Parā bhakti. Parā-bhakti, that is real spiritual life. Parā aparā. Aparā bhakti means on the material platform—generally, the Deity worship. This is the beginning. But as you go on worshiping the Deity, you realize your spiritual identity. Then you do not see the Deity as made of stone or wood, you see directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and you can talk, you can receive an inspiration. This is the beginning.
- arcāyām eva haraye
- pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate
- na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu
- sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ
- (SB 11.2.47)
We should learn how to do good to the people in general. They have forgotten their relationship with God. You should be sympathetic for them that, "They're suffering on account of their forgetfulness of God. Let us do some service to them. Invoke. Awaken them. Awaken their Kṛṣṇa consciousness." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. It is the best welfare activities to the human society. Because he has got . . . he has forgotten Kṛṣṇa, he's suffering, and if you awaken his Kṛṣṇa consciousness then he will be happy.