Purity is the force by which to preach

"Just like these people, either in India or here, they remain simply churchianity, going to the church without any understanding. Therefore it is failing. It is now... Churches are being closed. Similarly, if you do not keep yourself fit to preach, then your temples will be all closed in due course of time. Without preaching, you'll not feel enthused to continue the temple worship. And without temple worship, you cannot keep yourself pure and clean. The two things must go on, parallel. Then there is success. In modern time, either Hindus, Muslim or Christian, because in these places there is no teaching of philosophy, therefore they are closing, either mosque or temple or church. They will close .

(Morning walk-December 12, 1973 ,Los Angeles)

"If your preaching work is strong, automatically management will be easy. And preaching work is strong if our routine work is strong. Never neglect our regular program and that will be your success"

(Letter to: Sucandra 72-01-11)

"For the time being work with Hamsaduta and stop the bickering and conflicting camps. You must work hard to absolve the debts you have massed so we will not lose our standing there. If everyone is strictly

 chanting at least 16 rounds daily and reading the books and observing the regulative principles then management will be at our finger's end, and there will be no difficulty in maintaining Krsna Consciousness."

(Letter to: Puranjana 74-04-07)

"Yes , preaching is more important than managing. Just because you are preaching nicely and distributing so much prasadam, the management will follow like a shadow and Krishna will send you no end of help."

(Letter to: Satsvarupa 71-11-21)

"As preachers, we do not require elaborate temples for our work . No, we are content to live under a tree. So, as long as your preaching work is going on, never mind there is no temple. of course, in your western countries people must have a comfortable place to sit down or they will not come for chanting. So as soon as possible you may get a nice place and invite the general public by making it very attractive"

(Letter to: Locanananda 71-12-08)

"I am very glad to hear that a new devotee has given $6,500 to your temple. A similar report has just come from Hamsaduta in Hamburg, Germany. So it is a very good sign that people are coming and of their own accord giving everything, that is the proof of your powerful preaching work. If we simply remain pure and become very convinced of this Krishna philosophy, any sane man will agree with us when we speak. And if we are determined to please Krishna with our routine work despite all kinds of economic handicaps, He will provide all relief. Just see. If preaching is strong, management will be strong. That is the rule."

(Letter to: Damodara 71-12-03)

NOTE: We have often heard the excuse from those absorbed in temple management that they are too busy to do other things such as preaching or taking care of the spiritual lives of the devotee inmates in the temple. For them these things are looked on as luxury or things for devotees to do "who are not busy with services". The tendency for such devotees is they over look the broader picture and the ultimate purpose of temple management. Srila Prabhupada gives the real definition of management

"Now we have got very many centers, but the duty is very responsible. So as, so far the center is concerned, the local president is (indistinct) man. The GBC can supervise that things are going on. The first management is that each and every member in the temple is chanting sixteen rounds regularly and following the regulations, that's all. Otherwise we have no… That is our spiritual strength. That must be executed. Haridasa Thakura, such exalted personality, such advanced, still he is numerical counting even up to the point of his death. Therefore he was given the namacarya, because so rigid (indistinct). Even at the time of his death, Lord Caitanya requested, "Now you can minimize." "No sir, I cannot minimize." And what is the number? 300,000. These are the examples. (indistinct) Sometimes… But the regulation is that if one day you cannot finish, you have to finish on the next day. But sixteen rounds is not very large number, the lowest. The lowest in India is twenty-five (?). Here sixteen rounds, twenty-five, not even twenty-five. So the president, local president, must see that the members are chanting. So this way the institution will be managed, then it will make progress . That is our spiritual strength—to observe the regulative principles and at least chant sixteen rounds. Then you do other things. This is the biggest institution of spiritual activities so everyone of us should be spiritually strong. Otherwise, superficially if we want to manage, it will not be possible." (indistinct).

