By Kesava Krsna Dasa
Sometimes devotees think that by working hard for Krishna, on the order of the spiritual master, even if there is some neglect of personal sadhana, hearing and chanting, success in spiritual life is assured come what may. Is this empty optimism? Or does the order of the spiritual master supersede all other considerations?
It is tempting to assure oneself that being engaged in all nine angas of Bhakti to lesser or greater degrees trying to please the guru, the assiduous, intense performance of service can counter and make up the deficit of personal neglect. ‘I am being engaged so much, in fact, I have little time to complete my rounds. But Krishna is merciful. He understands my situation.’
The ‘work now, samadhi later’ ethic can be misunderstood. If working hard now in genuine practical service, furthering the cause of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is pleasing to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, then surely the merciful Lord will overlook these shortfalls ‘ or will He? There were times when the merciful Srila Prabhupada was aware of these problems with some of his GBC men.
After all, by continuous engagement in devotional service, we are assured thus: ‘Therefore, one has to work in Krishna consciousness to satisfy Krishna or Vishnu; and while performing such activities one is in a liberated stage.’ (BG 5.1 purport) Are things really as simple as this? Or is the ‘satisfaction’ of Krishna or Vishnu the real criterion?
By ceaseless exertion, and toiling with blood, sweat and tears, there is no doubt it will be pleasing. But if the guru enquires, as he does with certain disciples, ‘How are your rounds going?’ and is met with an admission of neglect, it will add bitterness to an otherwise sweet return. Do pleasing hard work and disregard of promises made at initiation time go well together?
If the basic vows, especially the chanting of rounds falter, and the sadhana slackens, in spite of being a super-active hard worker, it is indicative of a deficiency in ideal consciousness. Far from being ‘liberated,’ if when the time comes for samadhi, one will not have the slightest taste for it anyway, making it an elusive retirement hole in the ground.
If this trend continues for years up to old age, the grounded consciousness will cause the statement ‘work now, samadhi later’ to become ‘neglectful work now, struggle with samadhi if it ever comes.’ Attaining the level of samadhi is no light matter. ‘Samadhi means ‘fixed mind.” (BG 2. 44 purport) Srila Prabhupada does not mean nistha here either. ‘When the mind is fixed for understanding the self, it is said to be samadhi.’ (BG 2. 44 purport)
Such an understanding surpasses the usual knowledge related to sadhana Bhakti. ‘The highest perfection of self-realization is to understand that one is eternally the servitor of Krishna’.’ (BG 2. 53 purport) To be clearer, Srila Prabhupada is referring to a natural or spontaneous level of devotion; ‘In Krishna consciousness, one comes directly into communion with Krishna, and thus all directions from Krishna may be understood in that transcendental state.’ (BG 2. 53 purport)
If true samadhi is so natural and high by most expectations, then the ‘work now, samadhi later’ command has profound implications if understood properly. Working now really means that while doing active physical service, we simultaneously work to increase the quality of chanting and hearing to the point they cease to be chores. When our chanting and hearing becomes a natural exciting relish, this should stand us in good stead for samadhi.
If however, after years of neglect doing pleasing great service, the time for samadhi may never arrive at all. One will have to struggle to attain nistha and ruci at least, as if by force, which would render the whole exercise a troublesome one. It will be like a neophyte or a mystic yogi trying to get somewhere: ‘The concentration of the mystic is mechanical, whereas that of the pure devotee is natural and spontaneous.'(SB 1.9.39 purport)
While a lot can be said about the immense devotee-power and never-ending hours required keeping Iskcon going, it would be a worthwhile effort to realize that the ‘samadhi later’ goal should not be impeded. Indeed it began ‘yesterday’ and is an ongoing quest to apply the saying ‘the end justifies the means.’ Only samadhi can be a true end to a life of sensible work.
Ys, Kesava Krsna dasa ‘ GRS.
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