If we use intellectual tools such as acronyms to analyze philosophy, is such analysis devotional service?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

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This kind of process as an analytical process is that devotional service.
There are different ways in which we can direct our consciousness toward Krishna. So we can do some mental adjustment to deal with our problems. And that may not be devotional service.
But if that mental adjustment helps us to focus more on Krishna, then that is devotional service. We see that Somehow or the other fix the mind on Krishna. Somehow or the other means what? Means with whatever tools work for us.
So for some people, say, if we can say broadly, because some people are more emotional, some people are more rational. So if those who are very, those who are emotional and they’re going through some great distress and somebody just consoles them, comforts them, gives them a warm embrace and is just with them. That itself, OK, I feel accepted.
I feel cared for. I feel loved. And they can deal with anything like that.
But for people who are more rational, more analytical, OK, all that is fine. But why is this happening? They need some rational framework. So we have to work with the mind that we have.
So if our mind finds such tools, analytical tools helpful, we use them. It’s we could say anukulyasa sankalpa pratyakulyasa varjena. What is favorable, we accept.
What is unfavorable, we avoid. So sometimes it may happen that we use a tool to take shelter of Krishna. But sometimes it may happen that we take shelter of that tool instead of Krishna.
So we have to be careful of what we are doing. But if the tool is helping us to take shelter of Krishna, that’s favorable and we can then use it. And Prabhupada did have that approach of yukta vairagya, using everything.
So, for example, when the counterculture was there, it was all people taking drugs. So Prabhupada used that terminology. He said people wanted to go high, stay high forever.
So what was Prabhupada doing? He was just giving people some within their frame of reference, something by which they could connect with Krishna. One day, once an hippie asked Prabhupada that what is the pleasure of the spiritual world like? Now Prabhupada quoted Chintamani Prakarasarvameshukal Brahmakrishna. They are touchstones and desire-fulfilling trees.
And this person was stoned on drugs. So Prabhupada said the spiritual world is like an ocean of LSD. Now somebody who is critical may ask which scripture says that the spiritual world is an ocean of LSD? So the point is not just to get it right.
The point is to get it across. So it is get it across to others and get it across to ourselves. So sometimes we need some analytical frameworks.
Analytical frameworks may help us to process something, process distresses in a way that is constructive. Then we can use it.