President Lincoln in November 1863

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America, who sacrificed his life for national service, allegedly said:

“NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND ADVERSITY. BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER GIVE HIM POWER.”

The characteristic of the living entity is service. In Sanskrit language the nomenclature for “characteristic” is “dharma.” One could say “service” is one’s true, inseparable religion, much more than some religious rituals. Everyone is performing service at all times. Service to the family, service to the boss, service to the nation, service to one’s own body and senses, answering the call of nature, etc.. etc.., these are all services that we may and in some cases MUST perform. But service to God, Shri Krishna, as per standards established by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupa, the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is super-excellent service because it professionally and scientifically deals with the very essence of things, the individual soul, as well as the soul of souls, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is all encompassing and is based on authorised books such as Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta. Non-God or non-Krishna service mostly deals with the body, which is temporary and secondary to the soul. Non-God or non-Krishna service is limited as well. Whence the superiority of Krishna service.