Knowledge by Way of the Mahatmas 43
superior energy and superior activities. To become
Brahman means to be completely engaged in render-
ing devotional service to the Lord. Thus the mahatma
understands that if service is to be rendered, it is to
be to Krsna and no one else. We have so long served
our senses; now we should serve Krsna.

There is no question of stopping service, for we
are meant for service. Is there anyone who does
not serve? If we ask the President, ““Who are you
serving?” he will tell us that he is serving the country.
No one is devoid of service. Service we cannot stop,
but we do have to redirect our service from the
illusion to the reality. When this is done, we become
mahatma.

This process of kirtana (kirtayantah), always
chanting the glories of the Lord, is the beginning of
mahatma. That process is simplified by Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu who imparted to mankind this chanting
of Hare Krgna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
There are nine different processes of devotional
service, of which sravanam kirtanam, hearing and
chanting, are the most important. Kirtanam actually
means “describing.” We can describe with music,
words, pictures, etc. Sravanam goes hand in hand
with kirtanam, for unless we hear, we cannot de-
scribe. We don’t need any material qualifications in
order to attain the Supreme. All we have to do is
hear from authoritative sources and repeat accurately
what we hear.

Formerly, the Vedas were heard by the student
from the spiritual master, and thus the Vedas be-
came known as sruti, meaning “‘that which is heard.”
