BG 9.27 yat karoñi yad açnäsi

yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunté, as an offering to Me.

PPT. Thus, it is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will not forget Kåñëa in any circumstance. Everyone has to work for maintenance of his body and soul together, and Kåñëa recommends herein that one should work for Him.

In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.

cetasä sarva-karmäëi

mayi sannyasya mat-paraù

buddhi-yogam upäçritya

mac-cittaù satataà bhava

WORD-FOR-WORD MEANINGS

cetasä—by intelligence; sarva-karmäëi—all kinds of activities; mayi—unto Me; sannyasya—giving up; mat-paraù—under My protection; buddhi-yogam—devotional activities; upäçritya—taking shelter of; mat-cittaù—in consciousness of Me; satatam—twenty-four hours a day; bhava—just become.

TRANSLATION

In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.

PURPORT

When one acts in Kåñëa consciousness, he does not act as the master of the world. Just like a servant, one should act fully under the direction of the Supreme Lord. A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master is unaffected by profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of the Lord. Now, one may argue that Arjuna was acting under the personal direction of Kåñëa but when Kåñëa is not present how should one act? If one acts according to the direction of Kåñëa in this book, as well as under the guidance of the representative of Kåñëa, then the result will be the same. The Sanskrit word mat-paraù is very important in this verse. It indicates that one has no goal in life save and except acting in Kåñëa consciousness just to satisfy Kåñëa. And while working in that way, one should think of Kåñëa only: "I have been appointed to discharge this particular duty by Kåñëa." While acting in such a way, one naturally has to think of Kåñëa. This is perfect Kåñëa consciousness. One should, however, note that after doing something whimsically he should not offer the result to the Supreme Lord. That sort of duty is not in the devotional service of Kåñëa consciousness. One should act according to the order of Kåñëa. This is a very important point. That order of Kåñëa comes through disciplic succession from the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the spiritual master's order should be taken as the prime duty of life. If one gets a bona fide spiritual master and acts according to his direction, then one's perfection of life in Kåñëa consciousness is guaranteed.

Now what is the difference?

My story of my TEST? I suddenly Had to work alone with NO devotee association after having the daily association of another devotee who always guided me in my devotional service. I was very disturbed and perplexed, not knowing what to do. I was deeply disturbed and I went for a walk in the middle of the work day being overwhelmed with my soul searching question “ WHY Krishna?” Why was I now left alone to struggle at a job with no devotee association?

As I walked and chanted in the concrete jungle where there was only a few trees carefully planted every 100 feet in a little hole in the pavement. The trees were small, 7 feet tall. And in one there was a small bird’s nest and a little baby bird was alone in the nest struggling and chirping, trying to fly by himself. No mother or father or anyone to help him or protect him. Then suddenly the little bird fell out of the nest. As it struggled on the sidewalk gradually it began to fly a few feet and then suddenly it just took off flying. This all happened as I was intently praying to Krishna to reveal why I had to now struggle alone working at a job with no devotee association. So it became obvious that Krishna was showing me a lesson. Become strong, do my service of working at a job and also remember Krishna. Strength comes by testing. I was being tested now and I needed to become stronger in my faith and stronger in remembering Krishna by myself. No one could do that for me.

Requirements for needed strength.

[Ask audience for 3 or 4 devotional things they do daily to prepare themselves for work]

My suggestions are: