Bhakti-yoga is the most important of all the yoga teachings. Pure bhakti is the greatest good, the most valuable gift, and the most confidential knowledge.
The Greatest Good
Everyone is in search of the greatest good, the highest benefit obtainable in this human form of life. And one who is compassionate desires this benefit for others also. The supreme benefit imaginable is complete freedom from all suffering, with everlasting, unconditional happiness and enjoyment. This benefit may seem unattainable, but actually anyone can reach it through bhakti. But first one must know the method for obtaining it.
We may get some material opulence such as wealth, fame, beauty, power, knowledge or renunciation, but these things are all flickering and temporary. No one can retain material opulence because the material world is changeable and uncertain, and we are all subject to death. The supreme benefit, the topmost good as defined above must therefore be something spiritual, for only spiritual things are eternal and never pass away.
When we speak of spirit, we refer to consciousness. Consciousness is the main symptom of spirit, and it is fundamentally different from matter. Everything material has a cause, and is conditioned by circumstances. But consciousness has no material cause, nor is it conditioned by anything, just as the sky is never changed by the clouds passing through it day after day. Therefore pure consciousness is causeless and absolute.
Materialistic philosophers and scientists, if they recognize the existence of consciousness at all, theorize that consciousness arises from certain combinations or states of matter. However, they cannot demonstrate the synthesis of consciousness or life in the laboratory. In fact, the presence and action of consciousness cannot be caused, measured or predicted by any material means.
Therefore consciousness is completely distinct from matter; in fact, consciousness is the cause of matter, not the other way around. As soon as the soul, the source of consciousness and life, leaves the body at death, the body becomes inert and soon disintegrates. This proves that the material body exists because of the presence of the soul. Similarly, the enormous and inconceivable material universe in which we find ourselves is caused by the presence of the Supreme Consciousness, or God, the Supreme Soul.
Conscious entities or souls are all personal. Just as you and I are conscious spirit souls and therefore persons, similarly the Supreme Soul is also a person: a person named Kṛṣṇa. The name Kṛṣṇa means the source or reservoir of all pleasure, and certainly the Supreme Soul is the origin of everything enjoyable.
Therefore the greatest benefit is attained by cultivating a personal, spiritual relationship between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul, Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure and enjoyment. This is also the perfection of consciousness.
In our present state of consciousness we are identified with the material body and mind, and therefore we are suffering unnecessarily. Since material existence is the cause of suffering, to obtain the highest benefit we must withdraw our consciousness from contact with matter and engage it in the activities of pure spirit.
Spiritual activities consist of ecstatic relationship of the pure conscious soul with Kṛṣṇa in five features, namely neutrality, service, friendship, parenthood and conjugal love. These five kinds of relationships are also found in this material world, but they are covered with various kinds of suffering. Spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is devoid of the imperfections of material relationships because it has no contact with the material mind and senses.
This spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is called bhakti or bhakti-yoga, and it is the source of the highest benefit, the greatest good obtainable. Anyone can cultivate their transcendental relationship with Kṛṣṇa simply by hearing and chanting His Holy Name, qualities and pastimes in the association of bhakti-yogis. This simple process leads step-by-step to the highest good.
Bhakti-yoga is so easy, even a child can do it. Even a dog or other animal can hear the melodious chanting of the Holy Names of God, and benefit spiritually. Yet these transcendental Holy Names contain the complete power of Kṛṣṇa. God is absolute, therefore His Holy Name is no different from His personal self. In other words, God is personally present in His Holy Name. This is the great secret of bhakti-yoga, and it is also the source of the highest benefit, the greatest good.
Our original inherent eternal spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa is automatically revealed simply by hearing and chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa, or "Hare Kṛṣṇa." Anyone who tries this process can feel the effect immediately. There is no need to explain this elaborately. When we chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in pure love, everything is revealed, just as the sun reveals everything when it rises in the morning.
Chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa automatically cleanses our consciousness of the false identification with matter, leading to the cessation of all misery and suffering. Simultaneously it situates us in our unique, personal spiritual relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure and enjoyment. This transcendental relationship provides eternal, unconditional bliss to the fortunate bhakti-yogis who have developed their dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
In this life we see that when a man becomes extremely wealthy, he may create some charitable foundation or trust for the benefit of the public. Similarly, when someone discovers the wealth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness through bhakti-yoga, he automatically wants to share this unlimited opulence with others. Therefore we are presenting this Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa, in the knowledge that this simple process of hearing and chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa will provide the highest benefit, the greatest good, to all people who are suffering in the material world.
The Most Valuable Gift
What makes something valuable? Value is associated with rarity, fineness and beauty, demand and usefulness. Let us examine these qualities briefly.
Rarity means that a thing is not often found. For example, certain coins and stamps are valuable simply because there are rare. Perhaps only a few of them are known to exist in the entire world. Rarity may also be due to being hard to obtain. Diamonds and other precious stones are valuable because they are found only in certain inaccessible places, and require great labor and expertise to produce.
Fine things are also valuable because of their inherent qualities. Pure materials such as silk, gold and other precious metals have always been valuable, along with necessities such as pure water, milk products, ghee and oils. Works of fine music and art have lasting value because they refine the spirit and intelligence, and educate people in aesthetics and higher states of consciousness.
Beauty is also valuable because it pleases the senses. Things of beauty derive their pleasurable character from Kṛṣṇa, who is the source of all beauty and other enjoyable qualities. Therefore beauty ultimately reminds us of Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure. Beauty is also connected with our highest ideal. Sometimes it is said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." So our standard of beauty is intimately connected with our personal aspirations.
In the marketplace, value is determined by supply and demand. The value of a commodity gains when supply shrinks or demand increases. These economic laws determine the price of all basic articles of trade. Thus even though an item may be rather common, high demand may make it extremely valuable.
Demand can be driven by a number of factors, and one of the most important of these is usefulness. How many times have we discarded a broken item with the comment, "This is useless"? This implies that useless things are without value, hence usefulness is valuable. Useful things help us attain our goals and are instrumental in our achieving our desires. Thus the more useful something is, the more valuable it is.
The most valuable thing in the world, then, ought to be the most useful thing, for which there is universal need and high demand. It must also be extremely beautiful, of exquisite quality, and the most rare of all uncommon things. Certainly everyone would like to possess such a valuable item.
However, even if we were to encounter the most valuable thing in the world, what guarantee is there that we would recognize it? Since few people routinely have access to extremely valuable articles, it may be difficult for us to identify a thing of such tremendous worth.
For example, the average person cannot tell an original Old Masters painting worth millions of dollars from a valueless fraud. Nor could most people distinguish a flawless diamond from cut crystal or other counterfeits. Any very valuable thing also inspires frauds, copies and impostors, and it is very difficult for the untrained person to identify the authentic from among many facile imitations.
If we are to recognize the most valuable thing in the world, it follows that we must first obtain an education about it. This is for two reasons: to fully appreciate its value, and to recognize impostors and other frauds. Hence we are writing this just to help the gentle reader in his or her quest for the most valuable thing in the world.
For there is one more crucial factor in obtaining such value. One may recognize great value and may even be able to distinguish it from imitations. But to actually obtain such a valuable possession, one must be very fortunate. There is a great difference between a poor man who is struggling daily to make ends meet, an affluent businessman working to amass a million-dollar bank balance, and a wealthy multimillionaire. Only the wealthiest person is fortunate enough to become a connoisseur of the most valuable things in life. Similarly, only the most fortunate person can obtain the most valuable thing in life.
And what is the most valuable thing in life? It is, quite simply, the association of a perfect human being. The great sages of Naimisaranya once exclaimed to Suta Gosvami:
"The value of a moment's association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from material existence, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death." [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.18.13]
Let us analyze this to understand why association with a pure devotee of the Lord is the most valuable thing in the world.
