Bhakti Yoga
Skandha XI. Chap. 29
Uddhava said: —
“This path of Yoga seems to Me to be difficult of pursuit. Tell me O Achyuta, some means by which man may attain perfection without such exertion. Generally those that try to concentrate their mind become tired at last, being unsuccessful in their attempts. The discriminating sage has recourse to Thy lotus-feet, the fountain of all bliss. Tell me the path that leads to Thee.”
Shri Krishna replied: —
“Do all actions for Me and bear me in mind as much as you can. Offer up the mind and all thoughts to Me. Be attached to the duties of Bhâgavatas. Live in sacred lands, where my Bhaktas dwell. Follow what they do — see Me in all beings as well as in self, pure as Akâsa. With the eye of pure wisdom, look upon all beings as my existence and respect them as such. Brâhmana or Chandâla, stealer or giver, big as the sun or small as his ray, tender hearted or cruel, the sage must look upon all alike. Then he shall have neither rivalry, nor jealousy nor reproach for others. His egoism shall also be gone. Mind not the ridicule of friends, mind not the bodily differences that may cause a feeling of shame, but salute even horses, Chandâlas, cows and asses. As long as you do not learn to see Me in all beings, do not give up this practice in speech, body and mind. There is not the least chance of failure in the Bhâgavata Path. Even what is otherwise fruitless becomes a Dharma, when it is unselfishly offered up to Me. There is no higher wisdom, no higher cleverness than this that the Real is attained by the Unreal, the Immortal is attained by what is mortal. This is the essence of Brahmâ Vidyâ.
“Now that you have learned all this give it unto those that are deserving.
“Go Uddhava now to Badari Âsrama and follow what I have said.”