Preaching

Published on August 10th, 2024 | by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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The Order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu–You Must Preach!

This is Krsna consciousness movement. You cannot sit idly to show your gorgeousness in a secluded place, imitating Haridasa Thakura: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. No. You have to preach. That is the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Arrival Address — Vrndavana, September 3, 1976

Prabhupada: So here is a verse, number fifteen, from Bhagavad-gita, Seventh Chapter:

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
[Bg. 7.15]

So we have made this verse a standard of examination. We haven’t got to do anything. Everything is there, because Krsna is the original guru. Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam. Arjuna, in the parampara system, is teaching us how to surrender to Krsna. So this is the qualification how to advance in spiritual consciousness. People are suffering. For want of spiritual consciousness, they are living like animal, dehatma-buddhih.

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijyadhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
[SB 10.84.13]

Go-kharah means animals, cows and asses. Anyone who is thinking, “I am this body,” he is animal. This is the verdict. Actually he is animal. If the dog is thinking, “I am dog,” and if some gentleman is thinking, “I am Indian,” “I am American,” or “I am Englishman,” where is the difference? To identify the body? There is no difference.

So on this platform of bodily concept of life, we remain animal. And to raise from that animal platform to the platform of our spiritual consciousness, that is the business of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is the Vedanta-sutra. If we do not inquire about Brahman in this human form of life, which is obtained after many, many births… Bahunam sambhavante. Many, many millions of years and millions of births. Tatha dehantara-praptir. We change our body, but because we are on the animal platform, we cannot understand that we have to change our body. So Krsna personally comes, because we are part and parcel of Krsna. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. He’s more anxious for us because we are suffering in this material world under bodily concept of life. That is His first instruction. Tatha dehantara-praptir. We have to understand that we have to change this body. Don’t be happy because you have got by karma a comfortable body. No body is comfortable. It is temporary, even it is comfortable. Even if you have got a very nice body, American body or European body, it may appear to be very nice, better than the Indian body—but that is not permanent. You’ll have to change it. That is spiritual consciousness.

So we must be prepared. This is glanir. On the platform of bodily concept of life, whatever we are doing, that is all defeat. Parabhavas tavad abodha-jato yavan na jijnasata atma-tattvam. In the bodily concept of life, whatever we are doing, simply defeat. We are thinking, “I’m making very good progress.” Rascaldom. There is no progress. Unless you become inquisitive, athato brahma jijnasa, there is no progress. That has been taught by our acaryas. Sanatana Gosvami, when he approached…, Sanatana Gosvami approached Lord Caitanya, his first question was… He was prime minister, he was a very big man, but he approached Caitanya Mahaprabhu to inquire, “Who am I?” Ke ami. That was his inquiry. Ke ami kene amaya jare tapa-traya, apani kaha prabhu kiser hita haya.

So this is the process, to know of oneself, not to be bewildered for the temporary, bodily comforts. This is the instruction of the whole Vedic literature. Prahlada Maharaja also said to Lord Nrsimhadeva, soce tato vimukha-cetasa maya-sukhaya bharam vimudhan. Maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43], that those who are engaged for this temporary maya-sukha, they are vimudhan. The same thing is explained here: na mam duskrtino mudhah [Bg. 7.15]. So those who are after this material happiness, they have been always described in all sastras, and Krsna is personally describing: mudha. Vimudhan. If we want to remain a vimudhan and suffer this material existence, that is our not very sign of good intelligence. Everyone should try to be intelligent enough what is the goal of life, what is to be done in this human form of life. So our Krsna consciousness movement is the supreme welfare activities in the world, because we are trying to stop the life of hogs and dogs. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [Bhag. 5.5.1]. Vid-bhujam, the stool-eaters, hogs. What is their business? We have seen in Vrndavana also there are many hogs. Day and nights searching after stool, and eating, and getting some strength and fat, then sense enjoyment, never mind whether it is mother, sister or daughter. This hogs’ and dogs’ life should be stopped. It is not possible for everyone to stop, but those who are intelligent, fortunate, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva,
guru-krsna-krpa paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Cc. Madhya 19.151]

So you are all fortunate that you have taken to this Krsna consciousness, bhakti-lata-bija. And proceed according to the principles. And the first principle is tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. This is the first principle. Adau gurvasrayam. That is the first principle. And in the Vedas also it is said that,

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante…
[SU 6.23]

Vedic knowledge is revelation. Vedic knowledge is not understood by so-called mundane scholarship, by reading grammar. No. Vedic knowledge is possible to be understood by a person who has got unflinching faith in the bona fide guru. Guru means representative of Krsna—Krsna and His representative. We have repeatedly discussed this fact that guru means the bona fide servant of Krsna. Guru does not mean a magician or jugglery. That is not guru. Guru means, it is explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very easily, how to become guru. He has asked everyone, especially those who are born in India, bharata bhumite manusya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. Especially. Because we Indians, bharatiya, we have got facilities to become guru of the whole world.

We have got the facility. Because here we have got the literatures, Vedic literatures, especially the Bhagavad-gita, which is spoken by Krsna Himself. If we try to understand what is the aim of life and preach all over the world, then you become guru. And if we want to cheat others in the name of so-called yogis, swami, scholar, that will not make you guru. Guru… Caitanya Mahaprabhu says you become, all Indians, all Bharatiyas, guru. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Wherever you are. And how shall I become guru? Yare dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa.

That’s all.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to follow the instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction is this, to preach Krsna-upadesa. And this is Krsna upadesa: na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. This is not our manufactured words; it is Krsna-upadesa, that “Anyone who is not surrendered to Me, duskrtina, he is immediately classified into four groups.” What are they? Duskrtina, mudhah, naradhamah, mayayapahrta-jnana, asuram bhavam asritah. So it is a very simple thing. Who is a mudha? If one does not surrender to Krsna, if one does not understand what Krsna, he is either duskrtina, means sinful; mudha, rascal; naradhama, lowest of the mankind; and mayayapahrta-jnana, and his so-called education and degrees are useless because real knowledge is taken away from him. Mayayapahrta-jnana. So there is no need of fighting by… But we can understand what are these people in general. They are within these four groups of men. So we have to face them. Our Krsna consciousness movement is facing these rascals, these duskrtinas, these naradhamas, and to request them to become Krsna conscious. This is Krsna consciousness movement. You cannot sit idly to show your gorgeousness in a secluded place, imitating Haridasa Thakura: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. No. You have to preach. That is the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. That is really following the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s… Not to imitate Haridasa Thakura. You can… Even you do that very nicely, that is for your safety. Supposing that you are doing nicely, but that is for your safety. But one who is facing dangerous position for others’ benefit, they are very quickly recognized by Krsna.

na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
[Bg. 18.69]
ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
[Bg 18.68]

So if you face… Just like fighting soldiers, they are facing danger for the country. They are recognized. Similarly, those who are preachers, on behalf of Krsna preaching people to take to Krsna consciousness, they are great soldiers.

So I am very happy that you Europeans and Americans especially, you are helping me. So continue this process, and that is the very easy way to be recognized by Krsna. Because He says, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. Who? Who is preaching this Krsna consciousness. So I thank you very much that you have come here in Vrndavana, and you are traveling, you are preaching. So let us dedicate this life for preaching Krsna consciousness all over the world. Never mind we die by preaching. Still, it will be glorious.
Thank you very much. (end)

Tags: Preaching

About the Author

HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.

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