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THE PATH OF PERFECTION
very good assertion, but the actual greatness of God can be understood from  Bhagavad-gītā  and  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam . Accepting the greatness of God is the beginning of  bhakti .  Bhakti-yoga  also exists among the Muhammadans, because God is the target in the Muslim religion. However, where there is no recognition of a personal God—in other words, where there is only impersonalism—there is no question of  bhakti-yoga .  Bhakti-yoga  must include three items: the servitor, the served, and service. One must be present to accept service, and one must be present to render service. The via media is the process of service itself,  bhakti-yoga . Now, if there is no one to accept that service, how is  bhakti-yoga  possible? Therefore, if a philosophy or religion does not accept God as the Supreme Person, there is no possibility of  bhakti-yoga  being applied.
In the  bhakti-yoga  process, the role of the spiritual master is most important and essential. Although the spiritual master will always come back until his devotees have achieved God realization, one should not try to take advantage of this. We should not trouble our spiritual master but should complete the  bhakti-yoga  process in this life. The disciple should be serious in his service to the spiritual master, and if the devotee is intelligent, he should think, “Why should I act in such a way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble to reclaim me again? Let me realize Kṛṣṇa in this life.” That is the proper way of thinking. We should not think, “Oh, I am sure that my spiritual master will come and save me. Therefore I will do as I please.” If we have any affection for our spiritual master, we should complete the process in this life, so that he does not have to return to reclaim us.
In this regard, there is the example of Bilvamaṅgala Thākura, who, in his previous life, was elevated almost to  prema-bhakti , the highest platform of devotional service. However, since there is always a chance for a falldown, somehow or other he fell down. In his next life, he was born in a very rich  brāhmaṇa  family, in accordance with the principle enunciated in the Sixth Chapter of  Bhagavad-gītā  (6.41):  śucīnām śrīmatām gehe . Unfortunately, as is often the case with rich boys, he became a prostitute hunter. Yet it is said that his spiritual master instructed him through his prostitute, saying, “Oh, you are so attached to this mere flesh and
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bones. If you were this much attached to Kṛṣṇa, how much good you might achieve!” Immediately Bilvamaṅgala Thākura resumed his devotional service.
Although the spiritual master assumes responsibility for his disciple, we should not take advantage of this. Rather, we should try to please the spiritual master ( vasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ ). We should not put our spiritual master in such a position that he has to reclaim us from a house of prostitution. But even if he has to do so, he will do it, because he assumes this responsibility when he accepts his disciple.
The  bhakti-yoga  process should be completed in this life, because in this life we have all the instruments necessary to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have  mṛdaṅgas  and cymbals and tongues with which to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Even if we don’t have  mṛdaṅgas  and cymbals, we have a tongue. No one has to purchase a tongue. We also have ears with which to hear the sound that the tongue vibrates. Therefore we have all the instruments we need with us—a tongue and ears. We have only to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and use our ears to hear this vibration, and all perfection will be there. We don’t have to become highly educated scientists or philosophers. We have only to chant and hear.
Thus we have everything complete.  Pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idam:  everything created by God is complete. This aggregate earth, for instance, is complete. There is sufficient water in the oceans, and the sun acts to evaporate this water, turn it into clouds, and drop rain on the land to produce plants. And from the mountains, pure rivers are flowing to supply water throughout the year. If we want to evaporate a few hundred gallons of water, we have to make many arrangements, but the creation is so complete that millions of tons of water are being drawn from the ocean, turned into clouds, and then sprayed all over the land and reserved on the peaks of mountains so that water will be present for the production of grains and vegetables. Thus the creation is complete because it comes from the complete, and similarly our bodies are also complete for spiritual realization. The complete machine is already with us. We have only to utilize it to vibrate the transcendental sound ( śabda ) of Hare Kṛṣṇa, and we will attain complete liberation from all material pangs.