Servant of the servant (Letters)

Expressions researched:
"servant of the servants" |"servant of the servant" |"servants of the servants" |"servants of the servant"

1967 Correspondence

Your desire to become the servant of the servant of Krishna is very pious.

Letter to Aatie -- Navadvipa 28 October, 1967: In the Vedic literature there is a nice story about Dhruva. This Dhruva understood from his mother when he was only five, that God can be found in person in the forest. Dhruva went to the forest in search of God. The Lord Narayana in heaven or in the heart of Dhruva understood the sincerity of Dhruva's purpose & sent Narada, His great disciple to initiate Dhruva in the matter of Krishna Consciousness. This incident confirms that by the grace of Krishna, Dhruva was able to get the help of Narada as his spiritual master. Therefore, Krishna Consciousness is a parallel process in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead & the Spiritual master simultaneously. Your desire to become the servant of the servant of Krishna is very pious. Lord Caitanya desired the same thing in order to set an example, though he was Krishna Himself [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. The Bhagavad-gita confirms this. I am so pleased to learn that you are all living in the Brahmacari house with Jayananda & Upendra & I am more pleased that you are all working. Everyone can achieve the highest perfection of life by working in his specific capacity. Hope you are well.

1968 Correspondence

Of course, on behalf of Krishna I am accepting your sincere service, but on the whole, I am servant of the servant of Krishna.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 15 February, 1968: Regarding apartments: we are Indians, especially mendicant, we can adjust things in any kind of place. But I shall stay in any place hell or heaven, if it is approved by you. Of course, on behalf of Krishna I am accepting your sincere service, but on the whole, I am servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Therefore I may be in designation your Spiritual Master, but actually I am servant of the servant of Krishna, and because you are all sincere servants of Krishna, I am your servant. I shall be glad to stay wherever yourself, Rayarama, and others like me to stay.

A Krishna Conscious person is never falsely puffed-up; he is satisfied with his humble position as the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Allston, Mass 1 June, 1968: Your humbleness is very much appreciated by me. This humbleness is the sign of progress in Krishna Consciousness. A Krishna Consciousness person thinks always about himself as the lowest creature in the world, and the more one thinks like that he becomes elevated more and more. A Krishna Conscious person is never falsely puffed-up; he is satisfied with his humble position as the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Hope you are all well.

1969 Correspondence

Lord Caitanya also claimed Himself as servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 5 February, 1969: If somebody says "I am Krishna." or "I am Radha." or "I am one of the eight Gopis." that is against Krishna philosophy. My Guru Maharaja claimed to be one of the sub-devotee assistants of the eight Gopis. Lord Caitanya also claimed Himself as servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So even though you might not have understood, you can correct it now and don't be disappointed.

We do not concern ourselves with any other religion. Our religion is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969: The real end is how to serve Krishna and sacrifice everything for Him. And to learn this transcendental art we have got so many volumes of books. So the summary is that instead of diverting our attention to read such unauthorized books, better pay our attention to more authorized Vaisnava literature. These scriptures of the Buddhists and the Christians may be the words of God, but still the are not always applicable to us. It is just like a king may give some rules and regulations for some criminals in prison; but for the good citizens out of the prison these rules are not necessarily applicable. So these Christian and Buddhist scriptures were delivered for a different class of men, and we needn't spend our time in studying their doctrines. You should read our own books over and over again and as far as possible do not try to enter into controversy. We do not concern ourselves with any other religion. Our religion is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80].

1970 Correspondence

Do not be worried about the future. If you will simply work on very strenuously in humble state of mind as the sincere servant of the servant of the Lord, then Krsna will give you all facilities.

Letter to Upendra -- Bombay 21 November, 1970: I am very glad that you have found some interested and friendly persons to give you at least some temporary assistance in Fiji. Do not be worried about the future. If you will simply work on very strenuously in humble state of mind as the sincere servant of the servant of the Lord, then Krsna will give you all facilities [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. I know you are already acquainted with the Lord's mercy in this respect because you have already had several times experience in the matter of establishing our ISKCON Temples in different places.

Lord Caitanya said that "I am the servant of the servant of the servant 100 times removed" and similarly we should think ourselves as the servant of the servant of the servant and this attitude will lead to success in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 24 November, 1970: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter that you say "I am now prepared to give up all self-created designations and work only as your servant." That is the real position; transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. That is our real identification. All other identifications are false or temporary. Lord Caitanya said that "I am the servant of the servant of the servant 100 times removed" and similarly we should think ourselves as the servant of the servant of the servant and this attitude will lead to success in Krishna Consciousness [Cc. Madhya 13.80].

1972 Correspondence

Yes, this is our real position, to be servants of the servants of the servants.

Letter to Atreya Rsi -- Bombay 4 February, 1972: I am very pleased that you are assisting your godbrothers so nicely. Yes, this is our real position, to be servants of the servants of the servants. And by your quiet and humble attitude, you shall set the example of Vaisnava so that all may learn from you, and very soon their puffed-up attitude will disappear and they will come to you and seek your advice in matters.

1974 Correspondence

Your name is already Krsna das so your new boy may be given the name Krsna das-anudas, the servant of the servant of Krsna.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Paris 9 June, 1974: Your name is already Krsna das so your new boy may be given the name Krsna das-anudas, the servant of the servant of Krsna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This was the position desirable to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Regarding your inquiry about your position, that is a bona fide position to remain a servant of the servant of Krishna.

Letter to Dhananjaya -- Bombay 15 November, 1974: Regarding your inquiry about your position, that is a bona fide position to remain a servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So for the time being you can help Tejiyas in Delhi collecting and preaching.

1975 Correspondence

But of course a guru never thinks himself as being God. He only thinks himself as the servant of the servant of the servant.

Letter to Mr. Himtsinh J. Bhatia, Mrs. Manjula H. Bhatia -- Bombay 23 November, 1975: Our mission is that especially those who have taken their birth in India that it is their responsibility to become perfect in the science of Krsna Consciousness and to deliver everyone in the world. In this way everyone is expected to become guru. But But of course a guru never thinks himself as being God. He only thinks himself as the servant of the servant of the servant: how to be a guru? It is said that one simply has to repeat the instructions that Krsna has given. If he repeats without adding or subtracting anything, then he is qualified as guru. Actually there is only one guru—Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So those who simply repeat His words, they also become guru. gopi bhrtya pada-kamalayo das dasanudasa [Cc. Madhya 13.80].