(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Berlin, September 2011)
It is often said that the devotee is not desiring anything in return for his service, and that is a fact. The devotee is not asking for any reward from his service. It’s not that we are doing this service so that we can eternally enjoy in the spiritual world – that we do the service as an austerity and are waiting for the reward. We chant Hare Krsna and then we will be showered with the mercy. No, the chanting of Hare Krsna is the mercy, as we just experienced for the week, the never-ending chanting of Hare Krsna.
So in this way, the service just carries on. But the devotee does have a desire. In the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said that a devotee is selfless. He can simply serve, life after life, in the material world, but Krsna still takes him back to Godhead. Because Krsna knows that in his heart of hearts, the devotee has a desire to go back to the spiritual world. Krsna knows that in his heart of hearts, the devotee has the desire, the desire to see a spark of pleasure in the eyes of Krsna in response to his service rendered.
Some recognition – that is the greatest ecstasy. If we make offerings to Krsna and Krsna appreciates or relishes that service, what greater ecstasy could there be?
