Enthusiasm is Required

In any field of activity one must be very enthusiastic if he wants to be successful. It does not matter whether one is a businessman, a politician, an artist, an athlete, a scientist, or a scholar. Without enthusiasm one cannot not be successful. The same principle applies on the path of devotional service. Unless one is very enthusiastic for realizing the supreme truth he will not able to break out of the drab, hum drum so-called comfort zone of this material existence.

So what does it mean to be enthusiastic? In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains, "Enthusiasm means action, but action for whom? The answer is that one should always act for Krishna." So we should always stay active in Krishna's service by engaging in any one or any combination of the nine different types of devotional service:

1. hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
2. chanting His glories
3. remembering the Lord
4. serving the Lord's feet
5. worshiping the Deity
6. offering obeisances unto the Lord
7. acting as the Lord's servant
8. making friends with the Lord
9. surrendering oneself fully to the Lord

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Thinking of Krishna at Every Minute

You teach us to remember Lord Krishna in all our thoughts and works at every moment. But physiologically our brain cannot think of two things simultaneously. It can think of only one thing, either the Lord or something else. Kindly clear my ignorance.

Sudhir

Answer: If You Love Someone, You Will Always
Remember Them

You have asked how is it possible to think of Krishna while simultaneously thinking of something else. Kindly note that if you truly love someone you will always remember that person no matter what you are doing. In this regard I have seen how in the corporate offices the workers will keep a picture of their wife and children on their desks to inspire them to perform their occupational duties very nicely. By remembering their beloved family members while they work hard all day at the office they are given a sense of purpose and meaning as to why they are engaged in that job. This remembrance energizes them in duties and helps them to become steady, dedicated employees. In fact it is for this very reason that employers like employees who have families.

So in the same way that one can work hard all day by remembering his family, one can also work with the greatest enthusiasm by always keeping Krishna in his heart while engaged in so many varieties of activities.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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