By Sukhi Bhakta Dasa
A devotee in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, especially one who takes up the brahmacari asrama, is almost certain to hear an oft stated, yet philosophically unsound, assumption about the will of Krishna and the guidance He gives the living entity from within the heart. The concept is this: that the first place one begins one’s devotional service at, generally the first temple or preaching center one steps foot in, is automatically one’s “prabhu-datta desa”. In other words, the place in which one first begins to practice devotional service has been inspired by Krishna directly from within the heart, and that place is where Krishna wants the involved living entity to continue to serve for the rest of his or her life. If one does not follow this divine will, then one is severely stifling the growth of one’s devotional creeper.
This conception may seem nice and true at first look, and thus many devotees hear this idea and sentimentally accept it as an unquestionable truth, never reevaluating it as they continue on in their spiritual growth. One must, however, think critically about this, because upon thinking deeply one can see that there are serious flaws in this conception that one would be foolish to accept. In fact, if one wants to make firm growth in devotional service to Krishna it is imperative that one thinks critically about the appropriateness of the situations one finds oneself in and how those situations will affect one’s progress back to Godhead.
Upon approaching this idea with a critical mind, the first step one must take is to break it down into parts which are easier to digest and evaluate. It can be broken down into the following parts:
1.When one comes in contact with devotional service, Krishna from within the heart begins to guide the living entity.
2.The temple the living entity first walks into was determined not by the choice or will of the living entity, but by Krishna.
3.The place the living entity first practices devotional service at is the best place for him or her to continue to practice devotional service.
4.By default, one should understand that Krishna wants the living entity to continue to perform devotional service in that same location indefinitely unless further instruction is given, and the desire to serve elsewhere is maya.
Each of these parts involves many assumptions about the way in which Krishna interacts with the living entity. When one looks at these assumptions and what they imply as far as the greater import of this conception is concerned, one can begin to see the severe shortcomings this conception has.
One should first understand Krishna’s position within the heart of the living entity and what He is doing there. As Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita, “sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo” (BG 15.15). He is situated in the heart of every living entity. And what is He doing there? As Srila Prabhupada said many times, Krishna is not lazy in the heart of the living entity. īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ’rjuna tiṣṭhati/ bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā (BG 18.61). “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.” On what basis is Krishna directing the wanderings of the living entities? ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham, as one surrenders unto Krishna, He rewards them accordingly (BG 4.11).
Thus, we should understand that Krishna does not begin to guide the living entity once the living entity comes into contact with Krishna Consciousness as the first parts of this conception states. Rather, the living entity is always being guided by Krishna based on the living entities desires. Once the living entity comes into contact with the pure devotee and has a favorable reaction to such contact, and once that favorable feeling grows into a desire to associate with devotees, it is then that Krishna guides the living entity to sadhu-sanga and the living entity then has the chance to be inspired to take up steady devotional service.
There is never a point, however, that the living entity gives up his or her free will. Krishna sees the desires of the living entities, and He gives the living entities opportunities to follow those desires or not. Krishna does not force Himself upon anyone, save and except those who have an extraordinary amount of sincerity in devotional service. Krishna could guide the living entity to devotional service without the living entity taking up such devotional service. It is all up to the choice of the living entity. And, the opportunities Krishna gives the living entities are reflective of the sincerity of the devotee to engage in pure devotional service. Why, then, should it be assumed automatically that the first temple a living entity goes to was determined wholly by Krishna, as the second part of the “First Temple” conception would have one think? If the living entity does not have a pure desire for Krishna Consciousness, Krishna will lead that living entity to association that is reflective of the purity of his or her desire. And even if Krishna does guide the living entity to pure association, the living entity is always free to reject it in favor of less pure association.
The more one practices devotional service- studying Srila Prabhupada’s books, chanting Hare Krishna, etc.- the more purified one’s consciousness will become. This is the natural result of performing bhakti-yoga. When one has a higher level of purity in one’s desire to serve and understand Krishna, it is natural that the devotional facilities which were satisfying and appropriate for one’s devotional service in the beginning may no longer be satisfying and appropriate. For example, in the beginning one may be content simply cultivating one’s own Krishna Consciousness and be happy in a place in which that is facilitated, but later on may develop a more mature attitude and develop a strong desire to spread Krishna Consciousness to others. Thus, the facilities for cultivating one’s own devotional service exclusively may no longer be the right facilities for the newly budding preacher. In this way, the third part of the “First Temple” conception that one would do best to continue their devotional service in the same place as they started is not necessarily true. As one grows in devotional service and becomes more purified in one’s intentions and understanding of Krishna Consciousness, the facilities which satisfied one’s neophyte desires may no longer be suitable.
When the desires of the devotee become more mature, Krishna will respond to these new desires. Krishna will present opportunities for the devotee to explore these desires. And Krishna will inspire the devotee from within the heart to seek out that association and facility which is optimal for the matured desires the devotee has in executing devotional service. Why should these new inspirations not be taken seriously? If the devotee is seriously practicing Krishna Consciousness, if he or she has a sincere desire to move forward in devotional service personally and help others do the same, why should the inspirations the devotee has be brushed aside as unimportant and illusory?
It is funny actually, because in this “First Temple” conception, the whims and inspirations of those who have no contact with devotees or devotional service, who are completely under the lower modes of material nature and almost exclusively driven by material desires are taken to be the divine will of Krishna, but the inspirations of those who have taken to seriously practicing Krishna Consciousness and who’s consciousness is gradually becoming purified is taken to be invalid. This sort of an idea is completely illogical, and it has no basis in guru, sadhu, or sastra. Srila Prabhupada never said anything like this, and we can see in his personal example that if a devotee felt a need to change locations in devotional service, Srila Prabhupada did not have a problem with it as long as there would be a continuity of the purity and seriousness of their practice. Only in instances in which the devotee had some important role to play in the location they were situated in did Srila Prabhupada firmly order the devotee to stay. If we are meant to accept what is favorable for devotional service and reject what is unfavorable, then we should be open to the idea that there are different levels of favorability, and that if our development in devotional service will be better optimized in a different situation, there is nothing wrong with seeking out that situation as long as it is done within the scope of the orders of the bonafide spiritual master and in a way that does not disrupt the situation one was previously in. Let us as a community therefore reevaluate the mentality with which we look at devotional service and devotional circumstances.