narayana-para veda includes Manu-samhita

[Guest guest]

> What is this mysterious middle ground which is higher than aspiration for

> one's own pleasure, but which is not bhakti?

 

Maybe the twelfth chapter of Bhagavad-gita could give a clue.

 

Bg 12.9) My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind

upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of

bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain Me.

 

Bg 12.10) If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then just

try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the perfect

stage.

 

Bg 12.11) If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me,

then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be

self-situated.

 

Bg 12.12) If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the

cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and

better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such

renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

 

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As I see it there are also some valuable instructions in the Vedas about how

to behave as a human being. If one thinks that human behaviour is not

anything one has to worry about if one is a devotee and consider that such

instructions are only meant for the sensegratifiers then maybe one should

consider a little deeper the words of the Lord in the twelfth chapter of

Bhagavad-gita.

 

Bg 12.13-14) One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living

entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false

ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always

satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with

determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me; such a devotee of Mine

is very dear to Me.

 

Bg 12.15) He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed

by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is

very dear to Me.

 

Bg 12.16) My devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of

activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and not

striving for some result, is very dear to Me.

 

Bg 12.17) One who neither rejoices nor grieves, who neither laments nor

desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things; such a

devotee is very dear to Me.

 

Bg 12.18-19) One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in

honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy,

who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and

satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in

knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service; such a person is very

dear to Me.

 

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The question is if we are pleasing the Lord with our behaviour or not. If we

are not pleasing the Lord then what is the question of bhakti. How can there

be bhakti if we are not treating other living entities with respect and

care.

 

Maybe we are not such advanced devotees. Maybe we also need some guidance in

how to behave as human beings. If we are putting others into difficulties

and sees others in terms of friends and enemies and is very much affected by

fame and infamy and at the same time is very concerned about cousy living

facilities and is not satisfied with just sleeping on the floor in the

brahmacari ashram then maybe the Vedas also have something to give to us

also.

 

The Vedas are meant to elevate us to human beings and from there we can

elevate further to spiritual platforms. But if we think that we don't have

to worry so much about becoming human beings but just have to chant Hare

Krishna and eat prasadam then I am not so sure that it always will work out

for us in our endeavors to develop love (or bhakti) for the Lord.

 

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"Kutinati, or diplomatic behavior, cannot satisfy the atma, the soul. It

cannot even satisfy the body or the mind. The culprit mind is always

suspicious; therefore our dealings should always be straightforward and

approved by Vedic authorities. If we treat people diplomatically or

duplicitously, our spiritual advancement is obstructed."

(Madhya 19.159, Purport)

 

Y.s.

Svarupa das