“If it is favorable to my idea, then I accept You.” That is not devotion.

Mādhavānanda: Śrīla Prabhupāda, once you said that to stop this transmigration, one has to become completely disgusted with this material world.

Prabhupāda: Yes, unless…, how he can take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness? If he takes as a fashion, that is another thing. Just like the man who cannot tolerate commits suicide. Therefore you told me. Yes. One who is completely disgusted with this material life, he becomes fixed up in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Satsvarūpa: What about Lord Caitanya who prayed that “I don’t mind coming back again and again”?

Prabhupāda: That is devotee’s sincerity, that he does not go to Kṛṣṇa for some material profit. Any condition, he is Kṛṣṇa conscious. That is his humbleness. And a devotee, actual devotee, he doesn’t want. But it happens. Otherwise how Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti (BG 4.9). It will take automatically. But he is not, I mean to say, very serious, that “I must go to Kṛṣṇa and be saved from these material miseries.” A devotee never says like that. He wants that “Never mind miseries. Let me chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” That is his position.

Satsvarūpa: For us, is the perfection to be absorbed in preaching to others?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Satsvarūpa: Rather than thinking “I want to go and play with Kṛṣṇa”?

Prabhupāda: No. Your… Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṇa-upadeśa (CC Madhya 7.128). That is Caitanya. Yes.

Satsvarūpa: To everyone, tell them about Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Satsvarūpa: Not thinking, “Oh, when will I go to Kṛṣṇaloka?”

Prabhupāda: No, it doesn’t matter. You give him good advice. Just like a canvasser. He canvasses for selling some books or some… If does not sell, he is not a culprit. He has done his job. That is recognized by Kṛṣṇa. Devotee does not make any bargain with Kṛṣṇa that “Kṛṣṇa will give me this benefit; therefore I have become pure devotee.” That is not devotee. Prahlāda Mahā… He is a merchant, “You give me this price. I will deliver this clothing.” That is not devotion. Āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu māṁ marma-hatāṁ karotu vā: (CC Antya 20.47) “Any condition, I am your slave. Whatever You like, you can do with me.” That is the sign, not that “If it is favorable to my idea, then I accept You.” That is not devotion. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam (Brs. 1.1.11), no desire. Only desire: “Please accept me as Your eternal servant again.” Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings, mārobi rākhobi jo icchā tohārā: “Now, if You like, You can kill me; if You like, You can keep me. Whatever You like, I am prepared.” Mārobi rākhobi jo icchā tohārā. That is surrender. (break) Similarly, if we live on the nature’s way, there is no problem. The extra brain and intelligence which we have from the lower animals, we are utilizing for the same purpose, the animal life. That lady was saying, “Now we are advanced, so…”

Morning Walk — June 19, 1974, Germany