True love of God is measured not by words or ritual attendance, but by obedient practical devotional service.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Morning Walk — April 22, 1974, Hyderabad 740422MW-HYDERABAD [40:16 Minutes] Walk_740422MW-HYDERABAD Prabhupāda: What is preaching principle? What we should inform to the people in general? Pañcadraviḍa: I try to remember that Lord Caitanya, He informed that the purpose of all Vedic literatures is to acquaint people with their relationship, which they have forgotten, with God; to teach them how to engage themself in that relationship and to understand that the goal is to come to pure love of God. So when I speak I try to bring that into it also, because we are actually speaking from śāstra, so we should acquaint people with the principles of devotional service, tell them that they have forgotten God, that they must serve God, and practically how they can do it.
Prabhupāda: No, they will say that "We have not forgotten God. We go to church regularly." And the Muhammadans will say that "We go to mosque. So why we have forgotten God?" Pañcadraviḍa: Going to church or mosque... When we are speaking to the people, we don't discourage that they change their religion or anything.
Prabhupāda: No. You... Your charge is that they have forgotten God. They will answer that "We have not forgotten God.
We are going to church, we are going to our mosque. Why we have forgotten God?" Pañcadraviḍa: Because they are not serving Him. They are not actively serving Him. They are engaging themselves...
We see practically that some people say they are theists...
Prabhupāda: Then what is the meaning of service? Pañcadraviḍa: Service means a relationship of serving out of love. So people are simply serving their stomach or... Prabhupāda: "So if I haven't got love, then why I am coming to church?" Satsvarūpa: Well, we're educating them what is God. They go to church, but they don't know. "What is your idea of God?" we ask them. Prabhupāda: "Whatever it may be, when I offer my prayers, I remember there is some God.
I may not have clear idea. I have got my own conception of God." So what is the answer? Satsvarūpa: Well, there are symptoms if you... We don't discourage, as Pañcadraviḍa Mahārāja says, but if you are following God, the best religion is that which develops love of God. So in your life... Prabhupāda: Yes.