RE: preaching and pre-requisite

[Guest guest]

> Prasada Rao [prasad]

>

> For preaching to be effective, the preachers heart should

> bleed seeing

> the suffering of others. He should be good not only in the gaudiya

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

> philosophy but also in the gaudiya culture.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

This is an excellent statement. Gaudiya culture actually means Vedic

culture. The importance of culture cannot be overstated. Culture encompasses

so many things that it truly is integral to saadhana-bhakti.

 

If one is intending to go out and preach (by which I mean, going out and

seeking to introduce nondevotees to Krishna-consciousness), then he must

follow the standards set forth by guru, sadhu, and shaastra. The following

of these standards is what is perceived as "culture" to an outsider.

 

If we can follow the four main regulative principles and chant 16 rounds of

maha-mantra daily, then we have attained a fortunate position. However, the

mistake many sadhikas make is to think that these are the only regulative

principles to be followed. In actuality, there are many, many regulative

principles enjoined upon Vaishnavas, some of which are described in Nectar

of Devotion. So many of these regulative principles do not get enough

attention, especially by those raised outside of Vedic culture. These

include things like speaking respectfully before elders, avoiding

unnecessary talking (i.e. talking about things other than Krishna-katha,

this includes gossip, politics, etc), observing silence while in the temple

room, behaving in a kind and gentle fashion towards others, giving proper

hospitality to guests, etc etc. The list goes on and on. Both Nectar of

Devotion and Nectar of Instruction are excellent resources for learning

these principles.

 

For example, our Gaudiya style of worship emphasizes congregational chanting

and dancing before the Deity of Krishna. However, this does not mean that

one should try to enjoy himself and dance in a physically demanding,

acrobatic fashion. It is recorded in Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami's _Srila

Prabhupada Lilamrita_ that His Divine Grace taught the new disciples to

dance in a very specific way -- side to side with the hands raised high in a

restrained fashion. The early disciples nicknamed it the "Swami step."

 

We often think that "no meat eating" is a regulative principle that many of

us are following properly. However, the actual principle is not only "no

meat eating," but also no eating of any foodstuffs not offered to the Lord.

This is the principle based on Bhagavad-giitaa 3.13:

 

yajJa-ziSTAzinaH santo

mucyante sarva-kilbiSaiH

bhuJjate te tv aghaM pApA

ye pacanty Atma-kAraNAt

 

"The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they

eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for

personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin."

 

In other words, it is not enough to simply abstain from meat, yet eat at

karmi all-vegetarian restaraunts. The ideal is to eat only prasadam;

otherwise one gets karma for eating unoffered foods, even though vegetarian.

 

Another often misunderstood principle is "no illicit sex." We often think

that this refers to avoiding the conjugal act outside of procreation within

marriage. But all kinds of illicit association with the opposite gender must

also be avoided. Chastity and sense control have to be cultivated at every

step. This means that even such American institutions as dating, divorce, or

even casual conversation between the sexes are to be rejected. These

behaviors are very much *against* the principles of Vedic culture, for

reasons that should be obvious to all devotees. In India, in the

conservative sections of society, men and women avoid these kinds of things,

and look upon those who indulge in them as bad association.

 

There are so many principles to good behavior, and we shouldn't trivialize

them because of our interest in the supreme goal. If we do not follow these

principles, then those who join up in Krishna-consciousness will not follow

them either. Another embarassing situation is the all-too-common encounter

between the nonVaishnava Indian raised in a good, brahminical family and the

devotee who knows the philosophy but is accustomed to Western standards of

behavior. When the brahminical Indian sees our pushy, disprespectful

behavior, our inability to stay away from casual association with women

(i.e. dating, or so on), our aerobic, sweat-inducing dancing during kirtans,

he often will not be too interested in our preaching in spite of how

"authoritative" it seems. When he walks away, we delude ourselves into

thinking that it was his fault, that he was contaminated by mayavadi

philosophy, that he wasn't very sincere to begin with, etc etc.

 

But if we take a sincere look at ourselves, we see that we are the ones who

were not very sincere in our behavior. We want the dancing and prasadam, but

we do not want the sense control. We want to live in the temple, but we do

not want to develop the humble and gentle attitude characteristic of

brahmins. We want to become great preachers, but we do not want to properly

study Srila Prabhupada's books.

 

These are just my $0.02 on the subject. So much more could be said, but I

fear I'm writing too much as it is. It would be nice to hear from other

devotees on the subject of regulative principles and saadhana-bhakti (but do

keep it nonpolitical).

 

yours,

 

Krishna Susarla

[Guest guest]

Please use balaram font. I have tried my best to make it readable for users

without balaram font but it is quite a tedious task. Please forgive me, your

servant shashika. It is interesting to note what Srila Prabhupada said about

preaching.1.  Bg. lect. 1.28-29, London, July 22, 1973With reference to

Prahlada Maharaja he says:So he was trying to preach. Because he was king's

son, there was no otheropportunity for preaching, and he was a five-years-old

boy. He took theopportunity in the classroom, as soon as the teacher is away,

he wouldpreach. He would preach. This is preaching spirit. As soon as you get

someopportunity, preach. What is that preach? Preaching, Caitanya Mahaprabhu

hasadvised us, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa. This is preaching.

"Whoeveryou meet, simply speak of the instruction of Krsna." So if you are

advanced,if you know what is the instruction of Krsna by reading Bhagavad-gita,

youcan preach to others. And if you have not read anything, suppose you do

notknow anything, then you can also preach. What is that? "Just become adevotee

of Krsna, my dear sir." That's all. This is also preaching. "Justsurrender to

Krsna." You go door to door. If you cannot do anything, simplysay, "My dear

sir, you are very good man. Oh, you are very intelligent man.Chant Hare Krsna."

