Letter to: Jitadusana

Los Angeles ¶

My dear Jitadusana, ¶

Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated Nov. 10, 1976. ¶

Devotional service does not depend on material assessment. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam, “ahaituki apratihata”. Devotional service must be without any material ambition and there is no material impediment which can check advancement in devotional service. Srila Gaura Kisora das Babaji was unable to sign his name, and yet he became the spiritual master of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the most erudite learned scholar of His time. We should begin our devotional service in whichever position we are. It isn’t that we have to learn something extra for advancing in devotional service. ¶

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaja
ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati
(SB 1.2.6)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.2.6

The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.

vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janyayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
(SB 1.2.7)plugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigŚrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.2.7

By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.

If one is materially well equipped it is welcome but devotional service does not depend on material qualifications. ¶

Hoping this will meet you in good health. ¶

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ¶

ACBS/jda ¶