Hare Krsna,
SB 3.25.43: The yogīs, equipped with transcendental knowledge and renunciation and engaged in devotional service for their eternal benefit, take shelter of My lotus feet, and since I am the Lord, they are thus eligible to enter into the kingdom of Godhead without fear.
SB 1.2.7: By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.
The principles of knowledge and renunciation (jnana and vairagya) are two important factors on the path of transcendental knowledge. Real knowledge about the Absolute Truth including our relationship with the Supreme Lord leads to true renunciation. On the other hand, renunciation without proper knowledge is incomplete and incorrect. Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu (2.255-256) cites two verses related to proper and improper renunciation.
“When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kṛṣṇa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Kṛṣṇa is not as complete in his renunciation.”
Therefore, it is important that we develop right knowledge about Krsna. With perfect knowledge about matter and spirit, one can become detached from material affection and become attached to spiritual activities. I really liked what Srila Prabhupada said in his lecture, “One cannot be bhakti-yogī without jnāna and vairāgya. It is not a sentimental thing; it is based on pure knowledge. What is that pure knowledge? Pure knowledge means “I do not belong to this material world. I am spirit soul. Ahaṁ brahmāsmi. Therefore my business is to serve the Supreme Brahman, or Para-brahman.”
Only full knowledge about Krsna will lead to complete surrender unto Him. As knowledge about bhakti-yoga gradually increases, to that extent renunciation will also develop in our hearts. We will then be able to become more attached to Krsna and more detached from matter. We will have a burning desire to give up everything material and non-favorable, and earnestly desire to engage in bhakti-yoga.
In Mumbai, there is a big slum called Dharavi. It is considered to be one of Asia’s biggest slum. In contrast, Mumbai is also known to be the richest city in India. It is the financial capital of India (just like New York City). Skyscrapers and slums are located side by side. The domestic helps for people living in the affluent neighborhood come from the nearby slums. Let us assume that a domestic help living in the slum works in a rich home every day. Due to his upbringing in the slum, he identifies with his environment. He has to struggle for his daily existence. There is no proper education, healthcare, sanitation, etc. for him. On the other hand, the children of the rich family are very well-off. They are happy and live in material comfort. The slum person does not identify with the rich family because he has no connection with them. He just goes there for his livelihood. But imagine he gets to know one day that he was actually rich in some lifetime and used to live in affluent Mumbai but fell down to “slum live” due to his bad karma. As soon as he comes to this knowledge, he will understand that it is possible for him to regain his previous high status of life. It will give him a whole new perspective of life. He will eventually understand that he does not belong to the slums after all. He is meant to be a rich and happy resident of rich Mumbai. This means with proper knowledge, he will develop detachment from the poor slum life. With proper practice and knowledge, he will be able to regain his original life again.
Bhakti yoga gives us a similar knowledge about the spiritual world and detachment from the material world (the so-called ‘slums’ of Lord’s creation). As soon as we know who Krsna is, who we are, what is our relationship with the Lord, what is our duty towards the Lord, we naturally become detached from material activities. This is called vairagya. Our relationship with Krsna is eternal (Nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-bhakti sādhya kabhu naya). Since we are eternally related to Him, it makes sense that we surrender unto Him completely. Anything else would be a bad bargain. Bhakti yoga is the supermost occupation of the human being (sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo, yato bhaktir adhokṣaje – SB 1.2.6)
“As soon as you engage yourself in devotional service of Vāsudeva under the direction of śāstra and spiritual master, then janayaty āśu vairāgyam. And you are practically experiencing that since you have come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement you have no more interest material activities. No more interest. That is vairāgya. You are simply meant for service of Kṛṣṇa. That is jnāna. In this way, if you want actually to be fearless and enter into the spiritual life, or spiritual kingdom, back to home, back to Godhead, then you have to accept this bhakti-yoga process, and it is very easy, and then you become fearless, and your life is successful.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture on SB 3.25.43)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 