First Serve, Then Deserve

Srila Prabhupada’s presentation of Krishna Consciousness was scientific.

This statement surely raised the eyebrows of those raised in blind admiration of “scientific facts” presented through a corrupted school system propagating “logic” and “believe only what you see”, taught to entirely illogical, blindly obedient followers of hedonistic dogmas poured into our brains. The present demoniac educational system produces slaves of industrial society and addicted consumers of its products.

Srila Prabhupada, the final warrior against hypocrisy, taught us by his example how to be real devotees of the Lord. In his presence, the projection screen of the illusory virtual cinema in which we were trapped was rolled up, and we were taught to face reality.

• First sense control… then love of Godhead.

• First mind control… then love of Godhead.

• First regulation and finally purification of our material desires… then love of Godhead.

• First serve and then deserve… love of Godhead.

• First hear, then speak… about love of Godhead.

• First qualify yourselves, and then… receive the gift of love of Godhead.

Such were Srila Prabhupada’s policies. The “fast food” presentation of Krishna Consciousness, followed by “fast food initiation”, where for a modest donation Krishna Consciousness is served in a watered-down form to a naive, pious audience, turns Srila Prabhupada’s reality-based preaching into a virtual cinema where visitors (not residents) are fascinated by easily available, entertaining projections. “I said the process is simple, but I didn’t say it’s easy,” Srila Prabhupada warned. Refusing to comment at length on intimate pastimes of the Lord, he repeatedly reminded us of the fallen state from which we came and the need for gradual purification.

When Srila Prabhupada opened the “hospital” for diseased conditioned souls, and the patients designated themselves as doctors, claiming they were already completely cured, the hospital turned into a “lunatic asylum”, as he called it. The final examination comes when Maya, the illusory energy of the Lord, tests the remaining fever and the level of our recovery. Her tests are uncompromising, and hypocrites are repeatedly exposed, in contrast to the sincere, who retreat to places where they can resist Maya’s call from a more stabilised and protected position.

In the war with the illusory energy of the Lord, we have seen many designated generals fall. The service they rendered during their authorised time is forever preserved—such is the nature of devotional service. The artificial posts and designations assumed along the way are often radically washed away until they stand again naked before the powerful “customs department” of Krishna—His Maya. Only then do hypocrites and the massive hordes of their stupefied followers vanish in silence, many still refusing to admit their defeat.

We can be spared such illusory displays by approaching Krishna Consciousness scientifically. Devotees can be classified according to their motivation to serve the Supreme Lord, based on the quality of desires they maintain.

There are those who serve Krishna unconditionally, negligent of their material desires. Their absolute priority is to serve the Supreme Lord; material desires are considered external agitations that can be ignored through dedicated devotional service. Such devotees are occasionally rewarded by the Supreme Lord, even with opulence, as examples like Arjuna and Sudama Vipra demonstrate. They can live and serve in any situation—rich or poor, famous or obscure, exercising authority or not—never forgetting they are eternal servants of the Lord. To such unconditionally dedicated souls, Krishna even says, as He did to Arjuna, “Fight this war and enjoy your kingdom.” Krishna knows they won't be corrupted by the assets given to them; they will always remember they are servants, not masters.

Then there are devotees who rigidly oppose their material desires, rejecting them in every way they can. They deny desires through severe austerities, love strict rules and regulations, and propagate the negation of anything materially tempting. To such renunciates, Krishna never gives opulence, fame, or material wealth—because they do not want it. Such rigid renunciates are inclined to negate the material energy of the Lord, risking the declaration of it as total Maya and becoming Maya-vadis.

And then there are those who approach Krishna Consciousness with hidden material desires, which manifest openly when the opportunity arises. “I came to Krishna Consciousness because I never saw monks driving such big cars,” said one. Another godbrother, observing the materialistic attitude of such “give me my daily bread” religionists—clearly belonging to the first type of devotee—marvelled at Krishna’s mercy, saying, “This Krishna Consciousness movement is like a desire tree.”

Indeed, it is difficult to find a place where such unqualified men can designate themselves as “qualified” to lead others, finding amazed and stupefied audiences to confirm their hypocrisy. To become prominent in karmi, materialistic society is not easy. One must lie, cheat, and eliminate enemies, as everyone else is doing. But in Krishna Consciousness, even constructive criticism is often labelled “offence”, and the fear of offence is used to silence opponents. Still, many are eager to join a society of cheaters and the cheated, seeking quick redemption for their past and ongoing sins.

Such is the nature of all “religionists”, as Srila Prabhupada defined the blindfolded followers of religious beliefs, bereft of conclusive philosophy or plain logic. Srila Prabhupada tolerated blind sentimental followers (what else could he do?), but he repeatedly tried to awaken our intelligence, calling for the gradual development of a sound understanding of Krishna Consciousness.

His preaching was not popular even among his godbrothers, who, in contrast to their guru, presented the highest levels of Krishna Consciousness to the lowest types of audiences. Their voices were sweet and pleasant; Srila Prabhupada’s voice was firm and commanding. He could be very tolerant of weakness but never of hypocrisy. As he said, “If I did not insist on the four regulative principles for my disciples, I could have millions of disciples.” He opposed turning Krishna Consciousness into a mere religious institution, where cheap followers were “baptised” by cheap priests, merely claiming membership in something they did not actually follow.

Why did Srila Prabhupada repeatedly stress the “basics” while simultaneously presenting the highest levels of Krishna Consciousness in his books? Because he knew that before learning the alphabet, one cannot understand higher education.

Those who accepted the gradual learning process of the Bhakti Yoga school—starting with jnana (theoretical knowledge) and progressing cautiously toward vijnana (realised knowledge)—thrived. Those who dashed where angels dared not fall repeatedly failed. This is the history of ISKCON, and those who learnt from it are discreet and careful in valuing and protecting the curriculum given by Srila Prabhupada in his educational institution.

Of course, in Srila Prabhupada’s direct presence, we experienced amazing ecstasies, reformations of the heart, and high levels of service. Life in his presence was effortless. Everyone was kind, attentive, and joyful. One can see this in photographs of those days, where devotees served Srila Prabhupada unconditionally, their faces bright and ecstatic.

In his absence, the presence of our unpurified material desires became painfully evident. As if “STOP!” signs were switched off, fools dashed where angels dared not go. In many ways, Krishna Consciousness became a cinema performance, where common folks could enter, occasionally paying a high entrance fee, and be entertained. Such cheap followers “add” Krishna Consciousness to their daily meals like an exotic spice, hoping that their kama-misra-bhakti—a watered-down pseudo-Krishna Consciousness—will bring them final ecstasy.

Even worse, some eagerly drink the milk touched by the lips of the poison of a mayavada-sunyavada snake—seemingly embracing Krishna Consciousness but actually consuming poison.

The results speak for themselves: some become mad in the name of Krishna Consciousness, while others become ecstatic and invigorated by following it properly.

The choice and responsibility for our actions lie with us. There is Krishna Consciousness, and there is its shadow-like “cinema form”. In both cases, we pay the price: the sincere, through sincerity and honesty; the cheap, through money and loss of intelligence.

It is indeed a war with the illusory energy of the Lord. Let us join the winning side and become truly Krishna conscious. Through Srila Prabhupada’s mercy and teachings, it is possible. Krishna Consciousness is not mere “magic”, said Srila Prabhupada, but wonderful things can happen once connected to him, the pure representative of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.