Remembering Srila Prabhupada Said: on College Preaching

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"If you can draft some educated men to help us, that

will be your valuable contribution. We want the mass

of men to support us, but we want the class of men to

preach for us. If you can induce some intelligent

students in the universities and colleges to take up

this preaching work, that is as good as yourself

converting hundreds of common men, because two or

three good men, if you can catch hold of them, they

can do the work of many other men, less intelligent."

 

-- Letter of December 27, 1972

 

 

 

"In this way, try to recruit some men from the student

class for joining us as future leaders of our Society.

If we go on expanding and there are no qualified men

to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually."

 

-- Letter of January 5, 1973

 

 

 

"The students cannot be overestimated as our best

prospect."

 

-- Letter of November 12, 1970

 

 

 

On Preaching

 

You cannot expect favorable situation. It is not

possible. When I came to America, I never expected any

favorable situation. I wrote that poetry in

disappointment, that, "Who will accept this?" That is

the position. By Krsna's grace, gradually it will

become a favorable situation, but don't expect any

favorable situation. You have to handle the

unfavorable situation and make a favorable situation

for preaching. That is preaching."

 

-- Room conversation, August 10, 1976

 

 

 

Prabhupada once saw a picture of Balavanta preaching

into a microphone during a political campaign. Behind

him sat the mayor and another candidate. Balavanta

wore a suit and tie, tilaka, and tulasi beads. His

sikha was trimmed, and his hair was grown out. Around

his neck he wore his beadbag, and he was fingering his

beads as he spoke. When Prabhupada saw the picture, he

said that this is what we want, to preach in American

dress. He said we should be known as American Krsnas.

 

 

 

One time Giriraja Swami went to Prabhupada and asked,

"Suppose in the course of time, by my gradual

advancement in Krsna consciousness, suppose I become

expert at everything? Suppose I become the perfect

preacher and at the same time become the perfect

manager. Then what should I do?" Prabhupada said, "You

should preach."

 

Letter to Bahulasva dasa, December 27, 1972; letter to

Ravindra-svarupa dasa, January 5, 1973; letter to

Vamanadeva dasa, November 12, 1970; room conversation

in Tehran, August 10, 1976; Gokularanjana dasa,

interview; Giriraja Swami, interview.

 

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

 

 

 

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