Differences between Karma & Jnana

Differences between Karma – Fruitive activities & Jnana – the Pursuit of impersonal knowledge

“Please beg the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Prabhu and all the Rupanugas, followers of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, from the inner core of your heart for the mercy that has been transmitted to them by Sriman Mahaprabhu.”

All glories to Sri Sri Krishna Chaitanya Chandra!
Sri Mayapur, Nadiya
Sri Chaitanyabda 429

My dear –

I have received news through your letter dated 7th Baisakh. We are doing good by the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. However, we are facing numerous hindrances in performing Hari Seva, service to Sri Hari, as a result of past sinful activities.

       If one has the intense desire to chant Harinama without offenses, one can get rid of the offenses by sincerely chanting Harinama all the time. Sriman Mahaprabhu has endowed Sri Rupa Goswami Prabhu with all the potencies. Please beg the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Prabhu and all the Rupanuga Prabhus, followers of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, from the inner core of your heart for the mercy that has been transmitted to them by Sriman Mahaprabhu. Especially, please pray to Sri Harinama Prabhu earnestly, to kindly bestow us with the qualifications required to serve Him. Then Nama Prabhu will appear as the Nami Prabhu, i.e., the possessor of the Holy Name, and establish Himself in the heart.

       The desire to acquire anything except ‘Sri Krishna’ is known as ‘anyabhilasa.’ Those who have any desires unrelated to Krishna are to be considered anyabhilasi. Those interested in virtuous acts and good deeds are karmis, while those who are interested in the formless, impersonal philosophy or knowledge are jnanis. The difference between a karmi with anyabhilasi is that anyabhilasi is engaged in wrong activities. The difference between a jnani and an anyabhilasi is that anyabhilasi has wrong or evil thoughts and intentions. Yukta vairagya (proper renunciation that is pleasing to Krishna) is achieved only when one, having a sincere intention to serve Sri Krishna, becomes completely detached from the desire of mundane sense gratification and offers transcendental service to Sri Krishna. On the other hand, by considering the scriptures, the transcendental form of the Deities, the devotional practice of chanting Harinama and the Vaishnavas as mere illusory or mundane things, one gets ‘tuccha vairagya’ (improper renunciation, renunciation that is not pleasing to Krishna), which must be abandoned by a devotee. The devotees of the Lord will only accept Yukta Vairagya. “Krame krame paya loke bhava sindhu kula.” Please try to properly realize this instruction of Sriman Mahaprabhu.

Your ever well-wisher, akinchana, (having no material possession)

Sri Siddhanta Saraswati