Meditation to Increase Longing to Serve God

Human beings long to serve God because of an intrinsic connection to the divine. This longing stems from our spiritual nature as tiny fragments of the Supreme Lord. Our soul inherently seeks its divine source, driven by an innate yearning to experience the love, peace, and fulfillment that comes from serving God. This desire reflects the soul’s ultimate goal – to transcend material existence and serve God eternally in His abode. Additionally, serving God provides a sense of purpose, aligns our actions with a higher goal, and helps us rise above worldly distractions and fallible desires.
As Shree Krishna explained to Arjun:

यस्य सर्वे समार म्भा: कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिता: |
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहु: पण्डितं बुधा: || 19||

yasya sarve samarambhah kama-sankalpa-varjitah
jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam tam ahuh panditam budhah

The enlightened sages call those persons wise, whose every action is free from the desire for material pleasures and who have burnt the reactions of work in the fire of divine knowledge (BG 4.19).

In this verse, Swamiji beautifully explains that a soul illumined with divine knowledge realizes that the bliss it seeks will be attained only from loving service to God. It then strives to perform every action for the pleasure of God, illustrated in a very sweet and simple guided meditation below. 

 

What Does the Longing to Serve God Mean?

Longing to serve God means developing a deep, heartfelt desire to dedicate one’s life to the divine. It involves cultivating an attitude of devotion and selflessness, where one's thoughts, actions, and intentions are oriented toward pleasing and serving God. This longing manifests through various spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, chanting, and performing selfless service (i.e., seva). True longing to serve God goes beyond mere ritualistic practices; it requires a sincere and intense inner yearning to connect with and serve the divine. Such longing ultimately leads to spiritual growth and transformation. 

Soak in the bliss of this beautiful and sublime guided meditation by Swamiji that illustrates the deep seva-bhav of being the servant of the servant of the servant of God. This guided meditation will surely make us long for opportunities to serve God. 

Why Should We Create the Longing to Serve God? 

The desire to serve God is a fundamental aspect of spiritual life. It is through service that we express our love and devotion to God/Guru. Cultivating a deep and unwavering longing to serve God/Guru purifies our hearts and aligns our actions with divine will. Such longing propels us on our spiritual journey, inspiring us to live a life of righteousness and selflessness. This wisdom was beautifully communicated by Shree Krishna to Arjun: 

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् |
ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते || 10||

tesham satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te

To those whose minds are always united with Me in loving devotion, I give the divine knowledge by which they can attain Me (BG 10.10).  

This verse highlights how God guides those who are constantly devoted and worship Him with love. With exclusive devotion, we open our etheric hearts to divine guidance, which further fuels our longing to serve the Divine. This furthers our ability to carry out sevas with wisdom, humility, and love, with the full knowledge that these divine virtues are gifts of God. Here is a lovely guided meditation to serve Shree Radha Krishna with humility and knowledge-based devotion. 

 

 

What is the Best Way to Create the Longing to Serve God?

Devotion is the heart of spiritual practice. Therefore, when sincere devotion is combined with meditation, it can become a powerful means to connect with God/Guru. Devotion imbues our meditation with purpose and love, transforming it from a mechanical exercise into a heartfelt offering. 

Meditation allows us to delve into the inner regions of our mind and intellect to elevate our consciousness. As Swamiji explains, “Meditation upon God is also very sweet. The mind by nature desires attractive forms, activities, sounds, and more. In devotion, the all-blissful Forms of God are a captivating subject matter for the mind to meditate upon. Most importantly, God is all-pure, and when we fix our mind upon Him, it too becomes pure” (Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures, p. 172). 

Amongst all the different techniques, guided meditation is a profound spiritual practice that stills the mind and opens the heart, increasing our longing to serve God. The transformative power of guided meditation in nurturing devotion and commitment to God/Guru cannot be underplayed. Through meditation, we learn to attach our minds and hearts to God/Guru to establish a closer relationship with Them. In addition, when practiced regularly, meditation reduces distractions and brings clarity to our spiritual goals. As we meditate, we become more attuned to the presence of God/Guru in our lives, increasing our desire to serve and honor Him. 

