Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau (Brs. 1.2.234). Our devotional service begins from the tongue. People will be, "How service begins from the tongue?" Yes. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayaṁ eva sphuraty adhaḥ. So the tongue is very good instrument for developing devotional service. If we don't use this tongue in devotional service, then it is compared with the tongue of the frog. Jihvā dārdurikeva.
Why? Why? "My tongue is so nice. Why it is compared with the tongue of a frog?" Now, because the frog, crowing, "kakara-kaw, kakara-kaw," that means inviting the snake. The snake cannot see where is the frog, but by hearing the sound, crowing sound, the snake can understand, "Here is my food." So his crowing sound will be stopped as soon it is swallowed up by the snake.
Similarly, we have got this tongue, human body. It is not the cat's tongue or dog's tongue or tiger's tongue or hog's tongue. It is the human being tongue. So this should be engaged for Kṛṣṇa's service by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare . . ." This is . . . the tongue is being used. And tasting kṛṣṇa-prasādam. If we simply . . . if you do not read any śāstra, if you simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the tongue is . . . and simply we do not eat anything which is not offered to Kṛṣṇa. If we take this vow, that "My tongue should be used only for Kṛṣṇa, by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. And chanting, chanting, when I become hungry, I take some little prasādam . . ."
Actually, that was the original process of paramahaṁsas, Gosvāmīs. They used to . . . kṛṣṇa-kīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau. Their tongue was always used for kṛṣṇa-kīrtana.
- kṛṣṇa-kīrtana-gāna-nartana-parau premāmṛtāmbho-nidhī
- dhīrādhīra-jana-priya-priyakarau nirmatsarau pūjitau
- śrī-caitanya-kṛpā-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bhārāvahantārakau
- vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau
- (Śrī Śrī Ṣaḍ Gosvāmy Aṣṭaka)
So the Gosvāmīs used to spend their time by using . . . Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Haridāsa . . . Nāmācārya Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was using his tongue: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, like this. Very simple thing. But it is difficult also.
So gradually . . . we should not imitate, but follow the footprints of great saintly persons, ācāryas. Then gradually, we shall be practiced. Tādera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vāsa. This society, Kṛṣṇa consciousness society, is made just to create some devotees so that people, by the association of the devotees and following the footprints of the Gosvāmīs, they'll be automatically elevated to the transcendental platform. This is the meaning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness Society. It is not a joint mess that, "You bring something, I bring something, and let us cook together, and eat and sleep." It is not that Society. We should always be engaged. Always we shall use our tongue.