Many of those who can’t appreciate unalloyed Bhakti and its certain outcome of going back to the eternal spiritual world discourage practicing devotees in many ways. One of them is to say, every time a devotee is glorifying the process of unalloyed Bhakti, that Bhakti is just one of the fads that the practitioner is presently going through. By trying to undermine the sublime position of Bhakti, these detractors try to bring Bhakti to the platform any of the innumerable mundane activities like watching movies or playing games which people tend to develop temporary fads of.
But, just how preposterous is this attempt of pulling down the most sublime eternal truth to the platform of insignificance! Are the serious seasoned spiritualists so dumb that they can’t distinguish between the eternal and the temporary? Isn’t the whole point of spiritual practices to attain an eternal spiritual position giving up the temporary ones of this material world?
The practicing devotees whose faith is yet a bit malleable must take heart in this contemplation. Bhakti is not something of this world. It is, in fact, the means to transcend this world of temporary fixations. It is the eternal constitutional (i.e. natural) activity of the eternal soul. The soul is eternal, and needs something to keep it eternally interested. And that activity is Bhakti.
It is the duty of all devotees to strongly refute such uninformed claims regarding Bhakti. Due to such off-hand careless remarks by so-called learned misguiders, many innocent people can remain bereft of their natural right to eternal happiness with Krishna in the spiritual world. How unfortunate is that? A devotee’s heart goes out for the suffering souls and thus he can’t tolerate when people get diverted from their real benefit to running after unreal expectations of happiness in this material world.
The preaching movement is so difficult. Its like a surgery performed without the sanction of the patient. Most in the material world are averse to Bhakti because they don’t know that their true self-interest lies therein. But as devotees of the Lord, it’s our duty and an expression of love for Krishna and all the suffering souls to preach boldly despite the odds.
All Glories to the Unlimited Vaishnavas! Ananta Koti Vaishnava Vrinda Ki Jai!!
1 comment:
Hare Krishna Abhijit Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
One very important way of refuting statements such as saying that Bhakti is a fad is to be consistent in our sadhana day after day, year after year and if required, birth after birth. When we do this, the proponents of this "fad" theory would be forced either to withdraw this theory or redefine the word "fad".
A thoughtful article indeed.
Yours in service to Krishna,
Avatari Chaitanya Dasa
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