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Question: Can a Devotee Make a Difference?

I am someone who is interested in being of service to the world rather than to myself. This is something I have been involved in for years. From being a small child I was always interested in others before myself and when I look at what I really want it is for the world to be a better place. I love people, humanity and want to make a lasting difference. When people speak of attaining enlightenment I have always been clear I didn't come here for that in this lifetime. 

So my question is: Can I be out in the world making a difference as a Krishna devotee, or do I have to start withdrawing from the world to be His devotee? I am not interested in any spiritual practice that involves removing myself and withdrawing from the world. 

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Z.R.
 

Answer: Only a Devotee Can Make a Real Difference

As it is said, "Physician heal thyself." If you want to liberate others from misery, you must first become liberated yourself. You cannot liberate others without being liberated yourself. Any attempt to liberate others as long as you are not liberated with not be successful in spite of your good intentions. The Lord's devotee is the best welfare worker. He is a liberated soul who fully absorbs himself 24 hours daily in doing the highest welfare of delivering all of the illusioned souls, who are suffering endlessly in the cycle of birth and death, back to their original home in the all-blissful spiritual sky. He is the only person who is a making a real difference in this world. Others are simply maintaining status quo of birth, death, old age, and disease.  So if you want to do real service for the world, you must become a devotee of Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari