Question: My question is how I can overcome bhoga tyaga tendency. When I practice devotional service then for few days I am very enthusiastic but due to lack of determination and lack of association I turn towards material enjoyment but very soon getting frustrated I again take up to devotional service. This process repeats again and again. Please help me to overcome this tendency.
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The solution is simple. Every time and as soon as you catch yourself in the “bhoga” or the sense enjoyment zone, just shift your consciousness to a mood of service towards Krishna. Then re-instate your devotional practices with ENTHUSIASM, DETERMINATION AND PATIENCE. You have to do this as many times as it is required, with courage and patience towards yourself and with a mood of loving service towards guru and Krishna. There is no short-cut to this. Understand that this unsteady tendency is a given in the early stages of Bhakti and the only way to get past this is by continuing to try, try and try again. When we endeavor sincerely like that, we attract Krishna’s mercy, Who then kindly pulls us out and we at last attain steadiness or the stage of Bhakti called “Nishtha”.
Do not give into lamentation, like “Oh no! I went and did it again!”
Instead understand that Krsna Consciousness is not an event, but a process; if we continue to practice with the right consciousness we will in course of time attain Steadiness. Instead of focusing on the times you are unable to properly follow your commitments to improve devotional practices, focus and celebrate the times you are able to follow Krishna Consciousness nicely and begin to notice how much potency there is in these practices, even when irregularly done!
It is also very important to approach Krishna Cosnciousness from the right platform. Yes, the program of material enjoyment is very frustrating, but that is not the reason why we are following Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada said that just as sugar is sweet and fire is hot, our natural position is that of being unalloyed devotees of Krishna. So devotional service is not an artificial imposition, an alternative to the program of material enjoyment!
It is actually who we already are, our most natural state of existence that we have forgotten. So the process of Bhakti is meant to take us to our natural state again. Material enjoyment is infact artificial and as you have already experienced, always leads to frustration.
A few other pointers/references that might be helpful:
(1) Reading about the different stages of Bhakti may give you a better understanding (and therefore acceptance) of where you are on your trajectory within the Bhakti process. Please refer to verses from CC Madhya 23.14-15. You can also consult your local Vaishnava teacher to give you a better understanding of this and help you see how you may move forward.
(2) Read BG 5.29. Krishna is the only “Bhokta” or enjoyer. We are all His servants meant to facilitate Krishna’s enjoyment. This conception is the key to overcoming the tendency to “enjoy” independent of Krishna. Real renunciation or tyaga is to use everything in the service of the Lord. In the initial stages one requires guidance from a more experienced Vaishnava how to do this.
(3) Association (as you yourself correctly identified) is the key to our progress. Arrange your life so you can get maximum association of other Vaishnavas. Taking association means hearing from the other Vaishnavas and maintaining a mood of service towards them.
(4) Sometimes we tend to falsely take shelter of sense gratification to overcome some deeper issues within us. Introspection and revealing your heart to a Vaishnava you trust may help you get to the root of the anartha that is propelling you towards sense gratification.
I hope this helps! Wishing you the very best in your journey of Krishna Consciousness.
