Chaitanya Charan Das Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02

Intention refers to conscious determination to do a particular thing. Intensity refers to wholehearted absorption in doing that thing.

Our spiritual practices frequently lack intensity. For example, when we meditate, often our mind doesn’t focus on the object of meditation, Krishna, but instead wanders to various worldly objects. Unintense devotional practices provide little taste because taste comes primarily when our consciousness connects with Krishna who manifests when we practice devotional service wholeheartedly.

Suppose a mother offers a delicious juice to her baby by pouring it into his mouth. But if the baby gets infatuated with something else and turns his face away from the juice, he can’t enjoy its taste. Our mind is like that unintelligent baby – it gets infatuated with worldly things and turns our attention away from Krishna even while we engage externally in devotional activities. As we are thus distracted, our devotional practices seem tasteless.

Rather than just berating ourselves for being halfhearted or pushing ourselves by brute force to concentrate, we can take a mental step backwards and ask ourselves: “Why am I doing this?”

How do we increase our intensity?

By probing and purifying our intention.

Rather than just berating ourselves for being halfhearted or pushing ourselves by brute force to concentrate, we can take a mental step backwards and ask ourselves: “Why am I doing this? Why is it important? What convinces me personally that it is important for me?” Such introspection pushes our consciousness towards the words of scripture, which gives the intellectual rationale for devotional service. Further, because scripture is a manifestation of the all-pure Supreme, contemplation on it purifies us, thereby reinforcing our pure spiritual intention. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (02.41) indicates that focused intelligence is the foundation of spiritual success.

When we are thus convinced that devotional service is important for us, we naturally feel inspired to concentrate on it and to drag our mind back to it even if it wanders. By such intentional and intense practice, our devotional service soon becomes tasteful and fruitful.