SERVICE OF THE HOLY NAME
155
intense engagement in the service of the Lord, under the guidance of a Vai›ˆava, because the all-important point is service. Our attainment of the goal is not insured simply by increasing the number of times we repeat the name; only by increasing the quality will we reach success. There are so many sayings in the scriptures to encourage our realization of the holy name in different ways, but ßrÈla RËpa GoswÅmÈ has given us a central thought. He quotes the Padma Purňa: ataÓ ÍrÈ k›ˆa nÅmÅdi na bhaved grÅhyam indriyaiÓ. Our senses, physical or mental, are ineligible to come in touch with the transcendental. The name is nonmaterial (aprÅkÂta), without mundane limitation (vaikuˆÊha). It belongs to another plane. So, nothing about Krishna — His name, form, qualities, or pastimes — can be touched by our physical or mental senses. But when we have a serving attitude, He comes down to us of His own accord. Only then can our tongue really pronounce the name of Krishna. Otherwise, only the physical sound of the letters of the name can be produced. Our tongue, our hands, physical sound, all these mundane things cannot come in touch with Krishna. Some intervening medium is necessary to connect this body with the supramundane. And that connection is our earnest desire to serve Krishna, to satisfy Him. A bulb won’t light if there is no electricity. Only when the electrical current is there will the bulb be illumined. So, the name may appear on the tongue and