Can’t follow the principles and rules very rigidly? There are different ways to advance.

There are nine processes of devotional service, and Prabhupada makes clear that one can achieve perfection by practicing any of them. We make a mistake, however, in fighting over it.

Devotees have different ideas about how one should follow spiritual life. Some put great emphasis on regulative principles, social norms and and rituals, while others think that the spiritual process should be based on one’s natural inclinations. Some think that renunciation or austerity is the most important component, while others emphasize chanting or studying the scriptures. Some don’t like to do any of the above, but like to hear from advanced devotees. Who is right?

They are all right to a certain extent. There are nine processes of devotional service, and Prabhupada makes clear that one can achieve perfection by practicing any of them. We make a mistake, however, in fighting over it.

Krsna Himself explains about devotional practice in the Bhagavad-Gita, and this knowledge is condensed in five verses in the 12th chapter (8 to 12). In these verses, Krsna shows Himself quite flexible in terms of what He accepts from His devotees and explains that different processes are actually different steps in a transcendental stairway that leads to Him. If we study this description and try to understand where we are in this stairway, we will be able to understand what process can be more effective for us at the stage we are currently at:

“Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.

My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way, develop a desire to attain Me.

If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for Me, because by working for Me, you will come to the perfect stage.

If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act, giving up all results of your work, and try to be self-situated.

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.” (BG 12.8-12)

The absolute best we can do is to become pure devotees and be fully concentrated on glorifying Krsna, 24 hours per day. Naturally, this is easier said than done; therefore, Krsna gives a second option, that is to very seriously follow the principles of bhakti-yoga, waking up early every day for mangala-artik, following all the regulative principles, and so on. We can see that many senior devotees, including many gurus, emphasize these points. They do so in accordance with what Krsna speaks in this verse.

However, many will also not be able to maintain this standard for all their lives, and others may not even want to try. Therefore, Krsna recommends a third path: just work for Him. We can see that many devotees are not very strict in waking up early or rigidly following other devotional principles, but they like to do a lot of service to Krsna. We can see that this is also in accordance with Krsna’s instructions. As Krsna explains, one who does that will gradually improve and eventually come to the perfect stage.

For many, working for Krsna may still sound too much. They have material desires and aspirations, family obligations, and so on, and they can’t easily connect them with the service to Krsna. For them, Krsna recommends just renouncing the fruits of his work. Again, we can see many devotees following this path. They may not follow the spiritual practice very strictly, and often be too busy to do much service, but they like to give donations. By doing that and at the same time developing their spiritual practice, they can also advance.

For the one’s who can’t even do that, Krsna recommends cultivating knowledge, and we surely do that by studying books from Srila Prabhupada. Spiritual knowledge is the beginning of everything, since by absorbing knowledge, we can understand the challenges ahead and learn how to surpass them.

Even if we can’t do anything else, we can advance by just using our time to study about Krsna. However, knowledge needs to be practically expressed to be converted into realization; therefore, Krsna recommends, in an ascending order, meditation and renunciation of the fruits of one’s work. As one starts to give donations, he or she can gradually advance to the higher levels by gradually starting to work for Krsna, practicing the principles of bhakti-yoga, and eventually becoming completely absorbed in Krsna.

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