# Devotional Service *On the science of engaging oneself in the service of the Lord* --- ### Change the Consciousness, Not the Activities > This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You simply change the consciousness. Now your consciousness is absorbed in varieties of sense gratification. You stop this. You just apply your senses unto the service of the Supreme Lord. This is called devotional service, *bhakti,* or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is simple process. Just we have to change. The activities are the same. *Bhakti* means *sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam*. — [[spoken/1967/670110cc.ny|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.14–19, New York, January 10, 1967]] --- ### The Main Function for Self-Realization > So here Lord Caitanya says that *kṛṣṇa-bhakti haya abhidheya-pradhāna*. For self-realization—if you want to realize yourself or if you want to get out of these material clutches—then the main function is to become in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and be engaged in the service of the Lord directly. And *bhakti-mukha-nirīkṣaka karma-yoga-jñāna.* And other processes, they're also admitted, but they are dependent on this process. — [[spoken/1967/670110cc.ny|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.14–19, New York, January 10, 1967]] --- ### The Healthy Condition of the Soul > This is proper utilization of energy. When the energy of Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual energy of Kṛṣṇa or the living entity, works for Kṛṣṇa, that is healthy condition. Just like part and parcel of my body, this finger: when this finger works for me... I want the finger: "Come here. Work some here." But if the finger is not in healthy condition—it is painful, it cannot work—that is not normal condition. The normal condition is the finger is to work for my body. Similarly, we, being part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, when we are engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service, that is our normal condition, our healthy life. — [[spoken/1974/740220bg.bom|Bhagavad-gītā 7.5, Bombay, February 20, 1974]] --- ### Accept Everything for Kṛṣṇa > So our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement does not reject anything we can accept art, music, industry or even fighting just like Arjuna did. Everything can be employed under the guidance of Kṛṣṇa or his representative. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, If you have got artistic character, if you can dance, alright dance, if you can sing you sing. If you can fight you fight, that is all right but you take the *svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir,* how your profession has been perfected. That perfection, the standard of perfection is *saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam.* Try to satisfy Hari the Supreme Personality of Godhead by your art, culture, profession, characteristics. — [[spoken/1972/721220le.bom|Lecture, Manipuri Dancing Group, Bombay, December 20, 1972]] --- ### The Test of Advancement > Whether you are making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness you have to test yourself, whether you are decreasing your material desires. That's all. Because in the perfect stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness there is no more material desires. *Svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce*: "I have no more any demand. I am fully satisfied." *Kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma ataeva śānta*. If you want *śānti,* peacefulness, then you have to become completely Kṛṣṇa conscious—*kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma*—because he has no more demand. — [[spoken/1969/690110in.la|Initiations & Weddings, Los Angeles, January 10, 1969]] --- ### Above All Material Modes > This is the point to be understood. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being pushed in the Western countries, where the modes of passion and ignorance is very prominent. But this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement does not depend on these material modes of nature. It is above. It is without any impediment, without any stumbling block offered by the material causes. *Ahaituky apratihatā.* This movement cannot be checked by the material modes of nature. — [[spoken/1969/690310sb.haw|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.8–10, Hawaii, March 10, 1969]] --- ### Already Free from Sinful Reactions > So in this way those who are engaged in Kṛṣṇa business, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness business, they are already free from the sinful reaction of life. They are not ordinary person; otherwise how they are restraining themselves from these four principles of sinful life? They are not ordinary persons. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in the *Bhagavad-gītā* that one can be engaged in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness activities when he is completely freed from all sinful activities. — [[spoken/1970/700220in.la|Initiation Lecture, Los Angeles, February 20, 1970]] --- ### Mukti Waiting at the Door > So for a devotee, there is no question of *mukti.* A devotee is already *mukta.* Why? Kṛṣṇa says, *ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi*: "Immediately, as soon as you surrender to Me, immediately I give you protection." You are awaiting some fruitive result of your past *karma,* that is bondage. You have to take birth and you have to serve according to that *karma.* Then from that position you are immediately liberated. *Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi...* Then you are *mukta.* So if you remain in the position to serve Kṛṣṇa, then you are always *mukta. Muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān.* A great devotee, Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, he said this *muktiḥ mukulitāñjali,* "With folded hands she is standing at my door, 'What can I do for you?' " Maidservant. — [[spoken/1975/751220bg.bom|Bhagavad-gītā 7.1, Bombay, December 20, 1975]] --- *8 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on devotional service*