Bruce Lee and Devotional Service

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

 

I don't mean to be facetious, but I found this 3 minute video of an

interview with Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee. Its useful as an

unconventional way to share our philosophy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rJQtkd26j4&search=bruce%20lee%20interview

 

Recently I saw an ad for a "Vedic" martial arts workshop at New

Vrindavan, so I figured this is not too far off the scale. Maybe

devotees can use this as an entertaining clip during a campus

presentation, etc.

 

The views expressed reminded me of the way Srila Madhvacarya, Sri

Jayatirtha and Vadiraja Tirtha have defined jnAna-pUrNa bhakti in

their comments to Vedanta-Sutra 3.2.19 (Om ambuvad agrahaNat tu na

tathAtvaM Om). They compared Bhakti to water, and Jnana to the way

water is consumed (or "used", "channeled"). It also reminded me of

many of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's and Prabhupada's statements, and his

own personality.

 

Bhakti is defined as the innate quality of intense love and attachment

to ViSNu, in full knowledge of His Greatness

(mAhAtmya-jnAnapUrvaka-snehO hi bhaktiH). Sentimental affection

without sound understanding or in false doctrine is not real bhakti

(snehenAjnAnAd iti kutO nOktaM). In BG 10.7 purport, Prabhupada said:

"One should not neglect to understand fully how great Krsna is, for by

knowing the greatness of Krsna one will be able to be fixed in sincere

devotional service."

 

Bhakti expresses itself in different ways according to the

circumstances in which a Pure Devotee is placed, just like water

(ambuvat), which flows into different vessels or canals, or has

different velocities. The Pure Devotee's Nature is supple and dynamic,

without rigid, static moods or styles, or rigid, egotistical opinions

on mundane matters (like physical "non-violence" as an absolute

principle, for instance). Srila Bhaktisiddhanta spoke of the "absolute

and unconventional guidance" of the spiritual master - even

transcending the stereotypes found in the SmRti textbooks (of course,

he adds, "It does not follow that the mechanical adoption of the

unconventional life by any person will make him a fit teacher of

religion.) The Pure Devotee's heart and mind (jnAna) is empty of these

attachments and mental identities, solely seeking to be a medium for

the Pleasure of Godhead. As a flexible instrument, he is easily

moulded according to the wish and command of his Spiritual Authority.

Water can flow serenely and patiently, or it can rush fearlessly with

surprising force.

 

Jnana is the hard and firm channel, vessel, or topography that

determines the course and nature of the flow of the water (jnAna is

described as "dArDhya-sUcana" in the commentary). Without the water, a

channel/vessel has no meaning. OTOH, water without a vessel, hose,

canal or gradient remains stagnant and dissipates.

 

Bhakti is intrinsic to consciousness, and is spontaneous

(instinctive). All states of consciousness, ranging from shraddhA to

saMkalpa are only different grades of development of that fundamental

characteristic of consciousness as *intention*. (Sriman Ramanuja was

the first to reinstate this definition as part of the VaiSNava

renaissance - replacing the meaningless talk of "pure consciousness"

that BhedAbheda-vAdins and Advaitins were using.)

 

Jnana represents control and restraint, and gives shape and form

(svarUpa-nirUpaNArthaM) to the expression of Bhakti.

 

Bhakti flows spontaneously, just like water flows whenever there is

some gradient or impulse. Prabhupada sometimes compared our

conditioned state to water being frozen. To flow again, it should

thaw. Pure Bhakti brings total self-discipline w.r.t. spiritual

instructions, because there is no more self-resistance to flow (in its

own nature).

 

Krishna is the impetus and reservoir of all rasa, but the quality of

the jnAna of the jIva (dharma-bhUta-jnAna) determines how we wish to

express that fundamental current that flows thru us, either directly

connecting back to Him in communion, or indirectly thru the sink of

Maya. In fully blossomed self-realization (vikAsa), we realize our

svarUpa w.r.t. ViSnu.

 

Ultimately, jnAna-pUrNa bhakti is about honestly and fully expressing

one's Affection (sneha) for the Supreme Personality of Godhead in

great freedom and without resistance - ahaituki, apratihatA (Shrimad

BhAgavataM 1.2.6: http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/6/en)

 

Everything Mr. Bruce Lee says in the interview is nice, except that

the Reference Point, ViSNu, is missing. We cannot talk about anything

"natural" to the jiva w/o mentioning Godhead, because we jiva-s are

innately dependent entities. I believe Bruce Lee's exhuberant

enthusiasm was frustrated later on, and he turned to Jiddu

Krishnamurthy's philosophy after he was incapacitated by a spinal

injury. That bit of information adds a tragic twist to the clip.

