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Service to God means

Conversations and Morning Walks

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

God, service to God means, just like you put foodstuff in the stomach. Then the service, supplying energy, is distributed automatically. The eyes get service, the ears get service, the hands get service, legs get service, everything. But if you put foodstuff in the eyes, instead of giving service, you make it blind.
Room Conversation with Reporter -- June 3, 1976, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: They are learning how serve the dog. And they are giving up God.

Ambarīṣa: Yeah, there are a lot of people here that worship their pets.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Ambarīṣa: Yes.

Rāmeśvara: The Russians served Lenin.

Prabhupāda: They are imitating. You understand people are very expert in this subject matter. They have come.... Learning everything.

Devotee (1): We can't avoid serving.

Prabhupāda: No, that is not possible.

Rāmeśvara: That's all there is in life, is service.

Prabhupāda: Now we are sitting, so many gentlemen. He's having some paper, and you are serving God. The service is there. Nobody can say, "No, I don't serve anyone." Is there any man? No. That is not possible. You must serve. Constitutionally, you are meant for service, either you are president of the state or is anything. That is your position. That is the beginning of Caitanya Mahāprabhu's philosophy, jīvera svarūpa haya nitya-kṛṣṇa-dāsa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109). All living entities are eternal servant of God.

Ambarīṣa: And all service is the same?

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Ambarīṣa: All service is the same?

Devotee (1): No. He says, "All service is the same."

Prabhupāda: How can it be? All service is the same? Do you think...

Ambarīṣa: Everybody serves in their own way, but it's all...

Prabhupāda: That is.... Unless you come to the service of God, it is wrong.

Devotee (2): I think he's asking, "But if it is service to God, then in God's eyes, all service to Him."

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Reporter: Right.

Prabhupāda: Yes. God, service to God means, just like you put foodstuff in the stomach. Then the service, supplying energy, is distributed automatically. The eyes get service, the ears get service, the hands get service, legs get service, everything. But if you put foodstuff in the eyes, instead of giving service, you make it blind. If you put foodstuff in the ear, instead of hearing, it is blocked. Then that is ignorance. You do not know where to give service. The knowledge, God consciousness, means to know where to give service, so that the service will be automatically distributed. You pour water on the root of the tree and the energy will be distributed to the trunk, to the branches, to the twigs, to the leaves, to the flowers, everyone. We are missing their point. This is scientific,

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena
tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ
prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ
tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā
(SB 4.31.14)

So instead of giving service in so many ways—social, political, philosophical, cultural, this way, that way—if you simply learn how to serve God, then everything will be done. So that is our philosophy, and we are laboring for this purpose, that you understand God and give service to Him, then the whole society will be perfect, peaceful.

Page Title:Service to God means
Compiler:Rishab
Created:27 of Mar, 2012
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1