The Process of Dovetailing

(written on May 2, 2020)

(Reference verses: BG 2.16, BG 2.21, BG 2.63, BG 9.33)

In BG 2.16, it is said: “Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.” In this verse there are two Sanskrit words which have importance: sat, and asat. Sat refers to what is eternal, and asat refers to that which is temporary or illusory.

Mayavadis give their own interpretations to this verse and end up rejecting asat, or basically everything material. However, the mayavadis have not understood this concept properly. Srila Prabhupada defeats the mayavadi philosophy in his purport to BG 9.33. He says, “Some philosophers, especially Māyāvādī philosophers, say that this world is false, but we can understand from Bhagavad-gītā that the world is not false; it is temporary. There is a difference between temporary and false.” Material activities should not completely be rejected, instead they should be properly used in the service of Krsna. Because, the lord Himself declares that the material energy is also His divine energy, though inferior in nature according to BG 7.14.

Actually, in devotional service, one is able to use asat for sat. Namely, one is able to use the material activities of this material body to please the Lord, who is sat. Srila Prabhupada says this in the purport of BG 2.21, “Everything has its proper utility, and a man who is situated in complete knowledge knows how and where to apply a thing for its proper utility.” Our job as devotees is actually to dovetail material activities with Krsna consciousness. The devotee who is situated in the complete knowledge knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord.

Dovetailing material things and activities in Krsna consciousness actually makes us much more strong in our sadhana compared to the mayavadis who falsely try to avoid everything. Srila Prabhupada says in BG 2.63, “On the other hand, a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he does not become a victim of material consciousness… Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the remnants, called prasādam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is no danger of a downfall.” Therefore, the devotees of the Lord who have learned this art of work, or dovetailing have a much lower chance of falling down from the spiritual path.

These are some of the daily activities of all people which can easily be dovetailed with Krsna consciousness:

• Sleep - to wake up early to serve the deity in the house and chant maha mantra

• Bathe - You clean yourself so you can serve Krsna

• Study - Learn skills which will help you to serve Krsna in different ways

• Read - Learn to read to read Krsna's books

• Talk - talk about Krsna

• Cook - cook for Krsna

• Eat - eat food that is only offered to Krsna

• Clean - to keep the home and temple clean for the lordships

• Sing - Sign for Krsna

• Dance - Dance and enact Krsna’s past times

• Plan - Plan how to please Krnsa and the spiritual master

• Shopping - Shop for Krsna

• Work - earn money to sustain and use the extras in the service of the Lord

• Farming - Cultivate and grow vegetables and grains for Krsna

• Dairy - Nurture cows and offer ahimsa milk to Krsna and help the population to get rid of karma

• Job/ Business - Earn money to donate for Krsna’s temples and activities

• Technology - to spread the message of Krsna

• Social Media - for outreach of Krsna’s activities

If one puts a little effort, this list can go on and on. We should take to this process so we can spiritualize all of our activities and become freed from sinful reactions. Actually, if one performs the material actions for their own sense gratification that is asat and builds up sinful reactions. These sinful reactions keep one in the cycle of birth and death. However, by sincerely dovetailing all activities and things in this material world with Krsna consciousness under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master, every moment in a person’s life becomes an act of devotional service. Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of BG 9.2 that “In other words, those who are actually engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord are already freed from all reactions.”