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If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you don't feel happy, then you are not executing. There is some flaw

Expressions researched:
"If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you don't feel happy, then you are not executing; there is some flaw"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you don't feel happy, then you are not executing. There is some flaw.


Devotee: "This verse more clearly explains the real nature of the soul, which is spread all over the body. Anyone can understand what is spread all over the body. It is consciousness. Everyone is conscious about the pains and pleasures of the body in part or as a whole. This spreading of consciousness is limited within one's own body."

Prabhupāda: Now, this consciousness, the Māyāvādī philosopher says: "Yes, I am consciousness," the same theory, this small consciousness, "but as soon as I break this body, the small consciousness will mix up with the supreme consciousness." That is their theory. But anyway, whatever that theory may be, at least in my present condition, I . . . my consciousness, is limited within this body.

I cannot say that I am superconscious. Had I been superconscious, then the pains and pleasure going on in your body I would have felt. But because I am limited within this body, therefore the pains and pleasure of my body I can understand. Therefore my consciousness is limited.

You cannot argue that you are the same . . . that will be explained. Kṛṣṇa says in the Thirteenth Chapter that kṣetra-jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi sarva-kṣetreṣu bhārata (BG 13.3). Kṣetra-jña, the soul, and . . . is within this body. Therefore soul is called kṣetra-jña. Kṣetra-jña means "one who knows about this body." I am conscious about my this body, you are conscious about your body. But Kṛṣṇa is conscious of your body and my body and everyone's body. Therefore He's also kṣetra-jña, but He's kṣetra-jña, He's Supersoul. Just the same example—just like the sun, during meridian, is on your head. At 5,000 miles, you ask your friend, "Where is the sun?" he'll also say, "It is on my head."

(break) If a person is actually executing devotional service, then he must be happy. If he's not happy, then he's not doing properly. So first thing is this. He might be doing something in the name of devotional service. If he's actually rendering devotional service, then he must be feeling. Just like if you are eating actually, then you must feel strength and satisfaction of your hunger. You cannot say, "I'm eating, but I'm not satisfied of my hunger." That is impossible. This is not possible. Then you are not eating. Or you are eating, but it is being devoured by the worms within your intestines.

Sometimes it happens. If there are many worms within the intestines, you go on voraciously eating, but you don't get strength because the eating substance, the essence, is taken by the worms. Therefore the worm treatment is there to kill the worms. Otherwise they will eat everything. You'll feel hungry but will not get any strength. This is the worm disease.

So if I am actually rendering devotional service and I'm not getting any happiness, that means there is some māyā's play. Otherwise there is no such reasoning. He must feel happy. Then he has to rectify the process of his service. Not to change, but rectify the process.

Devotee: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: What is that? (laughs) It cannot be. If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you don't feel happy, then you are not executing; there is some flaw.

Yes.

Page Title:If you are actually executing devotional service, you must feel happy. If you don't feel happy, then you are not executing. There is some flaw
Compiler:Laksmipriya
Created:2014-12-28, 16:31:31
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1