CHAPTER 9, TEXT 2: This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.
When I was thirteen years old, I read this verse in the book Illuminations from the Bhagavad-Gita by Kim and Chris Murray.
This illustration was the first verse and opened up the entire book. I remember very clearly reading this verse over and over, absorbing myself in the intricate artistic frame, and gazing upon the illustration of Prabhupad singing on his harmonium, his eyes closed, so obviously... joyful.
I wanted that.
I still do.
When I read this verse this morning, chills raced down my arms, for this verse was one of my original sparks of inspiration to truly pursue a spiritual path.
Now, twenty years later, I was finally reading with a studious heart Srila Prabhupad's in-depth purport, his systematic and revolutionary explication upon this famous verse.
As a grown woman (and an English teacher!), I admired his thorough and scholarly approach to breaking down every single word and phrase. Lights flashed on in my mind again and again with each point that he made - I felt as though I was rediscovering this verse and my heart has been moved all over again. (The full purport is a great read! Link at the end of this post).
Once again, that phrase and Prabhupad's expansion on that phrase has captured me once more: joyfully performed.
Devotional service is joyfully performed.
What's the point of any and all religion anyway? To be happy. Truly, deeply, eternally happy.
Happiness is the goal, but what's wonderful is that Prabhupad emphasizes that even the process itself is a happy one (su-sukham). "Why [is it a happy process]? Devotional service consists of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ..." Devotional service is broken down into nine processes, and here Prabhupad is saying that each and every process is joyful, specifically hearing about the Lord and singing His names. As other parts of the Gita verse mention, the process can be directly experienced, so by hearing about God and singing God's name, joy can be experienced in this very moment.
Just try it, Prabhupad seems to say.
There are no limitations. He writes, "In every state devotional service is joyful. One can execute devotional service even in the most poverty-stricken condition. The Lord says, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam: He is ready to accept from the devotee any kind of offering, never mind what. Even a leaf, a flower, a bit of fruit, or a little water, which are all available in every part of the world, can be offered by any person, regardless of social position, and will be accepted if offered with love." I love how Prabhupad emphasizes "any" person can engage in this process by putting the word in italics. He is saying that no matter the circumstances of wealth or social class or location or timing, anyone can experience the joy of loving God. Right now.
Anyone.
After all, love is not restricted by social class or location or timing. Love transcends time and place and circumstances because the very nature of the soul is to love God (nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema 'sādhya' kabhu naya). That love is joyful.
The thing is, God owns everything. Does he really need a leaf? A drop of water? A flower?
Uh, no.
What God wants and what God needs is our love. Prabhupad writes, "God accepts only the love with which things are offered to Him." This means that the love of the offering is what God sees and what God accepts.
What is so revolutionary about this purport is that Prabhupad is not only giving speculative knowledge, the musings of an elderly scholar at his dusty desk. He is saying that this is a very personal and very practical process and logically, one should follow it. He writes, "[Devotional service] is the purest form of religion, and it can be executed joyfully without difficulty. Therefore one should adopt it." In its purest form, religion is the material process by which we can connect with our spiritual nature. There are many religions in the world but only one spiritual truth. What Prabhhupad is emphasizing here is that the essence of all religion is to serve and love God with all of our hearts, and by doing so natural joy awakens within the heart. This joy is natural and the process is not difficult or restrictive.
So...
What are you waiting for?
"Therefore one should adopt it."
Prabhupad's logic is so clean and clear. He is not reasoning from a place of fanaticism or smooth talking convincing or even passionate evangelism. He simply offers the deepest conclusion from expanding upon the divine words of Sri Krishna.
Prabhupad seems to say: Adopt this verse because you will be joyful if you do. A joy that will never end, a joy that will enliven you and give purpose and meaning to all of your days and beyond.
No comments:
Post a Comment