labhante brahma-nirvāṇam
ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇa-kalmaṣāḥ
chinna-dvaidhā yatātmānaḥ
sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ
Translation: Those who are beyond the dualities that arise from doubts, whose minds are engaged within, who are always busy working for the welfare of all living beings and who are free from all sins achieve liberation in the Supreme.
In this slokha Krishna talks about how to achieve the supreme lord. He talks about four things.
1) One who is beyond the dualities that arise from doubts: Meaning without having any doubts we should have a firm faith in scriptures and believe that Krishna is the Supreme personality of God head.
2) Whose minds are engaged within: Here “within” means activity of the soul by engaging in devotional activities.
3) Who are always busy working for the welfare of all living beings: Here welfare of all living beings means not just humanitarian work alone, but material as well as spiritual welfare of the individual.
4) One who is free from all sins: Here Sin means anything that is not prescribed in the scriptures. If we do sinful reactions there will be two types of karmic reactions.
The tendency to do the same sinful activity will be imprinted in our mind which is called kootam or samskara. This tendency will become a stronger desire later on making us to do the same sin then it is called as bheejam which will later turn in to prarabdha karma (manifested). So avoid sinful activities.
How to reduce the sinful activities
First we should reduce our desire for sense gratification. In material world we feel the more we have the more the merrier but scriptures say if we have less then more is the merry. We have different aspects of life: like Family, Work, Social, Material and Spiritual. We need to have a balance in life. If we focus on one thing and not the other there will be always unhappiness. So do everything in a balanced way putting Krishna in the center. We should not treat Krishna like a beggar and give our left over time after finishing all our commitments to our family, work and other things. First thing in our life is giving importance to Krishna and give him the best part of our time and do our saddhana sincerely. Unless it is very important for example if your child is crying of hunger and you have to attend to their needs so have to stop your chanting for some time it is ok. Krishna will be happy.
Why is Bhakti important in life?
Bhakti means do the right thing in a right way. Bhakti is the highest of all welfare activities, because it can change one’s heart. It gives us the inner power to conquer our lower natures, our negativities. It helps us to reduce our suffering, anxiety, tension.
We are all spirit souls. The love for Krishna is established in everyone’s heart but in a dormant stage. According to Srila Prabupada the person who revives the bhakti in everyone’s heart is the one who is doing the highest welfare activities. Also we should be humble like a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, giving all respects to others but at the same time do not expect anything from others. We should not be carried away by any offence done by others to us, nor be proud of anything nor think we are great. The most important thing we should have is the love of god within our heart and realizing that we are the part and parcel of the Supreme lord, Krishna. So if we think like that dualities won’t affect us much .Always practice our saddhana sincerely. Follow the Prescriptions and Prohibitions.
The Prescriptions are:
Prahlada Maharaja says:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh / smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam / sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau / bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha / tan manye ‘dhitam uttamam
Hearing and chanting about the transcendental Holy Name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend and surrendering everything unto Him.(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23-24)
The same is stated in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, Madhya 22.118:
The nine processes of pure devotional service consist of hearing, chanting, remembering and serving the lotus feet, worshiping, praying, serving, friendship and complete surrender to Sri Krsna — His name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, associates and pastimes.
The Prohibitions are: No intoxication, No illicit sex, No meat eating, No gambling.
These Prohibitions does not invoke Bhakti in you, but builds the platform for Bhakti by removing all the coverings of heart and fan the spark of bhakti in you bringing it in a blaze of pure bhakti and love of god and bringing us in the mode of goodness. So prohibitions and prescriptions are equally important.
We should always follow the instructions of our Spiritual master by assisting him in his mission in whatever way possible like book distribution, cleaning temple, association with devotees, garland making, cooking for Krishna. Use the material things for the service of Krishna.Read scriptures regularly. Always remember we cannot cheat Krishna, he is always situated in our heart as Paramatma. If we follow all these principles this will help us to come out of dualities, never be entangled in this material world, and attain liberation and go back to our real home, Goloka.