Association is extremely important. It is said that a person's character is known by his association, because one absorbs qualities by association. If one associates with thieves, one certainly becomes a thief. But if one associates with a perfected being, one certainly becomes a pure devotee of the Lord and thus develops all the qualities of saintliness. This leads to the greatest benefits obtainable in the human form of life, therefore such association is the most valuable thing in the entire world because it is the cause of all auspiciousness.
A perfect human being is described in Bhagavad-gita as someone who is beyond the dualities of fortune and misfortune, honor and dishonor, heat and cold, and even life and death. They are always the same, and nothing can disturb their determination. They are transcendental to this material life, and they are fixed in pure devotion to God.
How can we recognize such a saintly person? Kṛṣṇa describes the qualities of such a person to Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita:
"When a man gives up all varieties of sense desire, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind finds satisfaction in the Self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness. One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. He who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge. One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in knowledge." [Bhagavad-gita 2.54-57]
Later on in the Gita, Kṛṣṇa says: "Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity and simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honor-these transcendental qualities belong to godly men endowed with divine nature. [Bhagavad-gita 16.1-3]
Such a human being is very rare. Out of millions of human beings, only a few have these spiritual qualities. And of those who possess some spiritual qualities, only a few rare souls have reached complete perfection. Since they are rare, authentic saintly people are extremely valuable. Their presence bestows all blessings on the place where they reside. Similarly, their association grants incomparable benefits to those who seek spiritual perfection.
Association with a saintly person cannot be taken; it must be given. No one can force a pure devotee to associate with them. Furthermore, not all saintly persons are willing to give their association. Often they do not wish to be disturbed in their ecstatic devotional service. Therefore great saints who have attained spiritual perfection often disguise themselves as ordinary people, or even as poverty-stricken mendicants, fools and madmen, just to avoid the association of ordinary people. One great devotee even faked his own death because he did not want to be disturbed by unwanted association.
Actually, since a perfected saintly person is far beyond ourselves in all ways, we can recognize and associate with them only if they reveal themselves to us out of their unlimited compassion and grant us their association by their mercy. Thus the association of a self-realized soul is the greatest gift that can be given or received in this human form of life.
The self-realized soul is the finest of all human beings. They excel all others in love, devotion, service, knowledge, wisdom and especially compassion. A real Spiritual Master knows Kṛṣṇa (God) directly, and can communicate His grace and benedictions to us. In the presence of such a perfected soul, a pure devotee, the most difficult attainments become easy. Therefore we must all seek the association of such a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.
A pure devotee of the Lord is the most beautiful person. Not only are they decorated with all spiritual qualities, but their material form also displays uncommon divine grace in all their actions and dealings. Actually the body of a pure devotee is never material, but has become spiritualized by their complete realization and constant engagement in divine service. Spiritual perfection is obtained simply by glorifying the Lord in association with such a pure devotee.
The benefits obtainable by association with a pure devotee are always in great demand. Everyone wants relief from suffering, unconditional happiness, perfect knowledge, unlimited freedom and ecstatic love. The recondite intricacies of spiritual life become easy to understand by the mercy of a pure devotee. All these advantages and more are natural results of association with great souls. In fact, there is no other way to obtain them. Therefore if people in general understood the source of these perfections of life, there would be unlimited demand for association with perfected saints.
According to all the criteria of value discussed above, the association of a pure devotee of the Lord is the most valuable thing in the world. A great soul who has understood Kṛṣṇa consciousness fully, and has performed austerities for many, many lives to attain the perfection of devotional service, is very rare. Such a pure soul is much rarer than the most valuable jewel.
One time Sanatana Gosvami was given a touchstone, a jewel that can turn base metals into gold. Sanatana Gosvami threw the touchstone on the garbage heap. One night a thief came, found the touchstone in Sanatana Gosvami's garbage, and took it away. Then he began to enjoy life very opulently, using the touchstone to make gold.
However, after some time he began to doubt: "The touchstone was in the garbage. Certainly Sanatana Gosvami did not put it there accidentally. This means he must have something so valuable that he considers a touchstone to be garbage. I am a great thief; let me steal that most valuable thing."
