Srila Prabhupada: So, do you like serving me?

Srutakirti Dasa: When Srutakirti was serving as Prabhupada's personal servant, he often felt embarrassed by the tremendous demonstration of love which the devotees offered to Prabhupada, whereas Srutakirti himself felt a lack of love. Especially in arrival scenes at the airport, dozens of devotees would be dancing around, chanting, crying, and falling down on the ground. It was an amazing sight of love for Srila Prabhupada. On one of these occasions, while accompanying Srila Prabhupada, Srutakirti began to feel very sorry for himself. He thought that all these devotees were dancing and chanting, and here he was, walking beside Srila Prabhupada, but he had no feeling, no real love. This began to disturb his mind.

One day during the massage, Srutakirti expressed it to Prabhupada.

“Srila Prabhupada, all these devotees have such love for you. It makes me feel so bad. I have none of this love. When I am with you, I can see everyone dancing and chanting and crying, but I have so much association and yet I don’t feel that this is there.” He was hoping that Prabhupada would say something or do something, but Prabhupada said nothing. He went on massaging and finished. Then Prabhupada went and bathed. After putting on his tilaka and chanting his gayatri, Prabhupada called Srutakirti into the room.

“So, do you like serving me?” said Prabhupada.

“Oh, yes, Prabhupada,” said Srutakirti. “I like serving you very much.”

“Then,” said Prabhupada, “that is love. Everyone can do so many things … singing, dancing, jumping up and down, but you are actually doing something. Isn’t this love?”

“I guess so, Srila Prabhupada.”

“So you just do your service,” said Prabhupada. “That is all that is necessary. That is what love means — to do service.”