Over endeavor

All Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj

All Glories  to HDG Srila  Bhakti Siddhanta  Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada

In this respect over endeavor here is used for those  in the pursuit of  material desires , fruitive work and lastly, knowledge in conjunction with impersonalism .On the contrary, it is does not imply  the persistent determined striving of the aspirant  to advance in devotional service .All types of  devotional activities performed with enthusiasm to advance in  devotional service is not what we are referring here. Actions performed in ignorance in opposition to the tenets of the Vedas usually  causes an upheaval in society bringing about  bodily and  mental distresses  in the individual also causing  society imbalance with loss of  wealth can all be categorized under bad actions .Such actions do not at all contribute to one's welfare in this world nor any other. All such actions are brought about by an immature ,impulsive mentally  debauched condition. These actions  are simply due to lack of proper control of self. The living entity is thrust in to this material prison ruled by Goddess Durga   being laden with different types of material desires . One who has some control over his mind and self does not allow the modes of ignorance to rule over him. One has to understand all these desires as simply material contamination and in opposition to our actual goal and therefore subdue completely all such desires. So the onrush of desires implies one has to  to free one's mind from such desires but to allow these desires to try to fulfill to completion mean the degradation of one to lowly states. This  enjoying mood is naturally  strong  in the case of ordinary beasts. But even though as beasts they have many a time  a slight sense of control which elevates  them more than  the human beings  without any sense of control. It is difficult for the   human   to  control  his nature but this function lies entirely  on his intelligence . If the intelligence is not properly utilized to control the impulsive ,turbulent senses then why is it so surprising that one   can become   drowned  in the depths of degradation.! The uncontrolled senses will keep wandering in all the places  especially where the personality Kali is located   or where irreligion flourishes in the most. Gambling dens with people engaged in betting as a lark, mundane music ,intoxication  which includes hard liquor and tobacco with drugs like opium not forgetting  also enjoyable ingredients as  betel .In connection with woman  means to try to enjoy illicit sensual activities . In the last place of Kali or  violence to other living entities  means as  relishing  of the consumption of meats and fish. All  these activities are  the basis of material contamination. Those with such profuse material desires becomes crazy in pursuing these latter lowly goals hence  having no chance to fix their minds  on the proper goal. In contrast, these sinful people  consider those on the most auspicious path as either  without action or intelligence  lumping them all as most unfortunate. One should keep their distance from all those classes of people with unlawful desires. Then there is the class of people in the mode of passion who are striving hard by fruitive action to fulfill their desires for enjoyment which simply causes their seed of devotion to be crushed. These people out to increase their stock of piety  engage in many pious activities for going to the higher planets for enjoyment. They are busy in many activities as feeding poor people and donating them cloth, excavating of ponds and wells, giving  water to the thirsty ,donation of medicines and hospital facilities for the sickly ,striving to alleviate the various  problems of others and in various ways help mitigate the problems in society .In comparison with the aspirations of those with desires ,these activities are situated on a higher platform. Usually those with their  material aspirations end up in hellish planets while pious activities will result in opulence and wealth in this life with happiness of the heavenly planets in the next life. So it is not fanciful to say that in comparison  of both these cases there is the wide difference as one to  attainment of  the heavenly planets with that of the other to the  hellish . Yet in the perspective of devotional service to the Lord  in comparison, they can be lumped  as not much in difference as both are unfavorable for practicing devotion. Here they can be compared to difference in the beauty and value of the gold and the iron conch. A blind man cannot understand the difference of value between these two by virtue of his blindness. He is busy trying to free himself from his  pathetic condition.in the same way an aspirant engaged in devotional service  from time to time ,we observe some tendency for fruitive work. A  devotee on the lowest rung being confined to worship of the deities will  sometimes have the eagerness for striving to  include  the practice of mundane work using one's intelligence. Their devotion is not pure but mixed with fruitive action. Most people  there are at the level of fruitive action mixed  with devotion. Although not under the control of work totally that tendency of fruitive work is strong and it can be vanquished only by the appearance of pure devotion where they will be able to qualify for entrance to that realm. In not following that current of devotional service there is no question of purification. In the establishment of deities and carrying out the worship with total  reliance on the normal code of worship is not  pure devotion .But by slowly cutting down total dependence on rules and regulations again advancing above mixed devotion finally one will come to the stage of pure devotion. However those with strong enjoying mood while always centered on installation of deities with the conduction of regular worship by rote throughout his life , then attainment of pure devotion will be difficult. Although fruitive work is never the instruction of the guru and the Vaishnavas still the aspirants tainted by fruitive action with the practice of this form of mixed devotion become  slowly directed to the path of pure devotion. As the practice of devotion becomes increased in strength, similarly the tendency of fruitive action becomes reduced. At that time  to  strive to establish and stay in a math will not be an excellent idea. Srila Rupa Gowami has stated that out of the sixty four limb of devotion there are thirteen which decries over endearing in the start  which can cause consequent loss of enthusiasm  This will lead to decrease in the devotional mood of the aspirant. The full fledged devotee will carry out the chanting of the holy name and service to the Lord with indifference to other irrelevant activities.it may happen that some  disciples may not be able to maintain such a strict adherence so the guru may  allow  some striving in works but that does not mean these aspirants  are practicing mixed devotion completely. According to the tendency of the disciple, the spiritual master  may  allow some other unwanted striving with the idea to slowly bring the disciple  to the platform of unalloyed devotion. However   at any point, he never advocates that  mixed devotion as the highest path. Further he never advices any aspirant on over endeavoring in the start. The guru does not allow the disciple to remain on the path of fruitive action as this could mean the possibility of the disciple to fall away from the path of pure devotion. On the mode of goodness ,there are many with the tendency for endeavoring for knowledge .They have not come to the level on  the stature of pure devotion.  However on  reaching the platform of pure goodness  ,bereft of the inclinations for knowledge and work independent of devotion, they may be able to come to the stage of pure devotion. The striving for the eight fold method of Yoga is also an impediment. The foundation of  pure devotion is on the total shelter of the holy name. There is no difference between the name and the Supreme Lord. Any striving contrary to this practice  because of not having faith in the name would mean falling away from  pure devotion. Even in the meditation of the undifferentiated Brahman ,though outwardly  some devotional aspect apparently may be there ,it is all just a show and not genuine. The reason is that there devotion is marked as just being   temporary and therefore tainted by the impersonalism and in opposition to belief in the One Supreme Lord. Nevertheless, where devotion is prevalent some measure of knowledge seeking may persist but that mixed devotion by the obedience  to the instructions of the guru and the Vaishnavas can be gradully  converted to the  pure devotional platform. Still ,until and unless one renounces the striving for independent knowledge, it will be difficult to come to the platform of pure devotion. jnanam prayasamudapsya namanti eva- according to this verse, the Lord Ajita will be conquered by one who is devoid  completely of the striving for works and independent knowledge. This is is glory of the Lord as He is  won over only  by devotion.