The thief came before Sanatana Gosvami and inquired, "Dear Sir, I found a touchstone discarded in your trash. If a touchstone is garbage to you, then please tell me what is really valuable." Sanatana Gosvami laughed, and then initiated the thief into the chanting of the pure Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa.
Pure bhakti-yoga, devotional service to the Lord is the finest thing, possessing all aesthetic and spiritual qualities, praised by the Lord Himself in so many scriptural passages. It is most beautiful because it leads us directly to the source of all beauty, the Supreme Lord Himself. It is the most demanded thing because it grants the objects of all desires. And it is the most useful thing because it provides the greatest benefits: cessation of all suffering and complete happiness.
In the preliminary stage of devotional service the pure devotees relish transcendental pleasure from the service itself, and in the mature stage they are actually situated in love of God. Once situated in that transcendental position, they relish the highest perfection, which is exhibited by the Lord in His abode. Therefore the association of pure devotees should be sought with great determination and intelligence by everyone who desires the greatest gift that human life has to offer.
The Most Confidential Knowledge
Knowledge is always very important and valuable. Without knowledge we cannot accomplish anything. Knowledge of the interactions of cause and effect in time is the foundation for all human endeavor and activity. Knowledge also supports our faith. Therefore, knowledge is required to achieve advancement in spiritual life.
In Western materialistic society, people with advanced education generally attain considerably more income and status than less educated people, who are considered unfortunate and ignorant. Similarly in spiritual society, devotees with deep spiritual knowledge are considered more advanced than those whose knowledge is superficial or incomplete. Devotees who have personally realized the purport of transcendental knowledge are even more advanced. In this context, knowledge is broadly defined as not only intellectual knowledge expressible in words and other symbols, but also cognitive knowledge such as the elevated spiritual moods and states of profound devotional consciousness.
Transcendentalists of other orientations, such as impersonalists, yogis and jnanis, also stress the importance of spiritual knowledge. Although they think themselves far more advanced in knowledge than the simple devotees, this is an illusion. Other transcendentalists often stress learning and stage showy public lectures and debates to advertise their knowledge. However, devotees do not care so much for knowledge in itself, but only as it supports and encourages their engagement in confidential devotional service. They are not inclined to display their knowledge openly unless there is some need to establish or defend the process of devotional service of the Lord. But actually, the pure devotees of the Lord possess far greater opulence in transcendental knowledge than any other transcendentalists.
Therefore, even though we may have nice devotional sentiments toward the Lord, or fortunately be connected with devotional service through good association, we should always endeavor to cultivate and increase our transcendental knowledge. Spiritual knowledge is acquired by hearing from those who have realized it. This is best done by hearing directly in personal association, or by reading a book, or by other media such as recordings.
The Lord says that of all devotees, "the wise one who is in full knowledge in union with Me through pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me." [Bhagavad-gita 7.19] Of course, devotees who are less complete in knowledge are also dear to the Lord. Anyone who comes to the Lord for any purpose, or at any stage of life, is a mahatma or great soul. But a devotee with mature spiritual knowledge is very dear to the Lord, because his only purpose is to serve the Supreme Lord with intense love and devotion. Such a devotee cannot remain without contacting or serving the Supreme Lord at every moment.
In spiritual life there are four kinds of knowledge: public knowledge, confidential knowledge, more confidential knowledge and most confidential knowledge. As the disciple becomes more and more advanced in spiritual life, he or she becomes qualified to hear and realize more and more confidential levels of spiritual knowledge. Finally, the devotee attains complete knowledge by the direct grace of the Lord. This supreme, most confidential knowledge is the perfection of spiritual life.
Ordinary religious knowledge is available to anyone through public sources. For example, everyone knows that God exists. They may or may not have faith; that is a different question. But certainly everyone has heard of God. And most people have some vague idea of God's instructions, that He wants us to love Him, be kind to other people and so on. This is public knowledge.