 

Does anyone know how to download or "rip" the video off the "youtube"

website?

Your servant,

Carl

[Guest guest]

Dear Carl Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thanks for an interesting email.

You wrote:

Jnana is the hard and firm channel, vessel, or topography that determines the course and nature of the flow of the water (jnAna is described as "dArDhya-sUcana" in the commentary). Without the water, a channel/vessel has no meaning. OTOH, water without a vessel, hose, canal or gradient remains stagnant and dissipates.

>>> Is this a statement from the VS 3.2.19 commentary by Srila Madhvacharya?

According to Narada muni, bhakti is causeless and purely independent - bhakti is its own fruit (svayam phala-ruupeti - NBS verse 30) - the above statement/analogy seems to indicate that bhakti is dependent on jnana and interrupted by lack of it - Sri Narada muni states these positions in verse 28 ("knowledge is the means of devotion) and verse 29 ("others consider bhakti and knowledge interdependent") before defeating both in verse 30. And, SB 1.2.6 that you also quoted confirms that bhakti is causeless and uninterrupted.

HH Satsvarupa maharaja quotes Srila Prabhupada in his purport to verse 30,

""Revival of the dormant affection or love of Godhead does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting, but it solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord (SB 1.7.6 purport)"

"There is no reason or obligation for [Narada's] traveling, and no one can stop him from his free movement. Similarly, the transcendental system of devotional service is also free. It may or may not develop in a particular person even after he undergoes all the detailed formulas. Similarly, the association of the devotee is also free. One may be fortunate to have it, or one may not have it even after thousands of endeavors. Therefore, in all spheres of devotional service, freedom is the main pivot. [sB 1.6.37, purport]"

Please share your thoughts,

in your service,

Aravind

[Guest guest]

Dear Aravind prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

> >>> Is this a statement from the VS 3.2.19 commentary by Srila

Madhvacharya?

 

No, I was commenting on Sri Vadiraja's gloss to Sri Jayatirtha's

commentary to that sootra.

 

 

> According to Narada muni, bhakti is causeless and purely

independent - bhakti is its own fruit (svayam phala-ruupeti - NBS

verse 30) - the above statement/analogy seems to indicate that

bhakti is dependent on jnana

 

This is my understanding: JnAna here does not mean a speculative

construct that adds a *quantitative* burden to the mind. Rather,

Jnana here refers to a *qualitative* state free of distortions.

E.g., even your quote from NBS about the nature of Bhakti being its

own reward is a realization - jnAna! When consciousness is free of

distortions, then bhakti flows unhindered.

 

In an interview with Prof. Suthers of OSU in 1929, Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta had given an example: "Suppose there are some

angles, two right angles, four right angles, etc. There is the

contracted character of a corner in the acute, obtuse or right

angle. But in the two right angles called the straight angle, even

though called an angle, there is no contractedness or want of

straightness, as is the case with angles in general." So a straight

angle is also an angle, but without a contracted shape, without

distortions (unlike other angles of less or more than 180 degrees).

Similarly, jnAna is an attribute of consciousness, but

its "degree of wisdom" is what determines our perception of Reality.

 

Even in our conditioned sAdhana, acquisition of jnAna refers

to "realizations" that untie knots in our consciousness, freeing it

from distortions that choke up the natural flow of our bhakti. This

metaphor of jnAna untying knots is used many times in the Upanishads

also. E.g. from MunDaka: "bhidyatE hRdaya-granthiH, chidyantE

sarvasaMshaya, kSeeyantE ca-asya karmANi tasmin dRshTE para-avarE"

(4.10) - When the Highest God is seen, the knot of the heart is

cut...etc.

 

So what is condemned is the *quality* of jnAna that comes

under "lobha". This is the speculative mentality born of an agitated

mind. But jnAna itself is an attribute of consciousness, like

bhakti.

 

Generally, they say that karma-jnAna-bhakti have a dialogical

relationship, like a spiral cone. In the apex is pure-bhakti in full

jnAna. For some reason, karma is given an inferior place. Even the

deity of karma (puSkara) is given an inferior place compared to the

other 15 "kala-s" in the shoDashakala puruSa. Maybe someone here can

explain that.

 

Yours in service,

Carl