2 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Yoga as Action 3

“One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as out mercantile business with You. I will not accept any remunera-
he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true tion for my service.” This is the pure devotional attitude.
mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no work.”” _ Yogis and jfdnis are demanding to become one with the
Sometimes sannyasis (renunciants) incorrectly think that they Supreme because they have such bitter experience suffering the
have become liberated from all material engagements and material pangs. They want to become one with the Lord because
therefore no longer have to perform agni-hotra yajnas, or fire they are suffering in separation. A pure devotee, however, does
sacrifices. This is a mistake. Certain yajfas (sacrifices) have to be not experience this. Although separate from the Lord, he fully en-
performed by everyone for purification. Since sannyasis are not Joys the service of the Lord in separation. The desire to become
traditionally required to perform yajfas, they sometimes think one with the impersonal Brahman, or to merge with God, is cer-
that they can attain liberation by ceasing to perform the ritualistic tainly greater than any material desire, but this is not without self-
yajfias, but actually, unless one comes to the platform of Krsna Interest. Similarly, the mystic yogi who practices the yoga system
consciousness, there is no question of liberation. Those sannyasis with half-open eyes, ceasing all material activities, desires some
who cease to perform yajfas are in fact acting out of self-interest, satisfaction for his personal self. Such yogis are desirous of ma-
because their goal is to become one with the impersonal Brahman. terial power, and that is their conception of the perfection of yoga.

That is the ultimate goal of the impersonalists (Mayavadis), who Actually, this is not the perfection of yoga, but a materialistic
have one major goal or demand: to become one with the supreme process.

‘impersonal Being. The devotees have no such demands. They are If one practices the regulative principles of yoga, he can attain
simply satisfied in serving Krsna for the satisfaction of Krsna. eight kinds of perfection. He can become lighter than a cotton
They do not want anything in return. That is the characteristic of swab. He can become heavier than a great stone. He can im-
pure devotion. mediately get whatever he likes. Sometimes he can even create a

It was Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who expressed this devo- planet. Although rare, such powerful yogis actually exist.
tional attitude so succinctly: Visvamitra Yogi wanted to beget a man from a palm tree. He was
thinking, ‘‘Why should a man have to live so many months within
na dhanam na janarh na sundarim the womb of his mother? Why can’t he be produced just like a
kavitam va jagadisa kamaye fruit?” Thinking like this, Visvamitra Yogi produced men like
mama janmani janmanisvare coconuts. Sometimes yogis are so powerful, they can perform such
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi | acts, but these are all material powers. Ultimately such yogis are
vanquished, because they cannot retain these material powers in-
*“O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to definitely. Bhakta-yogis are not interested in such powers.

enjoy beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. The bhakti-yogi, acting in Krsna consciousness, works for the
What I want is only the causeless mercy of Your devotional service satisfaction of the whole without self-interest. A Krsna conscious
in my life, birth after birth.” (Siksastaka 4) In essence, this is the person does not desire self-satisfaction. Rather, his criterion of
bhakti-yoga system. There are many examples of the pure devo- success is the satisfaction of Krsna; therefore he is considered the
tional attitude. Once Lord Nrsitnhadeva told Prahlada Maharaja, perfect sannyasi and the perfect yogi.

‘*My dear boy, you have suffered so much for Me. Whatever you A pure devotee does not even want salvation. The salvationists
want, ask for it.”” Being a pure devotee, Prahlada Maharaja refused want to be saved from rebirth, and the voidists also want to put an

to ask for anything. He said, ‘‘My dear Master, I am not carrying end to all material life. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, however, requested

