|
Our Aim is to Serve the Lord by Çré Çrémad Bhaktivedänta Trivikrama Gosvämé Mahäräja
Spoken on We are trying to attain which thing? What is our aim? Are we trying to attain God or service to God? We do not
want God, but service to Him. Why is this? We cannot engage God. This is the
kingdom of devotion, not of enjoyment. It is only by devotion that service to
God can be attained. It is not available to us by our efforts to enjoy. It is necessary for us to practice devotion, by devoting whatever
we have to Him for His enjoyment. The more we will devote ourselves to Him the
more we will proceed towards Him. This is the main point. But how is such
devotion possible? One who does not devote himself to God cannot attain Him. We
all want to enjoy everything. There are religions in this world in which the
people are always praying for enjoyment, peace or salvation, but none of this
is devotion. They may offer something for His service, for His pleasure, such
as sweetmeats, flowers or garlands, but their main objective is to get
something from Him in return. By this process God’s pleasure cannot be
attained; His service cannot be attained. kåñëa yadi chuöe bhakte bhukti mukti diyä kabhu prema-bhakti nä dena räkhena lukäiyä Çré Caitanya-caritämåta (Ädi 8.18) If a devotee wants liberation or material sense gratification from
the Lord, Kåñëa immediately delivers it, but pure devotional service He keeps
hidden. This is the statement of the wise men, the devotees. We are trying to devote everything, but it is difficult to do so
by our own effort. It is very difficult to devote everything. It is only
possible in the company of devotees. bhaktis tu bhagavad-bhakta-saìgena parijäyate sat-saìgaù präpyate puàbhiù sukåtaiù pürva-saïcitaiù Båhan-näradéya Puräëa (4.33) Bhakti is awakened when one associates with bhaktas of Çré Bhagavän. Association
with çuddha-bhaktas is attained
only by the accumulation of transcendental pious activities performed over many
lifetimes. Devotion is attainable by keeping the company of the pure
devotees. The person who possesses devotion can manifest it in the heart of
every soul. Unless and until we get the association of such a devotee this is not
possible. But such a devotee is very rare in this world – very rare. And
we can get his association by our good works. What does “good works” mean? It
means work that renders service to Him and His devotees. This is what is meant
by “good”. Sukåti – good works. Kåti means “activity”; su means “good”. What is that good activity? We currently think
that service to man is service to God, but this is only a partial truth. ye ’py anya-devatä-bhaktä / yajante çraddhayänvitäù te ’pi mäm eva kaunteya / yajanty avidhi-pürvakam Bhagavad-géta (9.23) O Kaunteya, those who worship
other demigods with faith actually worship Me alone, but in a way that is unauthorised. This is stated by our Lord Kåñëa – “Service to any demigods is
service to Me.” Though it can be called this, such service is not rendered properly; it is not appropriate. This is not the
proper law. “To serve man is to
serve God.” Most of us in this present time think that service to man is service to God,
but it is only a partial
truth. Man is nothing without the position of God. He is a very small fraction of the spiritual subject. mamaiväàço jéva-loke / jéva-bhütaù sanätanaù manaù-ñañöhänéndriyäëi / prakåti-sthäni karñati Bhagavad-géta
(15.7) The eternal jévas in this material world are
certainly My separated parts and parcels.
Bound by material nature, they are attracted by the six senses including the mind. Although the word “fraction” has been used here, it does not
mean the fraction of the subject possessing all varieties of qualities and
potencies. Rather, aàça refers to the fraction of the
potency – mamaiväàço – not of the possessor of the
potency. The possessor of potency is God, Lord Viñëu. So this is such a great
difference. A part of the potency cannot be equal to the possessor of the
potency. This is the main point that we should always remember. A potency always serves its master, the possessor. We are
the potency of Lord Kåñëa, and our relationship with Him is based on service to
Him only. In our present condition, however, we are doing the opposite,
and instead of serving Him, we are serving our senses. How can this problem be
removed? kåñëa-bahirmukha haïä bhoga-väïchä kare nikaöa-stha mäyä täre jäpaöiyä dhare Çré Prema-vivarta Our current way of thinking occurred only by the
influence of mäyä. Why is mäyä influencing us? Who is to blame, mäyä or us? Is mäyä doing wrong or are we? In the past, it is we who have done
the wrong. We have forgotten
Kåñëa and our relationship with Him. This has occurred because of our minute independence. When this independence is again used in service to Him we may attain real service, a
real connection or relationship.How can we be relieved from the influence of mäyä ? Our religious scriptures give instructions on this. It is only
possible when we are able to get the association of a devotee who himself is
free from mäyä. This is of utmost importance – to have the association of such a
person who is free from mäyä. But not only
that, as freedom is not our goal. The true religion, or true
relationship between Kåñëa and us, is not available by freedom alone. If a
person who is free from mäyä does
not possess love for Kåñëa then that source of freedom is not the best thing
for him. Although it is better to become free, we are not very successful unless
and until we attain a true connection in service to Him. That service is the
best thing. We do not want to enjoy Kåñëa, but we are always eager to see
Kåñëa, to get something from Him, and to have His company.
What then is our main objective? Is it to serve Him or enjoy Him? Why are we
trying to enjoy Him? We are trying to enjoy Him because this is our character.
By the influence of mäyä we
try to enjoy even when we serve. That is not devotion. We should give up that
sense of enjoyment. Why are we trying to see Him? He is very beautiful, so we
desire to see Him. But the devotee does not wish to see Him to enjoy His beauty;
he wishes to serve Him. We cannot imagine what this is like. At present, our
character is to enjoy, having turned towards that which is not in a pure
condition. Hare Kåñëa.
![[Return to BVML Home Page]](../grfx/bml_logo.gif){kind=logo}
 Srila Bhaktivedanta Trikakrama Maharaja Page |
