By:
Dama Ghosha Dasa (Seattle, USA)
Pleasing Krishna Practically
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Regarding
your questions, your first question was: Should a devotee always speak
the truth to everyone in all circumstances? The answer is yes. One
should always speak the truth. But a qualified devotee will be able to
speak the truth very palatably to everyone so that it will sound
pleasing even to his enemy. That is the art of speaking the truth. We
must speak the truth to all people, but how you say it is another thing, satyam bruyat, priyam bruyat. When
you become a little more experienced in Krishna consciousness by
preaching, and if you are sincere and serious to make progress in
spiritual understanding, you need not have to worry yourself further,
because the truth will always be spoken by you in the proper manner.
Krishna will give you that intelligence; you need not be concerned for
it. Simply try to please him always by your sincere service and
chanting. That’s all. Of course, for doing business with businessmen you
have to lie. Just like Krishna himself, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, sometimes he also had to fabricate something in emergency
situations. Although he promised not to interfere in the battle of
Kurukshetra, he was forced to break his promise just to save his pure
devotee. So there is no prohibition that one shall never tell lie,
because for business of carrying our propaganda work sometimes it may be
necessary to lie. Krishna consciousness means practical living, not
something utopian or idealistic and vague. We simply do the needful,
whatever pleases Krishna most. That’s all.
Gradually you will understand what it means to please Krishna and what
it means to displease Krishna. That you will learn by studying our books
and by yourself engaging in practical devotional service. In material
dealings there is always something undesirable, but even so, you cannot
give up your occupation. Just like fire is very pure, but still there is
some smoke. You cannot avoid it. All these things can be rectified when
the result is offered to Krishna. Otherwise, even though you may do
very honest business, it has no utility whatsoever.
— Letter to Yajneshwar, January 2, 1972.
Preaching Boldly
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Question: How should we preach to ordinary people?
Answer: Human beings carry a variety of diseases, and
each needs to be treated individually. Unless the disease is properly
diagnosed, proper treatment cannot be administered and the ailment will
not be cured. A platform speaker cannot do much for most sick people. He
can give only token relief. I have not found anyone sincerely
interested in Krishna consciousness for forty years. Now, whoever comes
to me is not interested in hearing hari-katha. They are not
ready to give up their dependence on their own education and
intelligence. In this world, people like to become popular; they do not
like to inquire about the Absolute Truth. Those who claim to be
religious preachers are busy trying to protect their own existence by
flattering others. By speaking and hearing the truth, one’s popularity
is unlikely to be enhanced. Therefore, we are not interested in the
sympathy or support of ordinary people who are averse to the Lord.
Question: Should we boldly speak the truth?
Answer: Without
cheating anyone we should boldly speak the truth to everyone. If the
truth is bitter or unpopular but bestows blessings on the living
entities, we must speak it. This will not ultimately cause them
anxiety. We ourselves should inquire about the Absolute Truth, and then
we should try to understand how to help everyone else. Giving Krishna
consciousness to others requires firm determination. Do not think of
saving only the people of the present age. Think of the people in all
ages and all times. Teach about the most pleasant kingdom of Vaikuntha, the place from which no one ever returns to this material world.
If you want to preach transcendence, it is vital that you yourself have
taken shelter at the lotus feet of your spiritual master. Always
serve the spiritual master who imparts to you transcendental knowledge.
Even if you live at home instead of in the matha, we should all serve
him together. We should also maintain the Lord and his devotees
in opulent houses with comfortable atmospheres, and we ourselves should
live in ordinary cottages. If we feed Krishna nicely, rather than
enjoying things for ourselves, we will attain his mercy. Always
remember that everything belongs to Krishna. Our lives will become
successful only when we use everything in this world in his service.
However, before preaching these instructions we must live them.
Unless we speak the truth boldly we cannot please guru and Gauranga.
The more determined one is in devotional service, the bolder and more
courageous he will be as a preacher. If I fail to speak the impartial
truth because I might become unpopular, I have certainly abandoned the
path of my disciplic succession and accepted an unauthorized path. In
the end I will either find myself cheated or will become an atheist.
Question: Why were the mathas established?
Answer: The mathas were not established to favor
ordinary people but to help pure devotees advance in spiritual life. We
serve Lord Gauranga simply by performing sri-krsna-sankirtana. The Bhagavatam verse (11.5.32) yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah supports this idea. The example set by Shri Krishna’s Gaura pastimes is the only auspicious way to perfection for the jivas.
The mathas have not been established to please bhogis or tyagis. They
have been established to preach pure devotional service. We receive
blessings as we serve Hari by establishing mathas. Our intention is not
to collect one or two rupees to benefit the matha. We should not be
eager to take help from unscrupulous people. Rather, if we can benefit
anyone by speaking the bold truth, then the matha’s purpose is served.
People will often play tricks on us. We should consider such tricks as
the Lord’s test. It is difficult to cross beyond insurmountable maya
unless we are greatly fortunate. Mayavadis and bhogis are both
conditioned souls. By the mercy of Krishna’s devotees, persons who
surrender to Hari can discriminate between good and bad, right and
wrong. Know for certain that being drawn by the enjoying spirit, many
people cannot realize the Absolute Truth.
Question: Should we glorify Hari constantly?
Answer: Mahaprabhu taught kirtaniya sada harih, that we should always chant the holy name of Hari. The
word “sada” leaves no room for interruption. Human beings have no work
or duty other than to glorify Hari. Hari should be glorified even to
birds and animals. We do not care if the ignorant call us mad or fools.
We will constantly propagate hari-katha under the order and
guidance of our spiritual master and Lord Gauranga. In order to hear
mundane topics, people read daily newspapers and remain ever absorbed in
worldly matters. Our proposition is to let everyone hear about
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu every day. Let them discuss Chaitanya whenever they
meet one another, and let them survive on the strength of these topics.
Let there be nothing else discussed in this world.
At present, in order to keep the cultivation of Chaitanya and his
instructions alive forever, we ourselves have to remain absorbed in
chaitanya-katha despite impediments put forth by materialists, we are
spending large amounts of money to arrange for the constant
glorification of Hari. This world’s senseless people suffer from a
variety of anarthas and are intoxicated by material life. They are so
intoxicated that they will do anything except to try to remedy their
suffering. Instead, they use their time, money, and intelligence to hear
mundane topics, thereby inviting their own ruination by worsening their
diseased condition. It is as if they are eating improper food instead
of healthy food. Finally, they will go to hell. But still they will not
hear about Shri Chaitanya even a little. It is as if they have taken a
vow to avoid the proper remedy. Nevertheless, despite the
obstacles, Shri Chaitanya’s devotees regularly propagate the message of
Shri Chaitanya throughout the world.
— From Amrta-vani — Nectar of Instructions for Immortality, Chapter 8.
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