Hare Kṛṣṇa dear devotees, 🙏
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Sometimes in our devotional journey, we go through phases when enthusiasm in bhakti seems to fade. We continue our chanting, hearing, and service — but the heart doesn’t feel the same sweetness or spiritual taste (rasa) as before. The mind may become restless, and material energy appears more attractive.
At such times, how can we keep our enthusiasm strong and continue our service with sincerity and steadiness?How do senior devotees and experienced sādhakas stay inspired even when Kṛṣṇa feels distant or hidden behind the curtain of His mercy?
Any realizations, practical tips, or scriptural insights on maintaining spiritual enthusiasm in difficult phases would be greatly appreciated.
Aashok Kumar Sharma
Guwahati, Assam
Replies
Hare Kṛṣṇa Prabhu.
You’ve asked a very sincere and relatable question. Every devotee, no matter how advanced, experiences these “dry” phases in bhakti at times — it’s part of our purification process. Kṛṣṇa sometimes hides His sweetness just to deepen our longing for Him, much like a loving parent hides to make the child call out louder.
Śrīla Prabhupāda often said that “devotional service is a cultivation of the mood of service, not the mood of enjoyment.” Even when we don’t “feel” the taste, our steady service is most valuable to Kṛṣṇa because it’s based on faith, not feeling.
Never compromise on your chanting, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and associating with devotees — these are our lifelines. Associate with devotees. We are not seeking temporary emotion, but eternal loving service to Kṛṣṇa. Even when we don’t “feel,” He is watching our sincerity. Read about the lives of devotees. Offer your struggle to Kṛṣṇa by telling Him honestly, “My Lord, I have no taste, no strength but I am Yours. Please allow me to serve You anyway.” That humility itself attracts His mercy.
As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu prayed:
That mood of unwavering devotion even in apparent absence, it melts Kṛṣṇa’s heart more than anything else.
Your sincerity in asking this question is itself a sign of deep bhakti. Keep going, prabhu — the clouds pass, and when they do, Kṛṣṇa’s sunlight feels even more beautiful. Hari Hari.
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,
Can I ask you something? Can you tell me how and when you got into devotional journey?
how did it start exactly?
then I will tell you way to revive back spiritual taste.
I think Prabhu ji is a great devotee.