118 THE PATH OF PERFECTION Failure and Success in Yoga 119

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