(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 April 2015, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture: What is devotional service)
Many devotees, after they have been active in Krsna consciousness for a while, will start connecting to a spiritual master and that is very nice because the spiritual master is very much engaged in devotional service. His whole life is about devotional service and therefore he has a deep absorption in devotional service. It is explained that this absorption is sometimes called bhava. Bhava is explained as deep absorption in the ecstasy of serving Krsna.
So, one who is so deeply absorbed, he can give inspiration to others, just by his presence. It is said that there is chaya bhava, the reflection of bhava, or that the consciousness of a pure devotee reflects on others and in his presence, they also suddenly become enlivened about serving Krsna; they become motivated, “Yes, spiritual life is what I want, I agree with that!”
But then, it looks different when we are back with everyday life because that shadow reflection wears off. We borrow inspiration of the more mature vaishnava but when we are out of their association then it will run out. But, if we stay in that association for a longer period of time, it is like when you borrow something for a long period of time, then it becomes yours. When the ecstasy of a devotee is borrowed for a long, long time; if we serve the devotee for a long, long time; then it becomes ours and that is a key to develop devotional service.
