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Srila Prabhupada would say, “Your love for me will be shown by how you co-operate with one another.”

Cooperation means willingness to work with others irrespective of the differences.

We always wish to work with people who think like us, behave like us, speak like us, and who help us, understand us and most importantly appreciate us.  However, to find such like-minded people in this material world is like finding a needle in a haystack. We all are born different, we have different set of qualities, look different. Life would have been so boring if we all were the same. Our individuality is our strength.

We should live with our individuality and simultaneously appreciate others’ unique qualities. This will make life colorful.

The Supreme Lord comes in this world to tell us how to live with others. He in fact teaches us that to achieve something phenomenal we all have to work together and appreciate each other’s contribution.

When the Rama Setu bridge was being built then all the monkeys led by Hanuman were working very hard. There was a tiny little squirrel who was also trying to assist all in building the bridge. Because of his small size the squirrel was not able to do much but still he was working very hard. Hanuman laughed at the little squirrel’s effort. When Lord Rama saw Hanuman mocking the squirrel then He immediately reminded Hanuman that the squirrel is doing his best as per his capacity. Hanuman understood his mistake and sought forgiveness.

The Supreme Lord is not much enthused by the volume of service we do.  Even a simple service can please the Lord if it is done sincerely and selflessly.

When Lord Chaitanya was performing Maha Prakash lila at the house of Srivas Thakura then there was a girl named Dukhi who was helping all the devotees to perform abhishek of the Lord.  She was in the background unseen by anyone. She was taking water from the Ganges in a pot and putting it in nice rows so that the other devotees could pick the water easily and bathe the Lord. Her service was so simple and she was in the background. No one even noticed her. And she was also not trying to grab other’s attention.

But the Supreme Lord noticed her. He asked Srivasa, “Who is she?”

Srivasa replied, “She is a maidservant. Her name is Dukhi.”

Lord Chaitanya said, “The name is not appropriate. From today onwards she will be called Sukhi, one who is happy.” 

The Supreme Lord gave her unlimited eternal happiness, she achieved all perfection just by doing a simple service selflessly.

Srila Prabhupada also wanted that we all should serve together selflessly without any ulterior motives. Yes, when we come together then there would be difference of opinions but for a greater cause and most importantly for our own salvation we must learn to live with the differences.

On the battleground when the soldiers are under attack then to save themselves and to defeat the enemy they have to fight the war unitedly. Imagine the enemies are approaching and the soldiers start quarreling with each other. This would surely lead to their defeat and death.

Here in this world we are constantly at war with Maya. To be victorious in this war it is pertinent that, we the soldiers of Srila Prabhupada’s army, always stand united. This would protect us from the onslaught of Maya.  The goal of our life is to develop love of Krishna and assist Srila Prabhupada in his mission of spreading Krishna Consciousness. To achieve this we all have to work together as a team. We should always live in harmony with others.

This would please Srila Prabhupada. And if he is pleased then our life is successful. 

Source:https://iskconnews.org/the-power-of-cooperation,6099/