The Bhagavad-gita repeatedly urges us to fix the mind on Krishna. The specific phrase man-mana (“fix the mind on me”) occurs twice in the Gita (09.34 & 18.65) and similar instructions occurs several dozen times.

How does Arjuna respond – how does he fix his mind on Krishna? By fighting on Krishna’s behalf for the cause of establishing dharma. Earlier in the Gita (04.07-08), Krishna has stated that he descends to this material world for the mission of establishing dharma. Arjuna’s resolve to fight conveys his responsibility to assist Krishna in his mission – by such practical, committed service, Arjuna fixes his mind on Krishna.

We may hold the notion that to fix the mind on Krishna, we need to engage in directly devotional activities such as chanting his holy names, studying his sacred message, hearing his glories, worshiping his deities and so forth. But because we frequently don’t have much taste for such activities, we may feel that remembering Krishna is not practical.

But such remembrance can become easier when we take responsibility to, say, share Krishna’s message by speaking about him, informally or formally, as the opportunity presents itself. That responsibility will force us to hear and study diligently, and to also care for those who approach Krishna, thereby overall increasing our absorption in him.

In general, taking up responsibility in any field pushes us to go beyond the mind’s distractedness, laziness and moodiness, and strive for steadiness and productiveness. We can dovetail in bhakti this disposition-altering characteristic of taking responsibility. Such dovetailing will make our bhakti practices steadier and stronger. Gradually, as such practice purifies us, we will see responsibility not as a burden but as an opportunity to express and experience love. Thus, our bhakti will become infused with sublime sweetness.

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