In our rushed lives, we often have so many things to do that we are caught in getting them done, not in enjoying doing them. Moreover, social pressure makes us to do many things that are not among our favorites, so we do them primarily to win others’ approval. Thus productivity or popularity becomes our driving purpose.
If this productivity- or popularity-driven mentality carries over into our spiritual life, we miss the essential joy of spirituality – the joy of remembering Krishna internally while externally doing various services for him. To the extent we have devotion for Krishna, to that extent his remembrance brings ecstasy. But even if his remembrance doesn’t bring ecstasy, it still brings purity – it drives away impurities like lust, anger and greed from our heart. In fact, the Bhagavad-gita (05.11) urges seekers to practice yoga for attaining purity.
Of course, the highest devotees serve Krishna selflessly, for no purpose other than his pleasure. But till we attain their exalted level, purity is a healthy driving purpose to cultivate. And we can make our aspiration for purity selfless by seeking purity not to delight in the pride of being purer than others, but to serve Krishna better and please him more.
In our spiritual life, it is nice to do lots of services for Krishna. It is also nice to do services well so as to gain others’ approval and attract them to Krishna. But if productivity or popularity usurps purity as our driving purpose, then we unwittingly drive ourselves towards externals away from Krishna.
By conscientiously striving for purity, we can absorb ourselves in the empowering remembrance of Krishna. This absorption frequently generates as a byproduct productivity and popularity. But more importantly, purity leads to ecstasy – the supreme ecstasy of eternal love for Krishna.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05 Text 11
"The yogis, abandoning attachment, act with body, mind, intelligence and even with the senses, only for the purpose of purification."
thank you pr ji for showing us the way of how to connect the quality of purity to KRSNA.
Thank you pr for posting this article and revealing the path of attitude to be cultivated through devotion…,
You’ve made the understanding of this as clear
as crystal.Thank you prabhuji for another drop of nectar.Hare Krishna!
But Prabhuji, in our efforts to become pure, pride somehow or the other sneaks in. But then how to avoid this?
Answered here:
http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2013/12/in-our-efforts-to-become-pure-pride-somehow-or-the-other-sneaks-in-how-to-avoid-this/
ys
ccdas
Hare Krsna Thank You prabhu for writing such nice articles everyday and this article of having our purpose for purity which in turn wil us estacy I will sincerely make an endeavour for the same.
Hare Krishna Prabhu Ji. The way of doing service delivered here in this content is excellent. Thank you for sharing the same. Hari Bhol!!
Hare krishna Prabhuji,
Thanks for giving an insight which can inspire us to be always engaged enthusiastically in the service of Krishna. However if popularity and productivity is mentioned as by product, then the stupid mind seeks more of the byproduct than the main motive of purification.
To be always engaged enthusiastically in the service of Gauranga, the advise that I received from my Guru Maharaj may also help which is ” Do everything for the pleasure of Gaur Nitai. If along the way, things come, then do always remember that WEALTH is for VISHNU, WOMEN are for KRISHNA and FAME is for SRILA PRABHUPADA. Do offer these to their rightful owners and you would always be happy.”