Sakalam eva vihäya dürät. This preaching was taught byPrabodhänanda Sarasvaté.

Dante nidhäya tåëakaà padayor nipatya käku-çataàkåtvä ca ahaà bravémi. This is

the preaching process. Dante nidhäya tåëakam.According to Vedic civilization,

if one wants to become very humble andapproach another person, then he has to

take one straw in the mouth. Tåëa.So the preaching process is to take a straw

in the mouth, dante nidhäyatåëakaà padayor nipatya, and falling down on your

feet, dante nidhäyatåëakaà padayor, käku-çataà kåtvä ca ahaà bravémi. And

flattering you: "Sir,you are so great man, you are so intelligent man." This is

flattering.Although he is fool number one, we have to flatter like that. "Oh,

there isno greater man like you. You are so intelligent, you are so rich, you

are sobeautiful." So all these things. Just like the beggars. Sometimes:

"Youbecome king." And one thinks, "Oh, he is blessing me. All right, you

takeone paisa." So this flattering is also required. So käku-çataà kåtvä

cähaàbravémi. So the man may ask that "Why you are so humble and flattering?

Whatis your intention? Tell me." So he is now telling. He sädhavaù, "Oh, you

aregreat sädhu." He sädhavaù, sakalam eva vihäya dürät: "You have learned

somany nice things. I know that. But kick them out, please." Sakalam

eva."Whatever you have nonsense learned, rascaldom you have learned, please

kickthem out. This is my request." Sakalam eva vihäya

dürätcaitanya-candra-caraëe kurutänurägam. "Just hear what

SriCaitanyaMahäprabhu says. This is my request." This is preaching. This is

preaching.Flatter, fall down on his feet, and eulogize him as great sädhu, as

greatintelligent, great rich. Do so that he may little hear. And when he

says,"What do you want?Now, (laughter) I want this, sir. Whatever

rascaldomyou have learned, please forget. Because I know you are rascal number

one.(laughter) You have got so many hodge-podge thing in your brain. So you

kickthem out please." Sakalam eva vihäya dürät. "Kick them, throw away,

longdistance. Don't look upon them.Then what to do?"

Caitanya-candra-caraëekurutänurägam. "Please hear what Caitanya-candra

says."çré-kåñëa-caitanya-dayä karaha vicära, vicära karile citte päbe

camatkära:"Just try to understand the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu and you

willfeel so sublime." Sri-Krnsa -caitanya-dayä karaha vicära. "Don't take

itblindly. If you are intelligent, just make a judgment, what

Caitanya-candrais." Tell him.So this is preaching. This is preaching.2.  Bg.

2.9 Auckland, February 21, 1973Just like we are preaching this Krnsa

consciousness movement. This isperfect knowledge. If you inquire whether I am

perfect or my disciples whoare preaching this Krnsa conscious movement, they

are perfect, we may beimperfect. We are imperfect. We accept we are imperfect.

But we aredistributing the perfect knowledge. Kindly try to understand. We may

beimperfect, but perfection means one who assimilates the perfect knowledge,he

is perfect.

 

3. Bg. 7.1 Ahmedabad, December 13, 1972

Simply if he remains attached to the temple worship and does not try to

understand who is a Krnsa devotee and how he has to deal with others... Na

tad-bhakteñu cänyeñu. We have got some duty to others. This is preaching work.

This is preaching work. One should not be satisfied simply by worshiping in the

temple. Then he’ll remain a neophyte. He must become a preacher, Krnsa

consciousness.

 

4. Vrndavana, Sept. 16, 1976

We have learned from our Guru Mahäräja that preaching is very, very important

thing, and when one is actually an experienced preacher, then he is able to

chant Hare Krsna mantra without any offense. Before that, this so-called

chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, you may practice without any offenses... And

giving up all other business to make a show of a big Vaisnava, that is not

required. Thank you very much.

 

5. Stockholm, September, 1973

 Go on preaching this philosophy of Krsna consciousness. There are many innocent

people; they do not know what to do. There are four... For a preacher, there

must be vigilance. A preacher will see four things: God, a devotee of God,

innocent person, and envious, jealous persons. So a preacher should deal with

these four items differently. So far God is concerned, we shall try to increase

our love for God. This is one business. How? That is the arcanä-vidhi, to always

be cautious, to offer foodstuff, early to rise, offer maìgala-ärätrika, keep the

temple very cleansed, yourself also. Without being cleansed, without being

brahmana, çaucam—çamo damaù çaucam... We should always remember. When you come

to the temple, don’t think that “Here is a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu

or Rädhä-Krsna.” They are not picture. You should know that personally they are

present. You’ll realize the personal presence by the quality of your devotional

service. If your devotional service quality is not first class, then it will

take time to realize that here is personally Kåñëa or Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu

or the äcäryas are present here. It is a question of realization. The more you

strictly follow the regulative principles, chant sixteen rounds regularly, the

more you’ll realize.

 

6. Mayapur, March 6, 1976

 Unless one is situated as pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside

and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective,

neither one should hear from such person. But people in general, they can not

understand, but those who are preaching, they must be very sincere, the same

way. Rüpa-raghunätha pade, haibe äkuti. They should read the literatures, the

instruction, just like Upadesamrta, The Nectar of Instruction. We should

follow, strictly follow. Then prithvim sa sisyat. Then you’ll be able to preach

and make disciples all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called

goswami. Don’t be cheap preacher, cheap guru. No, no. That is not good. It is

not possible.