Popular Culture Review Vol. 10, No. 2, August 1999 | Page 125

Bhakti as Popular Movement

Lord Krishna further says:
“Only the ignorant speak of the devotional service as being
different from analytical study of the material world. Those who
are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of
these paths achieves the result of both. One who knows that the
position reached by means of analytical study can also be reached
by devotional service, and who therefore sees analytical study and
devotional service to be at one and the same level, sees things as
they are.
Bhakti-yoga is further discussed in the Bhagavad-Gita as follows:
Aijuna inquired of Lord Krishna:
“Which are considered to be more perfect, those who are
always properly engaged in your devotional service or those who
worship the Impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested?”
Lord Krishna replied:
“Those who fix their minds on my personal form and are
always engaged in worshipping me with great transcendental faith,
are considered by me to be most perfect. But those who fully wor
ship the unmanifested, that which lies beyond the perception of
the senses, the all-pervading, inconceivable, unchanging, fixed,
and immovable by controlling the various senses and being equally
disposed to everyone, such persons, engaged in the welfare of all,
at last achieve me. However, for those whose minds are attached
to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advance
ment is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is
always difficult for those who are embodied. But those who wor
ship me, giving up all their activities unto me, being devoted to
me without deviation, engaged in devotional service, and always
meditating upon me, having fixed their minds upon me, O son of
Pratha , for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth
and death. Therefore, just fix your mind upon me, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in me.
Thus, you will live in me always, without a doubt.”
“My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix
your mind upon me without deviation, then follow the regulative
principles of Bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to attain
me. If you cannot practice the regulation of Bhakti-yoga, then just
try to work for me, because by working for me you will come to

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