Confidential knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is originated by Kṛṣṇa Himself, and is passed down to us by realized souls through the chain of disciplic succession. This confidential knowledge is realized through the process of initiation. One must become qualified to receive confidential knowledge. Just as one speaks of personal finances only to a trusted friend or advisor, the great souls of the disciplic lineage reveal confidential knowledge of spiritual life only to their personal disciples and trusted intimate friends.
Confidential knowledge, being absolute like Kṛṣṇa, has its own intelligence. Therefore it is only manifest to those with the requisite qualifications. For example, although Sri Kṛṣṇa is well known throughout the world, only a devotee who is favorably connected with an authentic Vedic disciplic lineage can accept that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Others, though hearing this fact, cannot understand, and concoct various speculative excuses why they cannot accept it. This is their great misfortune.
The Lord explains in the Fourth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita that He wants His beloved devotees and friends to have confidential transcendental knowledge of His forms, names, qualities and activities. Both material and spiritual knowledge are included in confidential transcendental knowledge. After all, complete knowledge includes confidential knowledge of the spirit soul, the phenomenal world, the Supreme Spirit behind it, His insuperable potency of time, and their complex inter-relationships. This knowledge gives the devotees great power, and so it can be revealed only to one who has earned the Lord's trust by approaching a Spiritual Master according to His directions.
Such complete confidential knowledge can be achieved only by the devotee of the Lord, situated in disciplic succession directly from the Lord by the ancient process of initiation. When Kṛṣṇa, the cause of all causes, becomes known, then everything knowable becomes known, and nothing remains unknown. Kṛṣṇa explains that "When one is enlightened with the knowledge that destroys nescience, then his knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up everything in the daytime." [Bhagavad-gita 5.16]
When the devotee has understood and realized this confidential knowledge, he attains firm faith in the transcendental process of devotional service and begins to render such confidential service unconditionally and uninterruptedly. At this time he becomes eligible for more confidential knowledge, such as the theory of advanced devotional states of consciousness and the methods of devotional service for achieving them, to be revealed unto him. Such knowledge is even more confidential than confidential knowledge of the Supreme Controller and the controlled material and spiritual energies, because it brings Kṛṣṇa under the control of the devotee.
After many years of learning and practice of this more confidential knowledge, the progressive devotee understands his personal inclination in the devotional service of the Lord, and forms a desire for eternal engagement in such service in his original spiritual form. At this time he becomes eligible to receive the most confidential knowledge of the reality of the spiritual world, and to realize and experience Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastimes in the spiritual realm of his choice. This most confidential knowledge can only be revealed to the most advanced devotees, those who are dearer to Kṛṣṇa than His own Self, because they have become completely purified of all material contamination and are saturated with ecstatic devotional love.
At this stage of devotional service, all the symptoms of devotional ecstasy spontaneously manifest in the body of the devotee. Although the devotee does not desire such ecstasies because they interfere with his rendering service to his Lord, they manifest anyway by the sweet will of the Lord, to benedict His beloved devotee with transcendental pleasure. This is ultimate perfection in devotional service, and such a devotee certainly enters the eternal spiritual world, never to be reborn in this material world.
We should carefully distinguish between theoretical or book learning, and actual realized knowledge as revealed within the heart by the mercy of the Lord. Just because a devotee can parrot the scriptures doesn't necessarily indicate a deep state of realized knowledge. Actual confidential knowledge of devotional service or bhakti-yoga consists of a direct personal relationship with Lord Kṛṣṇa. The realized devotee has transcendental consciousness of Kṛṣṇa and understands His frame of mind. He knows what Kṛṣṇa likes, and what He does not like. He knows how to treat Kṛṣṇa when He reveals Himself, and how to please Kṛṣṇa by offering service.
Ultimately, the advanced devotee can anticipate Kṛṣṇa's moods and make arrangements for Kṛṣṇa's ever-increasing pleasure on his own initiative, without any direct instruction. This is the sign of perfection in devotional service, and it is possible only through personal realization of the most confidential knowledge.
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