120527 Exploitation, renunciation, and dedication.mp3 (44 minutes, 25.2 MB)

In this Sunday Feast lecture Srila Janardan Maharaj explains that there are three planes of reality: karma or exploitation, vairagya or renunciation, and then bhakti or devotion. Bhakti is independent of exploitation and renunciation as stated in Srila Rupa Goswami’s verse:

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama
(Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: 1.1.11)

Srila Janardan Maharaj tells the story of the appearance of Lord Vamanadev to illustrate the meaning of saranagati or full surrender to the Lord. He also discusses at length the nature of vairagya, or renunciation, and what yukta vairagya means for vaishnavas. This is a very nice lecture for long-time practitioners as well as a great introduction for beginners.