Considerations in Devotional Service to God - Evaluating the Path of Bhakti
The path of bhakti-yoga is a profound and scientific process that must be properly understood to achieve perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when examining devotional service, one must consider the different stages of practitioners, recognize and reject the offensive misconceptions of impersonalists, and understand that pure devotion sits far above any material system of elevation.
Three Categories of Practitioners
Devotees are not all situated on the same level. Śrīla Prabhupāda outlines that practitioners are considered to be in one of three categories—neophyte (prakṛta-bhakta), intermediate (madhyama-adhikārī), or advanced (uttama-adhikārī)—based on the depth of their realization and faith.
- He (a prakrta-bhakta) may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity. He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying to advance in devotional service.
- A person whose conclusive knowledge of the sastras is not very strong but who has developed firm faith in chanting the maha-mantra and who is also undeterred in the execution of his prescribed devotional service should be considered a madhyama-adhikari.
- The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to be situated midway in devotional service. The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service.
- He (the first class devotee) can very nicely present conclusions with perfect discretion and can consider the ways of devotional service in a decisive way.
The Offensive Misconceptions of Māyāvādīs
Because their minds are absorbed in the impersonal feature of the Absolute, monists fundamentally misunderstand the activities of pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly warns that it is a grievous offense to consider the transcendental loving service of the Lord to be on the same level as ordinary, material fruitive work.
- Mayavadis consider devotional service to be an aspect of fruitive activities (karma-kanda). According to their view, bhakti consists of mental speculation or sometimes meditation. This is the difference between the Mayavadi and Vaisnava philosophies.
- Monists consider devotional service of the Lord to be material activity; therefore they consider such devotional activities to be the same as karma, or fruitive activity.
- Nondevotees who consider devotional activities and ordinary material activities to be on the same level are offenders to the chanting of the transcendental holy name of the Lord.
- Those who criticize devotional service are called nindakas (blasphemers). Similarly, nondevotees who consider devotional activities to be material are called pasandis, and scholars with a similar viewpoint are called adhama paduyas.
Transcending Mundane Systems and Modes
True spiritual life begins where material systems end. As Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, pure devotional service is so absolute that it transcends even highly organized societal structures like varṇāśrama-dharma, rendering fruitive activities (karma) and empirical knowledge (jñāna) as mere bewildering distractions.
- Considering the position of devotional service and the sankirtana movement, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu deemed the system of varnasrama-dharma to be material, although it aims at elevation to the spiritual platform.
- In comparison to mundane workers, those who are trying to be elevated to the higher planetary systems by performing yajnas are undoubtedly superior. In pure devotional service, however, both karma and jnana are considered bewildering features.
- Those who consider devotional service to be fruitive activity are called karma-nisthas.
- Devotional service executed by a person who is envious, proud, violent and angry, and who is a separatist, is considered to be in the mode of darkness.
The Immortal Value of Pure Devotion
Once a living entity connects with the Supreme Lord through devotion, the results are eternal. The Vedic scriptures confirm that this divine connection is so exalted that it renders all other achievements insignificant, establishing bhakti as the immortal and supreme goal of human life.
- Devotion to God is considered to be the great practical value, as much as it forms a part of practice of yoga. Those who are practicing yoga, they must be devotee of God.
- Bhakti may be considered in three stages - guni-bhuta, pradhani-bhuta and kevala, and according to these stages there are three divisions, which are called jnana, jnanamayi and rati, or prema - that is, simple knowledge, love mixed with knowledge, and pure love.
- Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati says that if one is elevated to real, pure devotional service, he considers even great demigods like Brahma and Indra to be on an equal level with an insignificant insect.
- Even if a devotee of the Lord has not yet reached the perfectional stage of love of Godhead, his devotional service is considered immortal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully clarifies the profound philosophical considerations necessary to properly evaluate devotional service. The path of bhakti is a progressive science, moving a practitioner from the neophyte, material platform to the highest stage of unalloyed spiritual discretion. It is imperative for serious students to reject the offensive conclusions of Māyāvādī philosophers and pāṣaṇḍīs, who foolishly consider devotional activities to be mundane fruitive work. True devotional service completely transcends the material modes of nature, rendering even sophisticated systems like varṇāśrama, karma, and jñāna insignificant. Ultimately, when a soul engages in pure devotion, they are elevated to a position far superior to the greatest demigods. Because it directly connects the soul with the Supreme Absolute Truth, even the smallest effort on this path is considered an immortal, imperishable asset.
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