brahma-bhÅ«taḥ prasannÄtmÄ
na Å›ocati na kÄá¹…ká¹£ati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiá¹ labhate parÄm
brahma-bhÅ«taḥ - freed from material conceptions of life but attached to an impersonal situation; prasanna-ÄtmÄ - fully joyful; na Å›ocati - he does not lament; na kÄá¹…ká¹£ati - he does not hanker; samaḥ - equally disposed; sarveá¹£u - all; bhÅ«teá¹£u - to the living entities; mat-bhaktim - My devotional service; labhate - achieves; parÄm - transcendental.
In this verse from the Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ it is said that a person who accepts the theory of monism — being always engaged in empiric philosophical discussions about spiritual life — becomes joyful and is relieved from all material lamentation and hankering. At that stage, one is equipoised. He sees all living entities as spiritual beings. After attaining this elevated stage, one can attain pure devotional service. The conclusion is that devotional service mixed with ritualistic fruitive activity is inferior to spiritual service based on empiric philosophic discussion.