God anyway, using it all for His service. Then he goes on to explain how this karma yoga principle is better than vaidhi bhakti. Why? Because without devotion who can give up the results of his hard earned wealth? Therefore both Krsna and Srila Prabhupada say- for the neophyte work (Yukta vairyaga) is said to be the means.
Then after some time when we actually are situated in pure karma yoga, then we can chant better knowing fully well to Whom everything belongs.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
Below is the second phase of Srila Prabhupadas preaching to us mlecchas of kali yuga-Learning how to work for Krsna thru Varnashrama dharma
——————————–
