Service and Knowledge

Service and knowledge are both needed for spiritual advancement. If one doesn't serve then there is no practical realisation (vigyana) from the knowledge (gyana). For example, if I am not performing some devotional service, I cannot practically experience the theory from the scriptures in my own life, and thus there is no realisation of the knowledge. In the same way, if I don't make any effort to obtain knowledge (by reading Prabhupada's books), then I will go mad while performing service, because any difficulty in the service will disturb me. It is only by reading that the message is reinforced about why and for whom I am doing service. For example, if there is some disturbance, it must be because of my false ego and thus the service is purifying me.