Hare Krsna,
Hearing Lord Kapila’s various yoga practices in SB 3.28 sounds overwhelming and makes me quite discouraged. Hearing Him speak about concentrating the mind, performing prescribed duties, being satisfied with gain achieved by the grace of the Lord, being frugal in eating, living a secluded life, practicing nonviolence and truthfulness, abstaining from sex life, performing austerity, being clean, studying the Vedas and worshiping the Lord are just too many mountains to climb. As such, I am struggling with chanting attentively and following the four regulative principles while performing my so-called material duties. This itself is too much austerity for me. As if this is not enough, Lord Kapila continues to recommend more yoga practices and austerity. Looks like I can never make it to attaining perfection.
Srila Prabhupada’s statement is also a bit confusing. On one hand, he recommends us to go back to Godhead and not struggling in this material world. On the other hand, he says, “A mixed devotee engages in devotional service for the spiritual benefit of being eternally engaged in the transcendental abode of the Lord in full bliss and knowledge.” (SB 3.27.27 Purport) Is desiring to go back to Godhead and serve Krsna doesn’t fall under pure devotional service? I am confused.
Long story short, there is no way I can achieve perfection in devotional service by my own endeavors. I am so materially conditioned and struggling to stay steady in bhakti. The only way I can achieve perfection is by the causeless mercy of Krsna. I need to do my part while at the same time must pray to Krsna for help. What is impossible with His mercy? By Krsna’s mercy, little Dhruva Maharaja attained perfection within six months. By His mercy, Gajendra was released from the jaws of the crocodile and became delivered. By His mercy, Mother Yasoda could bind Krsna after great endeavor. She kept trying again and again but each time the rope fell short by two fingers. Finally Krsna, seeing His mother becoming tired and exhausted, decided to be bound and come under her loving control. By Krsna’s mercy, Arjuna and the Pandavas were victorious in the battlefield of Kuruksetra against the Kauravas even though the latter had a greater army and more skilled warriors like Bhismadeva, Duryodhana, Karna, etc. If these great souls had to rely on Krsna’s mercy, what can an insignificant jiva like me accomplish by myself? I must therefore completely surrender to Krsna and pray for His mercy. Krsna promises in BG 9.22, “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form – to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”
In fact, one of the six limbs of surrender to Krsna(saranagati) is to be firmly convinced that Krsna will give us protection. No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of this is called faith. Krsna is merciful to His devotees and gives them all protection from the dangers found on the path of devotional service. “The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Kṛṣṇa consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life.” (BG 9.22 Purport)
The best way achieve Krsna’s mercy is to follow the instructions of our acaryas and distributing Krsna consciousness to others. Our goal as devotees is to achieve Krsna prema, to join Krsna’s pastimes in Goloka Vrindavana. However, this is normally a very high and difficult goal. In the Brhad Bhagavatamrta, we get the information that even extraordinarily exalted devotees like Narada and Uddhava aspire to join Krsna’s pastimes there. The only real way for us is through the mercy of Lord Caitanya, who is easily satisfied when someone spreads Krsna consciousness.
“One should endeavor for that which is never obtained by wandering up and down the universe as a result of the reactions of karma. What is that? One should endeavor to become Krsna conscious. If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Krsna consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Krsna consciousness.” (SB 8.7.44 purport)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 