Q. 1. I was just reading BG 2.40 and had a question in relation to what Krishna says there:
Is it the case that anyone performing any small amount of devotional service for the explicit purpose of pleasing God, with or without the knowledge of what is actually pleasing to God, will have the chance to be born again in a body suitable for taking up devotional service (meaning, at least a human body)?
Also, is it the case that a small devotional act done with faith such as once chanting the Mahamantra, or even perhaps sincerely professing faith in the spiritual master or some other savior than Krishna or His holy name can assure one of at least a human birth?
“Devotional service is to be rendered in knowledge.”
In this verse, Krishna is particularly referring to those who sincerely endeavor on the path of devotional service, or buddhi-yoga. Even a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear (viz. degrading to a lower species of life).
And what is that buddhi-yoga? As Srila Prabhupada states in 2.39 and 2.40, buddhi-yoga is the ‘transcendental quality of work’ done for the purpose of pleasing God, without expectation of sense-gratification. In other words, it is a conscious act of devotional service. Naturally we would expect that one who is trying to please God in this way would at least make an effort to understand what pleases Him.
As Srila Prabhupada says, “A subordinate position is that he must act according to the direction of the master or the supreme. That is natural. So that is called buddhi-yoga. When you act according to the direction of the Supreme, Krishna, or His representative, that is called buddhi-yoga… Every educational or progressive method has dos and do nots. The asuras do not know what they should do and what they should not do. A devotee knows what to do and what not to do…” (Cf. Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture on BG 2.39 London 73) This principle is explained in depth in Chapter 17 in response to Arjuna’s question about those who worship faithfully but ‘according to their own imagination’.
You have asked about acting without knowledge of what is pleasing to God, but it would be misleading to think of whimsical acts against scriptural directions as an offering of devotion – I am stating this because we do find people professing such ideas in the name of religion and even causing great social disturbance at times. One who is sincere to please God will make an effort to find a qualified representative and seek guidance, minimally in the basic principles of rendering devotional service. When faced with personal decisions of finer detail, if in spite of sincere efforts one does not have access or is unable to take advantage of the scriptures and saintly representatives, but is sincerely engaged in chanting or other acts of devotional service according to their basic directions, then they are enlightened by God Himself from within their heart in the matter of how to know Him or please Him. This is confirmed in BG 10.11.
The bottom line is that a sincere devotee cannot remain without knowledge. The Supreme Lord looks at one’s quality and sincerity of purpose, and He reciprocates by sending one the proper association, and in the case of more advanced devotees, He personally enlightens from within.
Destination of unsuccessful transcendentalist: Those who are trying their best in this matter, even if they fall away from the spiritual path after some initial effort, are assured minimally of a chance to take a human birth and further opportunities for continued progress, as described in BG 6.37-42.
What kind of birth or opportunity one gets is not a mechanical or automatic event but is dynamically dependent on the desires of the living entity and the mercy and personal arrangement of the Lord. In the case of Ajamila, due to his earlier practices of devotion, despite his degradation later on, the Lord gave him an opportunity to call upon His Holy Name and thus remember Him at the time of death, and thus he got a chance to perfect his devotion in very life.
It may so happen that one who desists from the transcendental path may have to face the reactions to their material involvement, and it is possible that one may not obtain a human birth in the next life as a consequence. The life of Maharaja Bharata is a stark example. Similarly Srila Prabhupada informed us that those who commit serious offenses in the Holy Dham and fail to rectify themselves may have to take birth as an animal in the dham before going back to Godhead. Yet, this is but a temporary setback. Any progress in devotional service never goes in vain and the devotee just resumes again after temporarily suffering the consequences of a fall down. Thus there is no loss.
Effect of a Small act of Devotion: Even a small act of devotion has the potential to assure one from degrading to lower species. Srila Prabhupada would say that if someone just turns one screw in the temple, Krishna never forgets that service.
Similarly we find many statements in the scripture about the potency of a small contact with devotional service. e.g. “Even if born of a lowly family, a person who follows the Ratha-yatra car when the Deities pass in front or from behind will surely be elevated to the position of achieving equal opulence with Vishnu.” (NOD Ch 9)
These references are to be understood to indicate the tremendous potency of devotional service — up to the point of offering liberation – in proportion to the ‘quality’ of service or sincerity of the participant.
“It is said in the shastras that by once uttering the holy name of the Lord, the sinner gets rid of a quantity of sins that he is unable to commit. Such is the power of uttering the holy name of the Lord. There is not the least exaggeration in this statement. Actually the Lord’s holy name has such powerful potency. But there is a quality to such utterances also. It depends on the quality of feeling. A helpless man can feelingly utter the holy name of the Lord, whereas a man who utters the same holy name in great material satisfaction cannot be so sincere. A materially puffed up person may utter the holy name of the Lord occasionally, but he is incapable of uttering the name in quality.” (Cf. SB 1.8.26 p)
And yet, regardless of the quality, whatever is done in relationship with the Lord will have permanent beneficial effect. It goes to one’s eternal credit and whenever one gets another opportunity, one resumes from that point onwards.
Unknowingly performed devotional acts: Although your question does not touch on this, it is possible that one may engage in a devotional act without knowledge or without the explicit desire to please God, being so involved by the desires and arrangements of compassionate devotees. Even such acts, like accepting prasadam or chanting the Holy Name unintentionally or happening to see a ratha-yatra procession etc, are all transcendentally beneficial. Such unknowingly gained devotional merits, known as ‘ajnata sukriti’, incrementally accrue to the point that one becomes more favorably inclined to take up devotional service when one gets another opportunity. (We can appreciate how simply by Srila Prabhupada’s strong desire, so many thousands of souls got the opportunity to be drawn into devotional service, knowingly or unknowingly, and thus be saved from certain degradation. Such is the power of the compassion of pure devotees!)
In summary, with even a small contact with pure devotional service, minimally we can understand that one’s spiritual journey has begun and will eventually reach perfection, depending on how seriously one takes advantage of that opportunity.
As a final remark, it could be misleading to think of “some other savior than Krishna”, because no one is actually independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A genuine saint or savior is a bona fide representative of the Supreme Lord Krishna, regardless of the external designations, tradition or faith they profess. One who abides by such a bona fide representative, or one who chants any bona fide Name of the Lord is assured of further opportunities favorable for continued spiritual progress in their next life. (For a related question see Digest 167A.)
Q. 2. What kind of benefit people can get if they donate some money to help printing books on Krishna prema bhakti?
As related in answer to the previous question, those who contribute towards Krishna’s service in any capacity get eternal spiritual benefit. Particularly the service of helping in disseminating knowledge of devotional service to the suffering conditioned souls is very pleasing to the Supreme Lord.
As stated in the previous answer, the nature of benefit they get will depend on the quality or feeling with which they offer such service. It will also depend on the purity with which the devotee who receives the donation uses it purely and thoughtfully in Krishna’s service. In proportion to the devotion, humility and sincere appreciation with which they offer donation, they will become free from accumulated sinful reactions and get spiritually enlightened; and they will get further opportunities for spiritual progress.
For example, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Jayananda helped to publish the Teachings of Lord Caitanya by offering his entire life savings, which he gave as his guru-dakshina; furthermore, he was driving a cab all day while chanting Hare Krishna, and would offer all his income to support Prabhupada’s preaching. By this sincere devotion he won the very special blessings and affection of Srila Prabhupada. Similarly we know of George Harrison donating for the printing of Krishna book. By their heartfelt services to assist Srila Prabhupada, they were blessed with more and more auspicious advancement in Krishna consciousness.
