Unable to follow all 3 yogas – Karma, Gnana & Bhakti? Solutions!
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu,
We have read in Bhagavad Geeta that path of Bhakthi is the top most and best compared to karma and Jnana yoga. Agreed. But is Bhakti Yoga the best for all souls , as different souls are in different levels of enlightenment/ awakening. Some souls have natural inclinations towards karma or jnana, (either by their nature or by their level of spiritual advancement) . What happens to them when they meet devotees and start practicing krishna Consciousness. As in KC we try to make everybody apply to Bhakti yoga. Though good in one sense, it may not work for all. So how can this situation be handled?
This question came to my mind by observing my own life and practices. People with jnana and karma tendency tend to be excited when they start KC, as there seems to be a lot of new things to learn and do etc.. There is also active reciprocation from Lord in the beginning stages.
Then after some years, the level of austerity and unconditional love that is required goes high, and if one does not become selfless, and continues to hold material desires ( reflecting in the form of karma and jnana tendencies) then the taste in Bhakthi practices goes down and becomes dry.
So one can neither try to enjoy life in material way, or get satisfaction by social works or can one get the taste to practice KC with full taste.
What can be done to overcome this state? If you are answering in the website, you can post it as anonymous. Thanks.”
REPLY:
If a person does not have clear conviction before following any path, he will fall down.
There are some persons who have the nature of overthinking.
He will touch everything. He will involve in all types of learning.
If you observe the lives of achievers, you can observe that they would have focused in only one aspect.
(Social Service and Karma Yoga – Does Krishna consider them equally? READ HERE!)
Those who focus in multiple aspects at the same time can’t succeed in anything and the final result will be zero.
If one has multiple talents, he should first identify what the DOMINANT talent he has. Then, he should focus in cultivating that talent alone.
Just because the God has given multiple talents for someone, he need not show everything to others.
He should choose one skill and then shine only in it.
He should focus in a single dominant talent atleast till he becomes very popular in ONE particular field.
For example, if a Poet focuses in Poems, stories, drawing, etc during the initial stage, he can’t shine in all the three.
Once he becomes advanced and popular in Poems/ songs, during the matured age, he can write stories, drawings also. Your popularity as a poet may help to make the people read your stories also.
Why these details?
Krishna is the source of flawless knowledge.
You have written in one page as if it is a new issue. But, Krishna thought it even before preaching Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna is an expert in giving choices to follow. He gives multiple choices to follow.
Krishna even permits worshiping demigods because He knows that every person has different taste according to the mix of gunas.
(Why many gods in the Hindu Religion of India unlike all other religions? READ HERE!)
It is a stage. That’s all. There is lifetime to evolve further to the level of understanding that worshiping only Krishna is sufficient as He is the Ultimate Personality.
Why there are hundreds of Gods in our Sanatana dharma?
Because there are hundreds of taste and nature of people. A single format may not be suitable for all.
So, our dharma allows unity in multiplicity.
Krishna too followed this in Bhagavad Gita. He knew that there are people who are more interested in working. He regulated them by preaching karma yoga.
There are people who are interested more in acquiring vedic knowledge. He regulated them by preaching gnana yoga.
There are people who are more interested in worshiping and serving the Lord in many bhawas. So, Krishna recommended.
He recommended Bhakti as the ultimate stage of practice.
(Karma Yoga, Gnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga – Which is the best one to follow? READ HERE!)
Though one follows karma yoga or gnana yoga as per his nature or natural interest, stage by stage he may get interest in the surrender.
First he will work for Krishna.
Then, he will learn about Krishna.
The above two practices will give him interest in following devotion to Krishna thru surrender.
Karma yoga and gnana yoga are the stages. Bhakti is the ultimate stage.
If one is more interested in karma yoga, he should focus in it alone with real dedication and taste.
He need not confuse seeing other practitioners of gnana yoga or bhakti yoga that may lead to losing taste in all yogas.
Just focus in only one practice in which you have more interest. Later,. If you feel more interest in Gnana, learn about Krishna.
(Is it true that Bhakti Yoga is for less intelligent people only? READ HERE!)
If you get natural interest in bhakti, follow that.
Focus in one at a time to avoid losing taste in all yogas that makes you unable to follow all 3 yogas – Karma, Gnana & Bhakti.
The convenience in bhakti is that one can remain a devotee and he can also learn and work for Krishna. That is, he can follow other two yogas also.
So, whatever you follow, dedication, interest and focus in one aspect is important.
If it is not there, one will keep falling in everything.
So, why should we talk about those who are unable to develop firm faith in only one aspect?
Now they are not yet fully prepared to follow any yoga. Let them improve further. Time will make them experts.
You focus in One aspect. My recommendation is Bhakti. Then you can also follow Gnana and karma if you have interest in learning and working.
Hope now you will not say that you are unable to follow all 3 yogas – Karma, Gnana & Bhakti!
(What is the difference between Karma Yoga, Gnana Yoga and Bakthi Yoga? READ HERE!)