Question: You have taught us that two things are needed for success in spiritual life: our own efforts and Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. How to decide what level of effort is needed to get Kṛṣṇa’s mercy? It is often heard that devotees should not make excessive efforts in material aspects. Is there over endeavor in spiritual life? In other words, is there spiritual endeavor in the mode of passion or ignorance?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The endeavor should be that which is sustainable.
Let us say, for example, you have a vow to observe Ekādaśī days by doing such-and-such.
An Ekādaśī vow is reasonable when you can carry on with your everyday activities and at the same time consistently every Ekādaśī observe this particular Ekādaśī vow.
An example of over-endeavor is when your service cannot be done because you are so determined to observe this Ekādaśī vow that does not permit you to do your service.
This explanation has been given to illustrate what “sustainable effort” means.
Another very important factor we need to consider is the consciousness behind our efforts.
We should understand that any effort we make is dependent on Kṛṣṇa, even giving the ability to make the effort, what to speak of the success of the effort.
The additional factor is in deciding “Whatever endeavor I make, an appropriate endeavor in devotional service” is revealed through the consciousness behind our endeavor.
That is a very important factor to carefully consider.
In deciding what is an appropriate endeavor in any circumstance that you face in life, closely monitor the degree of doer-ship or false ego involved in your endeavor.
An additional but related question you asked was “In spiritual life is there such a thing as over endeavor?”
The answer to that is everything depends on consciousness.
If there is material consciousness, it is not spiritual activity any more. Instead, it becomes a “material consciousness activity.”
We know from Kapiladeva’s teachings in Chapter 29 of Canto 3 that bhakti, while pure, can be mixed with the modes of nature.
If we are endeavoring within the lower modes of nature, then our endeavors will be mixed spiritual-material endeavor, and the material portion is to be eliminated gradually.
