Progress Despite Imperfection

Urgency in completing devotional service

0:00And even by that, so falls we can save ourselves. That is so much compassion. But we should not fail in that sense.

0:09We should, uh, know that we have to deposit hundred dollars and let us finish it as soon as possible without waiting for next life. That should be our reason.

Eternal benefits of partial progress

0:20But devotion service, it is so nice. Even if we go a little percentage, that is remaining in your efforts. And it will give you another impetus.

0:32Not only that, how it will give it, because you get next life, next life, a several of life for execution.

Lessons from King Bharata's rebirth

0:41Bharat Mahārāja, he became some or other a deer. But the, uh, opportunity was given, he remembered that: "I was King Bharat, uh, for my slipping and vision, I, I have become this deer."

0:59So he, he was remembering and he was always remaining to be devoted. The next life is again a brāhmaṇa and that's why it's the last.

1:14So we should be very careful in this respect that even Bharat Mahārāja was so great, yet literally, uh, inattention, uh, obliged him to take a body. Although the progress was going on, even in the deer body.

1:33The progress has not stopped. Otherwise, how you get next life? There was progress was going on.

Desiring birth among devotees

1:43Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Bhakti-mārga said: "Kita-janma hau yathā tathā." If by some mistakes somewhere, I had to take birth as an insignificant insect, kindly allow me to become that insect in a devotee's house.

2:02Because that will use intellect. In devotee's house, if one becomes an insect, uh, some or other he, some or other he hears chanting these. Bahirmukha brahma-janme nāhi āśā.

2:21I do not want to become a Brahmā and be devoid of, devoid of your devotional service. Let me, each have to take. Of course, I do not say that I will not have a chance in anybody. Let there be, but let me remain in the home.

2:44Very good. Alright, there is a devotion.

Rebirth of the unsuccessful yogi

2:49And that also says in the Bhagavad-gītā: śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijāyate. Yoga-bhraṣṭa. Even as a yoga-bhraṣṭa, even as a human being, he is allowed to stay in a devotee's home, in a pure devotee.

3:08So there is our facility. But at the same time, we should be very... we should not neglect this, like, uh, fall down to a check down with another. No, that should not be a view. We should be very serious.

3:26The serious this business, to suppose it's the hundred dollars. We live this life. And that is very nice. Try to, because another fourth time, next life... Another fourth time, next time.

Voluntary inconvenience as tapasya

3:50Why did you, uh, make your life in that? This life, is it like little... there is little inconvenience to follow the rules and the real time, that is called tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting some inconvenience.

4:09Voluntary. That is all, probably. That is voluntary sevā. Outside, his special masters are old, he can argue nicely, he can, uh, enjoy life like this.

4:34But, uh, you can't, with your master's house, and, uh, lie down on the floor, and no good foodstuff, no nothing. Why? That is tapasya. Tapas is one. Tapasya. That is advice. Advice.

4:55But this life is for tapasya, not to be carried away by the waves of pāpa-puruṣa.

5:08Tapasya. So in the material world, the more we understand the property, voluntarily accept all kinds of inconvenience for the matter of executing devotional service, Kṛṣṇa-bhakti. Very good.

Regulated life versus severe austerities

5:30Everything really, but so far we are concerned, our Śrīla Prabhupāda is not going to do that. Simply little regulated, that's all. Otherwise, mahā-vairāgya, someone says yoga, yeah, they are very severe type of coming.

5:49You will have to go to the jungle and sit down in a secluded place, respect like that. And so many rules and regulations, who is going to follow those rules and regulations? It is not possible as this.

Chanting as the only path

6:07That's not possible. Therefore, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva.

6:11You cannot follow any other rules and regulations for emancipation, which only mental relations, and these are the lectures we're doing of the whole of the 23rd and the morning of the 22nd. Those lessons are not recorded.