It is one thing to take up devotional service; it is another thing to become absorbed in devotional service. Ultimately many people are finding some taste: satisfaction in the philosophy and principles of moral behavior. A taste. But for the practitioners who are actually trying to change their whole lives it is not so easy...We see that somewhere along the line they go an independent course. They start very serious but sooner or later one gets confronted with oneself.
Sooner or later one must find, actually find, real happiness in Krishna Consciousness. It may not be enough that it offers morality, a secure society, it may not be enough to get a taste out of the kirtan. It may not be enough over the years to give ones whole life. One has to really make Krishna everything. One has to be absorbed. To be absorbed means to make Krishna everything. It cannot be that we like Krishna Consciousness amongst other things. It's good, inspiring but we are not completely convinced. It has not captured us to the point where Krishna is everything. Why is that? Because we have not made the service everything. As long as we are still karmi, as long as we still have personal desire, wanting to fulfill many personal ambitions then it will only partially capture us then all these other agenda items may grow and one day we take them up again.
Therefore the question is, " What service are we doing?" In the beginning it is natural that we are more concerned with what we are getting. What taste am I getting? What inspiration am I getting...It is fact that the element service is a turning point. So in the beginning it's about what we are getting. Oh, someone is so inspiring, so inspiring! But it's not about a person who is so inspiring it's the serviced that's so inspiring, (the person is a bonus!) But what is ultimately so inspiring is that the devotional service is inspiring. Because we must become inspired to serve. Otherwise what's the point? I'm so inspired! Ok but what's the consequence of that inspiration? How does it translate into service? Otherwise, "I'm so inspired!" Ok, take a cold class of water and you may feel better. After that what are you going to do now? Because ultimately inspiration is not a matter of excitement. Inspiration must go deep, serious also. Inspiration means now I will give my life to it. That is needed.
Lecture by H.H Kadamba Kanana Swami, Mayapur Gardens, November 25th 2007
