Knowing Something of Everything and Everything of Something

Date: 2005-07-26 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi

Hare Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

When we are engaging in devotional service, we need to ensure that we don't neglect our prescribed duties. We should not be lazy and neglect work due to our lethargic attitude. We need to expertly manage our time and perform our work efficiently and spend as much time as possible in devotional service. It is true that we may have our limits and limitations and cannot become all-perfect over-night. But when we prioritise our activities and keep doing first things first - gradually we would be able to expertly perform our activities because the Supreme Lord Krishna has promised in the seed verse of Bhagavad-Gita 10.11 that:

teṣām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.

We should not attribute our ignorance and lack of knowledge to our performance of devotional service. Lord being our Super-soul can very well understand our true intentions and would reciprocate accordingly.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 7.12.6, when Sri Muni is explaining the qualities of brahmachari, he says,

suśīlo mita-bhug dakṣaḥ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ yāvad-arthaṁ vyavaharet strīṣu strī-nirjiteṣu ca

A brahmachari should be quite well behaved and gentle and should not eat or collect more than necessary. He must always be active and expert, fully believing in the instructions of the spiritual master and the shastra. Fully controlling his senses, he should associate only as much as necessary with women or those controlled by women.

The qualities listed in the above verse are not just for the brahmacharis - but it applies to people of all ashramas. While explaining about the word "Daksha" in the above verse - in one of his lectures in Bombay, on April 17 1976, Srila Prabhupada has explained nicely as to how we could become dakshas and try to know everything of something and something of everything. His Divine Grace said,"Dakshah means active, not lazy, sleeping. This is not good. Nidrāhāra- vihāra. Everyone has to conquer oversleeping, so that is called dakshau. And dakshah means expert. Whatever business is entrusted to him, he does it very nicely, Daksha."

His Divine Grace gives us the example of pure devotee like Raghunatha dasa who had no interest in material things. But at a time when there was a political situation, he tackled it very nicely. This is the example of daksha. Not that because he has become Krishna conscious, and Vaishnava, he is unable to do anything of this material world. No. One who is Krishna conscious, he is conscious of everything and he knows how to deal with them. That is called daksha. Not that "Because I have become Krishna conscious I have no knowledge in other things." No. You must have, if not complete, to know something of everything. That is intelligence, to know something of everything and to know everything of something. That is wanted. You may be an expert, a devotee. You know everything of devotional service, but you should not be callous. You know something of everything. That is called daksha.

Thank you very much, Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Sudarshana devi dasi.