December 16, 1976 Hyderabad press conference
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Ramachandra: I only want that your movement should utilize my services because I believe service to mankind is service to God.
Srila Prabhupāda: No, no, service to God is [not] service to mankind.If you pour water in the root, then it is service to the tree. And if you pour water on the leaf, then nobody is served. Everything will be dry, that’s all. That is imperfect service.If you have got realization of God, why should you give only human being service? Why not tiger? He is also… Kṛṣṇa says, “They are also My sons.” That means you discriminate. That is not that… Father will be satisfied when all the sons are given, not partial, not partial. Suppose I have got five children. If you give service to one children, so I’ll ask that “Why not other children?” Naturally.
Dr. Ramachandra: Discrimination comes.
Srila Prabhupāda: Discrimination comes. So if you have realized God, then you must be learned. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ [Bg. 5.18].
Some Conclusions/explanation–Srila Prabhupada explains above that when people try to give some service to humanity thru social services, etc., this is incomplete service and not really service to God. It is pious activity, no doubt, but it still remains on the material platform, because they do not know the process of how to serve the Supreme Being-Krsna. He gives the simple example of pouring water on the leaves of a tree instead of the roots. That will not help all the aspects of the tree.
So, by our miscalculations about what is “spiritual” and what is material, we remain in this material world thinking we are becoming spiritual persons, but in fact are just licking the bottle of honey on the outside never opening the jar and tasting the sweet honey inside. And why is that? Because we do not take to the proper process which means in the beginning, surrendering to the Lords pure devotee representative. So, we remain on the mental platform only, not the spiritual platform.
By Damaghosa dasa
Hare Krishna. Yes. Very important spiritual understanding. The moment we start doing some mundane charitable service, we compromise our spiritual master and Sri Krishna, and we discriminate against all other living entities, no doubt.
But the materialistic devotees and or the “finished”, “rascals,” “demons,” (lecture 4/7/74,) will do mundane charitable service for kama, (gross illicit sex life that is often very perverted,) pratishtha or subtle illicit sex life that has to do with material position, money, control of people and properties and fanatical followers, for material fame, adoration and distinction. In this tamasic culture, it’s all about nationality, race, place of birth, religion, money, and for this, they will even make friends with those who have tried to destroy the original body of the spiritual master and his teachings, the vada vata ratahs or rascal demonic self made “gods.” (Sri Isopanisad) They will also place great effort in trying too silence those who quote Srila Prabhupada calling them fanatics. What does Srila Prabhupada say about these “gods?” “they both go to hell without a doubt.” S.B, 1.19.37 These materialistic “charitable” people, will stay in this material world due to using and trying to hurt Krishna, the spiritual master and the sincere devotees, for “hundreds of thousands of life times.” (S.P lecture) So we should not at all be fooled and impressed by all the material opulence while of the “charitable,” walking on flower carpets and sitting in big thrones, while 74,000 children die daily on the planet due to lack of water and food. We should adopt the mood of devotion of Jayananda dasa prabhu, who is totally free of any mundane honor or dishonor.