Service. There is no question of inferior or superior.
One who distinguishes a particular type of service as inferior or superior, he does not know the value of devotional service.
It is all transcendental.
Bombay, 19 January, 1975.
Los Angeles
My dear Satsvarupa Maharaja,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 5th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for doing your work so nicely. I was very pleased to receive the review on the 1st volume of the third canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam written by professor Mehta from the University of Windsor. If you can send more similar reviews on my books, I would very much appreciate it. I am keeping a folder on such things and we can print a small book to distribute that will contain such reviews so that people will see what a great impression our books have on the intelligentsia of the world.
Regarding your question about the controversial talks going on, this kind of talk is not befitting my advanced students. This is childish. In Krishna’s service, there is no inferior and superior. Deity worship is just as important as book distribution. It is not material. As mentioned in the Bhagavatam.
sravanam kirtanam visno smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
Sravanam kirtanam is the beginning–to chant and hear. Book distribution is under this category of sravanam kirtanam. The next item is smaranam. If somebody simply remembers the Supreme Lord, that is also as good as sravanam kirtanam. Then there is arcanam. That is also as good as the others, but one who simply becomes engaged in arcanam and does nothing of sravanam kirtanam, his position becomes in the material field. Any one of the nine processes is as good as the other. There is no question of inferior or superior. But out of all of them sravanam kirtanam is very important.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu while instructing Srila Rupa Gosvami, has said how the seed of devotional service sprouts and increases by watering the root by the process of sravanam kirtanam. So, these two items are very important in devotional service, but that does not mean that the other items are inferior. Srila Jiva Gosvami has stressed kirtanam especially in the age of Kali. Even if there is arcanam for sanctifying the contaminated mind, it must be accompanied by sravanam kirtanam.
So, you are all advanced students. You should understand the importance of each and every item of devotional service. Do not make any misunderstanding by devaluating any of the spiritual activities.
You are one of the advanced students. One who distinguishes a particular type of service as inferior or superior, he does not know the value of devotional service. It is all transcendental. Whatever item is suitable, that is accepted as very elevated. Just like Maharaja Pariksit. He simply listened to Sukadeva Gosvami. That is sravanam. And Sukadeva Gosvami simply narrated Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is kirtanam. Prahlada Maharaja simply contemplated–smaranam. Prthu Maharaja simply did deity worship–arcanam. Arjuna only remained as friend of Krishna–sakhyam. Hanuman remained only engaged in carrying out the order of Lord Ramacandra–dasyam. And Bali Maharaja surrendered everything to Krishna–atma-nivedanam. So, any devotee executing any one of the nine is transcendentally glorious. One devotee may be proud that his process of service is the best. That is not inglorious. This is called transcendental competition. Everyone should feel proud of his particular type of devotional service, but that does not mean that other types of service are inferior. Everyone should feel proud of becoming sincere servant of Krishna, but the pure devotee never minimizes the importance of other devotees. Krishna is the enjoyer of varieties of service. It is not stuck up with any particular type of service. Krishna takes pleasure with devotees even by fighting service. When Grandfather Bhisma was trying to injure the body of Krishna by sharpened arrows, in full devotion in the mellow of chivalry, Krishna was feeling the piercing of the arrows as good as worshiping him with soft rose flowers. The conclusion is that everyone should be very very sincere. There is no more the question of inferior or superior.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami
ACBS.ps
N.B. I have accepted Bhakta Seth for first initiation. His name can be Sesa das. You may chant his beads. Also, I have accepted Maha Buddhi das and Mahadyuti das as my duly initiated brahmanas. Let them hear the gayatri mantra through the right ear from the tape of myself chanting it. Their threads and mantra sheets are enclosed herein.
[75-01-19]
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
About the Author
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
Related Posts
A first-class devotee does NOT fall down! →
A Summary of Prabhupada’s Miraculous Accomplishments →
Honoring the Pure Devotee →
Hare Krishna Prabhu
Please accept my humble obeisnces
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Will Srila Prabhupada and Krishna show mercy upon us even if we do our best and aren’t able to do much, like Jesus Christ showed by blessing the person to whom he said this, “”They also serve, who only stand and wait.” as the helpless poor man Joshua was shedding tears?
Yes. Of course. Everyone can serve Krishna according to his capacity. Some have more capacity to serve and others have less capacity, from the material point of view. Example is the ant in the temple is touching Krisna’s feet and his service is as good as the pujari who is worshipping Krishna.
Hare Krishna! Very good and relieving to know this as I felt my service was inferior because of not being able to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books much. But I’ll keep trying to increase book distribution by going on streets also at some point for sure.
Hare krsna Madhudvisa prabhu,I am trying very much fully to become krsna consciousness,and the problem is lack of job, Does ur site have any job related works, i am jobless and struggling for want of proper associationof devotees
Now you have free time you should take full advantage of it and read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. As you read Srila Prabhupada’s books you will find he is giving you instructions. So follow those instructions given to you by Srila Prabhupada and you will become very busy in Krishna consciousness. Devotees have so much service to do and so little time to do it. So you have time, take advantage of that, read Srila Prabhupada’s books, follow his instructions, and get busy serving Krishna.
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa dasa. We can distinguish service as inferior or superior in terms of whether the service we are doing is for maya or krishna right. i mean service for maya is inferior and service to krishna is superior.
I have no idea what you are really asking here.