Developing pure devotional service (Srimad Bhagavatam #41)

Impersonalists generally believe that to become free from material contamination one should renounce all material activities and connections. However, we can see that Lord Kapila offers a different path. These instructions apply both to neophytes and pure devotees. Arjuna is certainly a pure devotee, and the Lord gave him similar instructions in the Bhagavad-Gita. For a Vaishnava, the process is not so much about stopping material activities, but in developing activities in Krishna Consciousness. Once one becomes absorbed in transcendental activities, one automatically stops with all unwanted engagements. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita, everyone acquires a certain nature according to the influence of the material modes, and is very dificult to go against it. Arjuna was a Ksatriya, and his nature was to fight for the just cause. At the beginning of the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna wanted to abandon the battlefield and become a mendicant, but Krishna didn't agree with that, arguing that he would not be able to go against his nature for long. One can suppress his nature for some time, but it doesn't work very well in the long run. A more productive process is to just use these natural propensities to work in Krishna Consciousness. That's the main message from the Bhagavad-Gita, and we can see that Lord Kapila also recommends it. Get full access to Mysteries of the Vedas (Caitanya Chandra Dasa) at www.ccdas.net/subscribe