Perfection comes not by changing your profession, but by dedicating it entirely to Krishna's satisfaction.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Lecture Manipuri Dancing Group, The Zaveri Sisters — December 20, 1972, Bombay 721220LE-BOMBAY [11:54 Minutes] Lecture_721220LE-BOMBAY Prabhupāda: …chief devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu he said, rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir [Ādi 1.5], the hlādinī, the affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, hlādinī-śaktir asmād. Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Personality of Godhead has got immense potentiality as it is confirmed in the Vedas, parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śruyate svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca [Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.8] So Kṛṣṇa the absolute person has got immense potencies, so these potencies are is also emanating from Kṛṣṇa. Just like in the Vedānta-sutra the first sutra is, janmādy asya yataḥ—everything is emanating from Kṛṣṇa or the absolute person. So the arts, music, anything there are 12 kinds of rasas—mellows.
So there are ghastly mellows also, fearful mellows also and this melodic music that is also mellow. So everything is there in Kṛṣṇa, akhila-rasāmṛta-sindhu, all rasas are there. Raso vai saḥ He is the reservoir of all rasas so this display of art and music that is also from Kṛṣṇa, therefore art and music should be employed in the service of the Lord, that is the perfection. Svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate param, in the Bhagavad-gītā [18.46] it is said that, “whatever your occupational duty may be it doesn’t matter if you try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa then that is perfection.” In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also it is stated, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ [SB 1.2.13] When there was a great meeting of the saintly persons in Naimiṣāraṇya, Sūta Gosvāmī explained to all the great learned brāhmaṇas present there, ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā, dvija-śreṣṭhā—the best of the brāhmaṇas who are present there.
They were informed that, ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ. Our Vedic civilisation is based on the varṇāśrama-dharma, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśyas, śūdra. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ [Bg 4.13], so everyone has got different profession, for livelihood, that doesn’t matter. But the Bhāgavata injunction is svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya, you may be whatever you may be, you may be artist, you may be dancer, you may be engineer, you may be doctor, you may be professional man or businessman but whatever you may be it does not matter.
There are divisions in the human society there are so many divisions of labour but, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya, dharma means natural characteristics. If you have got artistic character, if you can dance, alright dance, if you can sing you sing. If you can fight you fight, that is all right but you take the svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir, how your profession has been perfected. That perfection, the standard of perfection is saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam. Try to satisfy Hari the Supreme Personality of Godhead by your art, culture, profession, characteristics.
So that is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we do not stop anything, we stop only committing sinful activities—that we stop. Otherwise we do not stop anything—we simply stop, striya-sūnā-pāna-dyūta yatra pāpaś catur-vidhāḥ [SB 1.17.38]. The sinful activities we stop. What are those sinful activities? Illicit connection with women, unnecessary killing of animals, intoxication and gambling, we stop these.
Otherwise you can go on with your profession don’t commit these sinful activities and try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa your life is successful. This is the program of Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, you remain in your profession, sthāne sthitāḥśruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṭ-manobhir [SB 10.14.3]. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended that you stay in your position don’t try to change your position but you try to hear of the Supreme Lord, sthāne sthitāḥśruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṭ-manobhir. You try to hear about the Supreme Lord and [indistinct]. That is the example in the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa gave an oral reception to the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa, eh.. Arjuna, Arjuna gave his oral reception to the teachings of Kṛṣṇa and he remained in his position as a fighter he did not change.
Rather in the beginning he was hesitating whether he should fight or not but as a kṣatriya it was his duty to fight. But he was hesitating after hearing Bhagavad-gītā he confirmed, kariṣye vacanaṁ tava [Bg. 18.73]—my dear Kṛṣṇa now I am convinced that this is my duty to fight. So Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is like that, sthāne sthitāḥśruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṭ-manobhir, you remain in your position but try to hear from Kṛṣṇa. You can hear from Kṛṣṇa Bhagavad-gītā is there, you can hear, don’t misinterpret simply try to hear Bhagavad-gītā as it is, your life will be perfect. Sthāne sthitāḥśruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṭ-manobhir, so this art and music, the loving affairs of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārānī they are not ordinary things you should not take it as something material.