Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Six qualities that enhance Bhakti
Utsaha
Enthusiasm
In his Sri Upadesamrta, Srila Rupa Gosvami has described atyahara, prayasa, prajalpa, niyamagraha, jana-sanga, and laulya as detrimental to devotional service. We have already separately described these six items. Now, in the third sloka he mentions the six items favorable for devotional service:
utsahan niscayad dhairyat tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati
"There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) utsaha, being enthusiastic; (2) niscaya, endeavoring with confidence; (3) dhairya, being patient; (4) tat-tat-karma-pravartana, acting according to regulative principles [such as sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam-hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna]; (5) sanga-tyaga, abandoning the association of nondevotees; and (6) sato vrtteh, or sadhu-vrtti, following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service."
Now we should discuss these six items separately. Therefore first I am speaking about the conclusions regarding utsaha.
Without utsaha, one becomes negligent in his worship. Negligence is born out of inactivity, apathy, or indifference. Laziness and inertia are called inactivity. When utsaha is generated, laziness and inertia cannot remain. The absence of desire to work is inertia. This inertia is opposite to the nature of spirit. If one allows this inertia to remain in his body or heart, then how can he perform devotional service? The state of apathy develops from carelessness. One should practice devotional service without deviation. This is instructed in the Bhagavad-gita (6.23) in the following words:
tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga- viyogam yoga-samjnitam
sa niscayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirvinna-cetasa
"This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact. One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path." In his commentary on this verse, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana Mahasaya has said: atmanya yogyatva-mananam nirvedas tad rahitena cetasa-"one becomes indifferent to whatever work he feels unqualified for." Devotional service should be performed in this mentality. Regarding bhakti-yoga, it is said in the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.20.7-8):
nirvinnanam jnana-yogo nyasinam iha karmasu
tesv anirvinna-cittanam karma-yogas tu kaminam
yadrcchaya mat-kathadau jata-sraddhas tu yah puman
na nirvinno nati-sakto bhakti-yogo 'sya siddhi-dah
"Among these three paths, jnana-yoga, the path of philosophical speculation, is recommended for those who are disgusted with material life and are thus detached from ordinary, fruitive activities. Those who are not disgusted with material life, having many desires yet to fulfill, should seek perfection through the path of karma-yoga. If somehow or other by good fortune one develops faith in hearing and chanting My glories, such a person, being neither very disgusted with nor attached to material life, should achieve perfection through the path of bhakti-yoga." The purport is this: For those who have attained indifference for material activities but have not yet realized spiritual activities, what can remain in their hearts besides indifference? For them the undifferentiated brahma-jnana is the topmost achievement. For those who have not attained indifference for material activities due to lack of spiritual realization, there is no way to cleanse the heart other than karma-yoga. Those who have realized spiritul activities and understood that material activities are insignificant attain indifference for all material activities. They accept some material activities as a support for their spiritual awakening, but they have no attachment for such activities. In proportion to the degree that they discuss spiritual topics in devotion, freedom from material association is awakened as an extraneous fruit.