What is the prerequisite for a devotee to constantly remain in Lord Datta's service forever?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on January 30, 2021, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Śrī Surya asked: Padanamaskaram Swami! How can a devotee be in the constant service of God for all future births? Is there any prerequisite from the side of devotee for Lord Datta to grant him such an opportunity? At Your lotus feet, Surya.]

Swāmi replied: The prerequisite for such continuous service to God Datta is the service done by the devotee in the present birth. In the selection for a job, both academic qualifications and work experience are prerequisites. Between these two prerequisites, work experience is given the topmost importance because it proves that the candidate is already fully capable of applying his academic knowledge to his job. Of course, without academic knowledge, one will not even be selected for the very first job. A devotee who has practiced karma yoga in the present birth is a well-experienced candidate for the job of divine service in the next birth.

The academic degree is jñāna yoga (spiritual knowledge) and the inspiration to apply it in practice is bhakti yoga (devotion). When both these are fully present, the person will enter into karma yoga. Hence, a person who has successfully performed karma yoga in the present birth will be selected for a similar job with closed eyes, without considering any other details. The Gopikās were uneducated, but they had swallowed an ocean of spiritual knowledge in their previous millions of births. Is it necessary for them to again study spiritual knowledge in their births as Gopikās? Do you need to study the subjects which were part of your academic degree again and again, each time you apply for a job in a fresh organization? Do you not already have long work experience based on your academic degree, which you acquired long ago? The Gopikās had already received their academic degree in their previous births, when they were sages. In their births as Gopikās, there were born with full inspiration to perform karma yoga; to follow both theoretical and practical devotion. They showed perfection in their practical devotion. They were able to vote for God against their every strong worldly bond like wealth, issues and life-partner. It shows that they were already full of inspiration (bhakti yoga) to practice (karma yoga). The two perfect certificates they possessed in jñāna yoga and bhakti yoga made them succeed in the examination conducted by God Kṛṣṇa in karma yoga. Hence, success in karma yoga is the ultimate certificate for any devotee to be selected for the same job of the karma yoga level. This final certificate is sufficient to select the devotee, without needing to consider any other certificates possessed by the devotee.

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