Violent Creatures of Lust, Anger and So Forth

(From "Bhakti Tattva Viveka" - click to read more from it.
You can also read the previous page: Why It Is Important to Abandon the Desire for Mukti)

To remain free from and uncovered by tendencies such as those for jnana and karma is another marginal characteristic of bhakti.

In the phrase ‘jnana-karmadi,’ the word ‘adi,’ meaning ‘and so forth,’ refers to the practice of ashtanga-yoga, vairagya sankhya-yoga and the occupational duties corresponding to one’s caste or creed.

It has already been mentioned that the favorable cultivation of activities to please Sri Krsna is called bhakti.

The living entity is transcendental, Krsna is transcendental, and the bhakti-vritti or tendency of unalloyed devotion through which the living entity establishes an eternal relationship with Krsna is also transcendental.

When the jiva is situated in his pure state, only then does the svarupa-lakshana or intrinsic attribute of bhakti act.

At that time there is no opportunity for the tatastha-lakshana of bhakti to act.

When the jiva is conditioned and situated in the material world, along with his svarupa or constitutional identity two more marginal identities are present: the gross and subtle bodies.

Through the medium of these the living entity endeavours to fulfill his various desires while residing in the material world.

Therefore, when introducing someone to the conception of shuddha-bhakti we have to acquaint him with the concept of anyabhilashita-shunya, being devoid of any desires other than the desire to please Sri Krsna.

In the transcendental world this type of identification is not required.

After becoming entangled in the ocean of material existence, the jiva becomes absorbed in various types of external activities and is thereby attacked by a disease called ‘forgetfulness of Krsna’.

Within the jiva suffering from the severe miseries caused by this disease arises a desire to be delivered from the ocean of material nescience.

At that time within his mind he condemns himself, thinking, “Alas! How unfortunate I am! Having fallen into this insurmountable ocean of material existence, I am being thrown here and there by the violent waves of my wicked desires.

At different times I am being attacked by the crocodiles and other violent creatures of lust, anger and so forth.

I cry helplessly at my miserable condition but I don’t see any hope for my survival.

What should I do? Do I not have any well-wisher? Is there any possible way I can be rescued? Alas! What to do? How will I be delivered? I don’t see any solution to my dilemma.

Alas! Alas! I am most unfortunate.” In such a distressed state of helplessness, the jiva becomes exhausted and falls silent.

Seeing the jiva in this condition, the most compassionate Sri Krsna then mercifully implants the bhakti-lata-bija or seed of the creeper of devotion within his heart.

This seed is known as shraddha or faith and it contains within it the undeveloped manifestation of bhava or the first sprout of divine love for Bhagavan.

Nourished by the water of the cultivation of devotional activities headed by hearing and chanting, that seedling first sprouts, then grows leaves, and then finally flowers as it assumes the full form of a creeper.

When in the end good fortune dawns upon the jiva, the bhakti-lata bears the fruit of prema.(from Part 1 – "The Intrinsic Nature of Devotion")

Another revelation, Your shraddha must be protected from all varieties of inauspiciousness. Check out the previous page too: Why It Is Important to Abandon the Desire for Mukti. You will benefit from reading the whole work: Bhakti Tattva Viveka.

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Harih Om Tat Sat.