Engaging in Kṛṣṇa's Service - The Eternal Function of the Soul
The material world is characterized by an endless, frustrating struggle to serve the dictates of the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the only way to achieve lasting peace and liberation is to cure this diseased condition by actively and lovingly engaging all our faculties in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
The Cure for the Material Disease
In the conditioned state, the living entity is forced to act as a servant of māyā and the material senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that true self-realization means curing this unnatural, atheistic condition by deliberately shifting our consciousness and service back to Kṛṣṇa.
- Actually the whole world is serving the senses, servant of the senses. Godasa. But if we engage the senses in the service of Krsna, then we shall no longer remain the servant of the senses. We shall be the master of the senses.
- When we come to our spiritual senses, we can understand that we are erroneously engaged in maya's service and that our duty is to engage in Krsna's service. That is self-realization.
- When we deny to serve Krsna, when we are not engaged in the service of Krsna, that is our diseased condition; that is not healthy condition. So this Krsna Consciousness Movement is a treatment to cure this disease, atheist and rogues, to come to Krsna consciousness and be happy.
- The instruction is very simple: that you give up the service of this sense gratification. You just engage yourself to the service of Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. You simply change the consciousness.
Controlling the Mind and Senses
Artificial attempts to stop the senses from acting are bound to fail. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the secret to perfect sense control and mental peace is to keep the mind and senses constantly busy with activities that satisfy the Supreme Lord.
- As far as the eyes are concerned, they should not be allowed to see anything but Krsna. That will control the eyes. Similarly, the ears should be engaged in hearing about Krsna and the nose in smelling the flowers offered to Krsna.
- When one is always engaged in Krsna consciousness, in the service of Krsna, then how is it possible for the mind to wander away from Krsna? In the service of Krsna, the mind is automatically controlled.
- One should try to get out of illusion and be engaged in the factual service of Krsna. Service to Krsna utilizes all the senses, and when the senses are engaged in the service of Krsna, they become purified.
- The intelligent man who is situated in Krsna consciousness does not try to forcibly stop his senses from acting. Rather, he engages his senses in the service of Krsna.
Yukta-vairāgya: Practical Renunciation
A true devotee does not foolishly reject the resources of the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes the principle of yukta-vairāgya, wherein all material assets—such as wealth, talents, and intelligence—are purified and spiritualized by being directly dovetailed in Kṛṣṇa's service.
- This is required, that everything engaged in Krsna's service. That is called yukta-vairagya. Not phalgu-vairagya. Rupa Gosvami says, "Motor car is material; therefore we should not touch it" - this is phalgu-vairagya.
- Anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. Everything can be used to the extent that it can be engaged in Krsna's service.
- We don't say: "Oh, money is material. I do not touch. My hand becomes turned up." No. We don't say all these nonsense philosophy. We know the money, laksmi, is Krsna's property, so it should be engaged in Krsna's service.
- I am so glad you are playing music for Krishna. It is a great service of your talent. Anyone's special talent should be engaged in the service of the Lord, and thereby becomes successful in his life.
The Pure Motive of the Devotee
A sincere transcendentalist does not approach God to fulfill a material shopping list. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that a pure devotee rejects even the highest forms of liberation, praying solely for the opportunity to engage in unalloyed, uninterrupted service to the Lord.
- Pure devotee never asks from Krsna anything except His service. Mama janmani janamanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki. "Without any cause let me be engaged in Your service." This is Krsna consciousness, perfection.
- O the energy of Krsna, O the Lord Krsna, please engage me in Your service. - This is our prayer. We are not going to pray, "O God, give us our daily bread." And if you get bread, then what do you gain?
- A Krsna conscious person does not even want to stop his cycle of birth and death. He simply prays, "I may take birth as You like, but my only prayer is that I may be engaged in Your service" - CC Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4.
- Krsna ccontinued, "My devotees never desire anything from Me except to be engaged in My service. And yet because they are completely dependent upon Me, even if they are found to ask something from Me, that is not material."
The Supreme Protection
When a soul fully dedicates their life to Kṛṣṇa, the Lord personally takes charge of their destiny. Śrīla Prabhupāda guarantees that a devotee engaged in genuine service is completely protected from the illusions of māyā and is granted the intelligence to return to the spiritual world.
- Saranagati, surrender, means to have firm conviction that "Krsna will protect me. I am engaged in Krsna's service, so Krsna will give me protection."
- Maya is on the back side of Krsna and if we keep ourselves always in front side of Krsna, engaged in His service, then the external energy on the back side of Krsna will not be able to attack us.
- Try to engage yourself always in Krsna's service, and maya will not be able to touch you. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh.
- Considering all these points, when one engages in the service of Krsna's lotus feet, Krsna gives one the intelligence by which he can gradually progress toward perfection in service to the Lord.
The Ultimate Destination
The perfection of engaging in Kṛṣṇa's service in this life is the continuation of that exact same service in the spiritual world. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that an unalloyed devotee who faithfully executes their duties will effortlessly transcend the cycle of birth and death to associate with the Lord eternally.
- Anyone who attains the supreme perfection, being engaged in My personal devotional service in the eternal abode, reaches the highest perfection of human life and does not have to come back to the miserable material world.
- As soon as we engage ourselves in the service of Krsna, there is no longer any chance of falling down again into the material world.
- Please continue to engage wholeheartedly in Krsna's service and there is no doubt that you may go back to home, back to Godhead in this life.
- Yudhisthira said, "Being constantly engaged in Krsna conscious service, they are freed from the cycle of repeated birth and death."
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully establishes that the supreme and eternal function of the spirit soul is to be constantly engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service. When the living entity forgets this constitutional position, they fall into the diseased state of serving the dictates of the material senses and the illusory energy, māyā. However, the cure is immediately available: one must consciously redirect their consciousness, utilizing the principle of yukta-vairāgya. By engaging one's wealth, intelligence, artistic talents, and physical senses entirely for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction, the material energy is instantly spiritualized, and the mind is naturally brought under control without the need for artificial, forceful renunciation. The hallmark of this pure engagement is its absolute selflessness; a genuine devotee does not pray for material opulence or even the highest forms of liberation, but simply begs, "O Lord, please engage me in Your service." In return for this unalloyed dedication, Kṛṣṇa provides ultimate protection, shielding the devotee from the attacks of māyā and supplying the divine intelligence needed to cross the ocean of material existence. Ultimately, this unbroken engagement in Kṛṣṇa's service guarantees that the soul will permanently transcend the miserable cycle of birth and death, returning to the eternal spiritual sky to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Engaging in Krsna's Service. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.