Digest 345: March 15th, 2011. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja
You are invited to send your questions to His Holiness Romapada Swami at
iskcondcr@gmail.com with the word "Question" included in the subject line or
submit your question at http://www.romapadaswami.com/?q=feedback/Question.

Dhruva Maharaja and our material motivations
````````````````````````````````````````
721) How did Dhruva Maharaja get purified, even though he had a material
motivation/desire (of getting the highest kingdom) in following Narada's
instructions? Does it mean that we should follow the Spiritual Master's
instructions even if our motivation to follow them is material? Will this
eventually purify our material desire? And how do we see it in the light of
Bhagavatam (1.2.6) which emphasizes ahaituki bhakti?

Answer: Having material desires itself does not bar one from approaching
Krishna. Srimad Bhagavatam emphasizes:

       akamah sarva -kamo va
       moksa kama udara-dhih
       tivrena bhakti-yogena
       yajeta purusam param (SB 2.3.10)

Whether one is desireless, or full of material desires, or desirous of
liberation, in any case an intelligent person should engage in
*tivra-bhakti*. "Tivra" indicates great force, like that of concentrated
sun-rays. By the force of such tivra-bhakti, executed under proper guidance,
material desires are purified.

SB 1.2.6 is a description of the *process* by which one can attain to the
stage of ahaituki-bhakti, even if one may not possess it at the outset. Such
a process is described as the best religion; it alone can bring full
satisfaction. What is that process? That is elaborated in subsequent verses
in SB 1.2.12-22. The process is, with single-pointed attention, hear about,
glorify, remember and worship the Supreme Lord. It begins with hearing and
serving the mahats or great souls. (Verse 16) By that endeavor, ignorance,
passion, lust, greed etc are destroyed almost to nil, and irrevocable
devotion is established.

Dhruva Maharaja's success lay in meticulously applying this process -- as a
result, he attained ahaituki-bhakti.

While Dhruva's example is highly encouraging for all beginning devotees, we
should also carefully observe *how* Dhruva Maharaja executed the
instructions given to him.

  - Dhruva was very sincere in his purpose -- not merely to achieve the
greatest kingdom, but to do so *ONLY by pleasing Vishnu*. He requested
Narada to give him an "honest" path to achieve his goal. (SB 4.8.37)
  - He was willing to sacrifice anything and undergo any difficulty to
please Vishnu. He was not looking for any other material means or short-cut
to fulfill his desire by hook or by crook.
  - He strictly followed all the directions of Narada with great enthusiasm
and determination, without compromise, without considering personal
convenience or inconvenience.

This tivra-bhakti purified him. Please study Srila Prabhupada's purport to
SB 4.8.72.

Materially motivated persons generally go to some demigod, or some
influential personality within this world, or rely on some material method
to quickly achieve their desires.

       kanksantah karmanam siddhim
        yajanta iha devatah
       ksipram hi manus e loke
       siddhir bhavati karma-ja

Krishna can easily and quickly fulfill all desires, in fact it is He who
fulfills everyone's desires - directly or through many agents. (nityo
nityanam cetanas cetananam eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman). But those who
are too materially attached are reluctant to approach Krishna directly,
because they know that Krishna will only fulfill the desires after purifying
them of those desires! Although bhakti is very easy and simple, because of
strong attachments, they would rather prefer to adopt much more troublesome
austerities within this world to achieve their desires. But a sincere soul
like Dhruva, even if they desire material gain, is determined to accept it
only if Krsna offers it, without depending on any other means. This honest,
non-duplicitous devotion attracts Krsna's attention.

The presence of material desire does not, or should not, hinder our taking
shelter of a spiritual master. We should honestly admit our heart before the
spiritual master, seek his direction, and then sincerely follow it, without
worrying about success or failure, or in other words, fully confident of
success.

A sincere disciple humbly admits that he is bound up by hundreds of desires,
which is all the more reason why he is dependent the special mercy and
instructions of spiritual master. This is the mood in which Devahuti
approaches Kapila: "I am sick of the disturbance cause by my material
desires and have fallen into the abyss of ignorance. You are my
transcendental eye, you are the ax that cuts the material existence..." Note
that the purpose of approaching the spiritual master is to become free from
these desires; or at least, to fulfill them ONLY by pleasing Krishna,
whatever it entails. The not-so-sincere position is to approach a saintly
person with the idea that he will give blessings by which all my troubles
will be easily removed, all my wishes will magically come true, so I can
continue to enjoy life happily ever after, independent of Krishna!

Having material desires itself does not bar one from approaching Krishna