An extraordinary technique for meditation is Roop Dhyan. This form of meditation involves visualizing the divine form of God/Guru, fostering a personal and intimate connection with God. Take this opportunity to engage in a sweet guided meditation on preparing and offering Bhog to God.

This meditation reinforces our belief that divine personalities are more gratified with the loving devotion in the hearts of devotees instead of the items or objects they offer in Bhog or service. This was the loving message of Shree Krishna to Arjun:

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति |
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: || 26||

patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayachchhati
tadaham bhaktyupahritam ashnami prayatatmanah 

If one offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully partake of that item offered with love by My devotee in pure consciousness (BG 9.26).

 

How will Practicing Roop Dhyan Intensify the Longing to Serve God?

Practicing Roop Dhyan enables us to attach the mind to God and Guru by making Their divine presence more tangible and real. Through vivid visualization of Their names, forms, virtues, pastimes, abodes, and saints, devotees will feel as if they are actively engaged with Them. This in turn deepens devotion and love by transforming meditation from a mental exercise into a heartfelt interaction with the Divine, nurturing a more intimate and personal relationship. 

Regular practice of Roop Dhyan will intensify our longing to serve God and Guru and inspire us to align our actions with our spiritual goals. Here is a beautiful and sublime Roop Dhyan meditation that guides disciples to serve their Guru in their minds. The powerful technique evokes the kind of devotional sentiments that would not have been possible with any other meditation technique. 

When this Roop Dhyan is complete and your awareness returns to the present moment, please offer a prayer of gratitude to the divine Guru for the most blissful experience.

How can We Incorporate Meditation into Our Daily Routine to Increase the Longing to Serve God?

To truly benefit from meditation, it must become an integral part of our daily routine. After setting aside a specific time each day for meditation, spiritual aspirants can establish a sacred space free from distractions and practice it consistently. Here is the process for incorporating meditation into our daily routine to increase the longing to serve God:

1. Integrate meditation into various aspects of the daily routine. Begin the day with a short meditation session to set a positive tone. During the day, take brief meditation breaks to refocus and reconnect with spiritual goals. End the day with a visualization of serving God or mansik seva to reflect on the day’s experiences and express gratitude.
2. Throughout the day, take short breaks (see the Karmyog tool in the Radha Krishna Bhakti app) to reinforce the intention to serve God, especially during moments of stress or distraction. 
3. The desire to serve God manifests in various ways, often subtly woven into our actions, thoughts, and intentions. We may make a conscious effort to see every activity as an offering to the Divine, transforming mundane tasks into acts of devotion. This perspective shift can make even the simplest chores, like cooking, cleaning, or working, an opportunity to serve God (i.e., Karm Yog).
4. When interacting with others, the desire to serve God/Guru can be reflected in acts of kindness, patience, and compassion. Treating each person as a reflection of the Divine encourages a more loving and respectful approach. While difficult to implement, deliberate practice will gradually help us move toward this goal for Their pleasure. 
5. We may perceive challenging situations as God’s Prasad and calmly navigate them as a service to God. This attitude will transform obstacles into opportunities for growth and devotion, reinforcing the commitment to serve God in all circumstances.
6. Gratitude plays a crucial role in increasing the longing to serve God. We may regularly acknowledge and appreciate God's blessings to develop a deeper connection and longing to reciprocate through service. Keeping a gratitude journal, to note daily blessings and moments of divine grace, can strengthen this practice.
7. Finally, the intense desire to serve God can manifest in a commitment to self-improvement and spiritual growth. This could be in the form of daily contemplation and engaging in service activities in the Guru’s mission. By continually seeking to purify one’s mind and heart, one aligns closer with divine virtues and becomes a better instrument of God’s will. This guided meditation (below) exemplifies the seva-bhav. When practiced repeatedly, it inculcates deep devotional sentiments in the heart, helping us to gradually understand the meaning and purpose of service to the Divine. 

Meditation is a powerful practice that can significantly increase our longing to serve God. By embracing meditation as a tool for devotion, we can experience a profound and fulfilling relationship with God/Guru, manifesting our longing to serve Them eternally.