If Service and Sacrifice Are the Highest, Is Devotion a Waste?

[Q. Can we conclude that the theoretical devotion is waste compared with the practical devotion like service and sacrifice? (This question is part of a mahā satsaṅga or a great spiritual discussion between Swami and several devotees who had come from various places, seeking the clarification of their doubts.)]

Swami replied:- Certainly not. Unless you completely know the personality of God through theoretical knowledge, devotion will not be born at all. Had Rukmini not heard about Krishna from Narada, she could have not developed any attraction (theoretical) for Krishna and without this, she could not have sent messenger to Krishna, which is practical devotion. Mere practical devotion like service and sacrifice without theoretical devotion in heart and without theoretical knowledge of the personality of God in brain, the practical devotion (Karma Yoga) can’t even generate. Without the theoretical devotion in mind and theoretical knowledge in the brain, mere inert service and sacrifice are not only useless but also impossible respectively. Without devotion (God) or kindness (beggar) or gratitude (helper) in mind practical sacrifice is impossible. Without the knowledge of the personality, devotion or kindness or gratitude is impossible. The practical service and sacrifice without even theoretical devotion are meaningful in the case of a beggar, who is in need for both. In the case of service and sacrifice done by you for a person, who has helped you, it is the case of expression of gratefulness only, which is a dignified form of business only. God is not a beggar in need and hence, the first case is not applicable. If you know that God has helped you, it becomes second case, which is the norm of businesses only, if analyzed deeply. God keeps His help secretly so that the case of gratefulness does not arise. God avoids both these cases and asks you for help. He is only requiring practical devotion from you as a proof for your real theoretical devotion like a grandfather asking for a piece of biscuit from his grandson, who (grandfather) brought the packet of biscuits secretly and all this is only to test the reality of love of grandson towards his grandfather. If theoretical devotion is absent, mere practical devotion expressed is like a dead body without life. Mere theoretical devotion without a trace of practical devotion is cunning prostitute devotion only. Hence, all the three (theoretical knowledge in brain, theoretical devotion in mind and practical devotion of service and sacrifice in practice) are equally important in the case of the omniscient God.

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