Hare Krishna

10th January, Gurgaon.

I always heard that we can not get Bhakti from pious activities as Bhakti devi is independent. Then came the understanding that  bhakti can only be given by a devotee of the Lord as Lord Himself is impartial towards everyone where as His devotees are partial towards devotees and innocents.  Then came the question that what brings a devotee in our lives, should we just consider it a good fortune, which it is, or some `sukriti’ (pious credit) too is responsible for it.

I recently heard a lecture by HG Madhavanad Prabhuji and he explained this point in a very simple way that I could understand. I am sharing the same.

Prabhuji explained via CC. madhya 22 45, whose translation is

“By good fortune one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one’s term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one’s attraction to Krishna is awakened.”

Srila Prabhupada quotes Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur in his purport that there are there three types of Sukriti

1. Bhoga (Karma) unmukhi sukriti : This gives material opulence, higher planets like swargaloka etc. this is also called `karmonmukhi’ or piety derived from subhakarma (auspicious activities like giving in charity, opening orphanages, etc).

2. Moksha (jnana) unmukhi sukriti : This gives liberation, enabling one to merge into the existence of the Supreme. This is attained through piety derived from the cultivation of knowledge and therefore, it is also called `jnanonmukhi’ sukriti.

3. Bhakti unmukhi sukriti: This awaken one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Devotional activities such as hearing, reading & chanting about Krishna, serving His devotees,  etc. constitute this third type and are thus supreme pious work.

Prabhuji also explained that Srila Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Thakur said in a lecture that when we follow vaidhi bhakti without being under the shelter of a devotee of Krishna then again we collect Bhakti unmukhi sukriti.

Hence it works both ways, when we get or collect bhakti-unmukhi sukriti, knowingly or unknowingly,  we get a devotee in our life. On the other hand we can also get causeless mercy of a devotee and then get bhakti-unmukhi sukriti.

Srila Prabhupada  further writes in his purport `Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Kṛṣṇa conscious. The good fortune of bhakti-unmukhī is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awakened.

I understood that one may collect Bhakti unmukhi sukriti and it may sometime ensure that someone starts his spiritual journey from a higher platform but bhakti will not `kickstart’ on its own and one can only `encash’ these spiritual credits when one gets in touch with a devotee and get his mercy.

My lesson : I must always hanker for the association of devotees and spend rest of the time, as much as possible, in hearing and chanting or talking about Krishna. The same thing was instructed by HH Giriraj Maharaj in Noida this month when Maharaj said  that each moment of our life is precious and we need to use the best use of each moment.

We can all hear the most wonderful Ramananad Samvad by Madhvananda Prabhuji, which had the above description on   day 5, between 19.00 to 25.00 minutes, at

http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F03_-_ISKCON_Prabhujis%2FISKCON_Prabhujis_-_K_to_R%2FHis_Grace_Madhavananda_Prabhu%2FRamananda_Samvad

All glories to merciful Vaishnavas.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.