CHAPTER 22

The Process of Devotional Service
In this Twenty-second Chapter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu describes the process of
devotional service. In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity
and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness
of mental speculation and mystic yoga. In all circumstances the living entity is
recommended to accept the path of devotional service as personally explained by
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called janis is con-
sidered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person
should abandon the processes of karma-kdnda, jfdna-kanda and mystic yoga.
One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of
Krsna consciousness. In this way one’s life will be successful. If one takes to Krsna
consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having
previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by
Lord Krsna Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the
blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahdtma sudurlabhah). A pure devotee is the
supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one’s dormant
Krsna consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees. If
one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will
awaken.

In this chapter Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has differentiated between a pure
devotee and others. He also describes the characteristics of a pure devotee. A
devotee’s most formidable enemy is association with women in an enjoying spirit.
Association with nondevotees is also condemned because it is also a formidable
enemy on the path of devotional service. One has to fully surrender unto the
lotus feet of Krsna and give up attraction for women and nondevotees.

The six symptoms of fully surrendered souls are also described in this chapter.
Devotional service has been divided into two categories —regulative devotional
service and spontaneous love. There are sixty-four items listed in regulative devo-
tional service, and out of these sixty-four the last five are considered very impor-
tant. By practicing even one of the nine processes of devotional service, one can
become successful. Speculative knowledge and mystic yoga can never help one
in devotional service. Pious activity, nonviolence, sense control and regulation are
not separate from devotional service in its pure form. If one engages in devotional
service, all good qualities follow. One does not have to cultivate them separately.
Spontaneous devotional service arises when one follows a pure devotee who is
awakened to spontaneous love of God. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has described

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