SERVING THE DEVOTEES

SERVING THE DEVOTEES
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Question: Why are we not feeling any closeness to Krishna?
Srila Prabhupada: The living entity is constitutionally a servitor of the Supreme Lord. But if we do not always associate with the Lord and his devotees, and do not always serve them, then how can we feel close to the Lord? If we are busy with worldly matters then how can we hear the Lord? At present we are enchanted by false hopes, which have resulted in wrong judgement. Thus we are heavily preoccupied with this world. We have become subject to wrong judgement because we have gone far away from the original fountainhead of our life. One who steps in quicksand will drown very quickly. Similarly, that on which we are depending has a treacherous foundation, and that is why we are drowning in this material ocean. Instead of being on the path to Krishna, we are spending our time in material endeavors, being possessed by wicked desires. Visnu-māyā, the illusory energy of the Lord, is imprisoning us by letting us become material enjoyers or fruitive workers. Therefore we should be cautious. We should know that we require guidance at every step. We should be extra careful. We need instruction at every step; we need the guidance of gurudeva at every step.
Serving the devotees is more beneficial for us than serving the Lord. The living entity is benefited more by associating with devotees than by associating with the Lord. The abode of a devotee, meaning the abode of gurudeva, is more favorable for pure devotional service than the abode of the Lord. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has said (Kalyāna-kalpataru 1.14.4), yathāya vaisnava-gana sei sthāna vndāvana — Where vaishnavas are living, that place is Vrindavan. We have to try to understand the full meaning of these words. But if we become indifferent to the service of gurudeva, then we cannot become servitors. We will remain proud and arrogant. We will remain entangled in external thoughts. There is no higher thought in the theistic world than service at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Therefore we have to constantly hear hari-kathā so we will not be deprived from the service of the Lord, who is adhoksaja or beyond the senses; so we will not become dependent on our senses and on the path of false logic. We have to pay great attention to devotional service, because we have spent many lifetimes doing these other things. We have to become very mindful so we can fulfill our greatest necessity in this very life. If a devotee always serves guru and Krishna with great care, with great attachment and love, then he will definitely feel Krishna’s association.
– An expert from Sri Krishna-kathamrta Bindu, a free bi-monthly magazine service provided by Gopal Jiu Publications.