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How can we render service to Lord Krishna? With example.

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The only service Krishna is interested in is service that is done with love and devotion. He is not in need of anything, but being a perfect ‘gentleman’ He appreciates anything done for Him with love.

So step one is to develop our relationship with Krishna. Everything is based on this point of relationship.

People serve their country, their families, their company, their anything, because of the relationships they have with them. They are not abstract relationships, they are based on something solid and real (as much as anything is real in the material world). I can give thousands of examples of different services that can be rendered to Krishna, but they need to be done with devotion in order to attract Krishna.

In Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23–24 Prahlad Maharaja lists nine types of service, which are recommended if performed with devotion. So the real question is how can we render devotional service to Krishna, which means, how can I develop devotion for Krishna? Now we are back to relationship because devotion takes place between two entities that have a relationship. This is called Sambandha.

Krishna is in Goloka Vrindavan far outside this universe. We can’t go there.

He is in our heart and within every atom, but we can’t see Him.

He is in His deity form, but He looks like stone, brass or wood. He doesn’t move or speak, so how can we relate to Him like this? We know stories of great devotees who spoke with their deities and had a fully reciprocal relationship with Them, so we have faith and perform our service to the Lord in His archa vigraha, but how to develop real devotion?

That’s what Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made freely available.

Krishna is His name. There is no difference between the two. By associating with the name ‘Krishna’, we are associating with the person Krishna.

We develop relationships by associating with the other person in the relationship. And we develop devotion by cultivating the relationship.

Chanting Hare Krishna is service. Chanting it with devotion is devotional service. In Iskcon we chant 16 rounds daily, that’s 1,728 mantras. Each mantra has 32 syllables arranged in 16 words using the three words Hare, Krishna and Rama. It may sound strange but it’s possible to develop a relationship with these words.

By chanting attentively we hear only Krishna’s names, we control the mind and focus on the mantra. With practice, we come to ‘float’ in the stream of names that comes from our tongue. We don’t let the mind stray to the future or dwell on the past, it stays weightless in the present, and time stands still. We approach the holy names, lovingly and with deep respect and gratitude. We savor the sound, relishing the presence of Krishna within the vibration. We bypass material emotions in the heart and open our ‘spiritual heart’ which is who we really are, and let the mantra rejuvenate and refresh us at the core. From there devotion naturally arises, it can’t be stopped, it’s just there.

It’s a science and needs a lot of practice, relentless practice, but it’s doable if the desire is strong. When devotion begins to arise then unlimited opportunities to serve Krishna arise also. They can be as simple as offering Him a leaf or water, or as complicated as establishing a worldwide organization of thousands of volunteers for His pleasure, that will be determined by our nature and abilities. Just as boys are seldom at a loss for something to do for the girl they love, devotees see ways to serve Krishna in every situation and circumstance. All they want to do is serve the Lord with whatever they have at their disposal.

Please chant Hare Krishna, establish your relationship with Krishna through His name, develop devotion, and then you will see nothing but opportunities for service.

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. Bg 9.26

While this is going on keep a photo of Krishna and perform aroti. Cook the things Krishna likes and offer them to Him. Keep yourself and the place where you live clean. Make garlands for the photo. Visit a temple and take darshan. Tell people about Krishna or better still give them books about Krishna. If you have a time-consuming job give some donations to help those serving Krishna more directly. Read about Krishna, study His words in Bhagavad Gita, celebrate festivals glorifying Krishna, make your own garden to grow vegetables and flowers for Krishna. Worship a deity of Krishna in your home, make clothes for Him, rub scented oil on Him, bathe and dress Him. Invite friends to your house to take prasadam and discuss about Krishna sharing your realizations with each other. Always remember Krishna and never forget Him.

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare



Author

Murari Das is supporter of ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. He is preaching about Krishna consciousness and message of Bhagavad Gita.


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