16 THE PATH OF PERFECTION | Mastering the Mind and Senses 17

earn millions of dollars? Why am I wasting my energy? I should ‘“‘benediction’’? Generally, benediction means receiving a great

engage my time and energy in understanding God. That is the kingdom, a beautiful wife, palatable food, and so forth, but when

purpose of life.’’ If one has no economic problems, he has suffi- One is actually connected with God, he does not want such |

cient time to understand Krsna consciousness. If he wastes this ““benedictions.’’ He is fully satisfied. Svamin krtartho 'smi varam |
| precious time, he is called a mudha, a rascal or an ass. na yace. |

According to the preceding verse, a person is said to have at- Actually, Dhruva Maharaja initially searched for God in order |

tained yoga when he has renounced all material desires. Once we to attain his father’s kingdom. Dhruva Maharaja’s mother was re-

are Situated perfectly in yoga, we are satisfied. We no longer ex- Jected by his father, and his stepmother resented his sitting on his

perience material desires. We no longer act for sense gratification father’s lap. Indeed, she forbade him to sit on his father’s lap be-

or engage in fruitive activity. When we speak of ‘‘fruitive ac- cause Dhruva Maharaja was not born in her womb. Although only

tivity,’ we refer to activities carried out for the purpose of sense five years old, Dhruva Maharaja was a ksatriya, and he took this as

gratification. That is, we are earning money in order to gratify our a great insult. Going to his own mother, he said, ‘‘Mother, my

senses. If one is virtuous, he engages in pious activities—he do- stepmother has insulted me by forbidding me to sit on my father’s

nates money to charities, opens hospitals, schools, etc. Although lap.’ Dhruva Maharaja then started to cry, and his mother said,

these are certainly virtuous activities, they are ultimately meant “‘My dear boy, what can I do? Your father loves your stepmother

for sense gratification. How is this? If I donate to an educational more than he loves me. I can do nothing.’’ Dhruva Maharaja then

institution, for instance, I will receive good educational facilities said, ‘‘But I want my father’s kingdom. Tell me how I can get it.”

and will become highly educated in my next life. Being thus edu- ‘My dear boy,”’ his mother said, ‘‘if Krsna, God, blesses you, you

cated, I will attain a good position and will acquire a good amount can get it.’ ““Where is God?”’ Dhruva Maharaja asked. ‘‘Oh, it is

of money. Then how will I utilize this money? For sense gratifica- said that God is in the forest,”’ his mother said. ‘‘Great sages go to

tion. Thus these virtuous and fruitive activities form a kind of + the forest to search for God.”

cycle. Hearing this, Dhruva Maharaja went directly to the forest and

. We often hear the expression ‘‘a better standard of life,’’ but _ began to perform severe penances. Finally he saw God, and when

what does this mean? It is said that the standard of life in America | fe saw Him, he no longer desired his father’s kingdom. Instead,

is superior to that in India, but in both countries there is eating, he said, ‘“‘My dear Lord, I was searching for some pebbles, but in-

sleeping, defending, and mating. Of course, in America the stead I have found valuable jewels. I no longer care for my father’s

quality of food may be better, but the eating process is there. A kingdom. Now I am fully satisfied.”” When one is actually con-

superior standard of life does not mean superior spiritual realiza- nected with God, he is totally satisfied. His satisfaction is infinitely

tion. It just means better eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. greater than so-called enjoyment in this material world. That is the

This is called fruitive activity, and it is based on sense gratification. satisfaction resulting from God realization, and that is the perfec-

Yoga has nothing to do with sense gratification or fruitive ac- tion of yoga.

tivity. Yoga means connecting with the Supreme. Dhruva Maha- When a person is fully engaged in the transcendental loving

raja underwent severe austerities in order to see God, and service of the Lord, he is pleased in himself, and thus he is no

when he finally saw God, he said, svamin krtartho ’smi varam na longer engaged in sense gratification or in fruitive activities.

yace: ‘‘My dear Lord, I am now fully satisfied. I am not asking for Otherwise, one must be engaged in sense gratification, since one

anything more. I do not want any further benediction from You.”’ cannot live without engagemént. It is impossible to cease all ac-

Why didn’t Dhruva Maharaja ask for benedictions? What is a tivity. As stated before, it is our nature as living entities to act. It is

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