(Conversation with the GBC Los Angeles, May 25, 1972)

"First business will be to preach widely throughout the city and distribute our books and Krsna Consciousness propaganda. In this way, try to recruit some local men to help you. You are only two persons, therefore big temple with deity worship and so many other things will be impossible to maintain. Therefore if you get a place, simply hold our standard program of kirtana morning and evening, with class, inviting friends and other people that you meet. In this way develop the thing gradually, we are not in very much hurry to get big big house and very comfortable position, no. Our first and foremost business is to spread Krsna Consciousness. So utilize every opportunity that Krsna gives you for preaching His message, that is real meaning of temple management"

(Letter to: Sama, Sammita 73-01-04)

NOTE: It was Srila Prabhupada's vision to create a society or institution to give shelter to the sincere souls who were suffering on account of material association. Those devotees who were truly spiritually benefited can remember what it was that attracted them to the Krsna Consciousness movement. It was the purity, the spiritual bliss and genuine love amongst the devotees and Srila Prabhupada. Everyone left behind the world of politics and diplomacy to join a society that was completely carefree. This was not utopian but was a fact. Through Srila Prabhupada's teachings he emphasised the point that spiritual means for the satisfaction of Krsna via the guru and material means for one's own satisfaction, it was with this dovetailing propensity that a thing would be considered either material or spiritual. This spiritual consciousness required to deal with supposedly material things could only be maintained if devotee strictly adhered to the basic practises.

"In our preaching work also, we deal with so much property and money and so many books bought and sold, but because these dealings all pertain to the Krsna consciousness movement, they should never be considered material. That one is absorbed in thoughts of such management does not mean that he is outside of Krsna consciousness. If one rigidly observes the regulative principle of chanting sixteen rounds of the maha-mantra every day, his dealings with the material world for the sake of spreading the Krsna consciousness movement are not different from the spiritual cultivation of Krsna consciousness ."

(SB 5.16.3)

 "From this we can understand how we have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangala-arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krsna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced."

(SB 5.8.8)

"There are many regulative principles in the sastras and directions given by the spiritual master. These regulative principles should act as servants of the basic principle—that is, one should always remember Krsna and never forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Krsna mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra twenty-four hours daily . One may have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must first abide by the spiritual master's order to chant a certain number of rounds. In our Krsna consciousness movement, we have recommended that the neophyte chant at least sixteen rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one wants to remember Krsna and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master's order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential . One may sell books or enlist life members or render some other service, but these duties are not ordinary duties. These duties serve as an impetus for remembering Krsna. When one goes with a sankirtana party or sells books, he naturally remembers that he is going to sell Krsna's books. In this way, he is remembering Krsna. When one goes to enlist a life member, he talks about Krsna and thereby remembers Him. Smartavyaù satatam visnur vismartavyo na jatucit. The conclusion is that one must act in such a way that he will always remember Krsna,

and one must refrain from doing things that make him forget Krsna. These two principles form the basic background of Krsna consciousness ."

(C.C Madhya 22.114)

"Amongst all our duties surely we must not forget to complete our sixteen rounds . We should not be carried away simply by the Krishna duties which is also regarded as good as chanting, but in all circumstances we shall not forget this duty ."

(Letter to Ranadhira LA 24 Jan, 1970)

"So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four morning, attending mangal arati--our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise and meet it. That is the art of management: to draw out spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing some energy for Krishna. But where are so many expert managers? All of us should become expert managers and preachers. We should not be very much after comforts and become complacent or self-contented. There must be always some tapasya, strictly observing the regulative principles-- Krishna Consciousness movement must be always a challenge, a great achievement to be gained by voluntary desire to do it, and that will keep it healthy. So you big managers now try to train up more and more some competent preachers and managers like yourselves . Forget this centralizing and bureaucracy. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami"

(Letter to Karandhara Bombay 22 Dec 1972)

"Therefore, take advantage of this temple, the centers we are opening, and live in Vaikuntha. And the authorities of the temple should be so careful that it does not turn into something else besides temple. Then you are safe. The maya cannot touch you."

(Lecture SB 2.3.22 Los Angeles June 19 1972)

NOTE: There is no doubt that Srila Prabhupada envisioned a dynamic preaching movement however his first concern was that devotees be saved before they could enter into the spirit of saving others.

"We should not be carried away. Then finished. In order to check others, if we become carried away, (laughing) then finish all business. To save them from being washed away by mäyä, if we become washed away, then where is the hope? Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, janma särthaka kari' kara para-upakära [Cc. Adi 9.41]. Be strong so that you may not be rascal, and then you can do; others you can check. Otherwise, it will be impossible. How it is possible? A man is drowning. If you are strong enough, you can save. But if you also become drowned, then how you'll save him? So the everything is there. Save yourself, save others. This is our Krsna consciousness movement. First of all save yourself; then try to save others. Or both things can go on simultaneously. The same example. If you want to save somebody who's drowning you must know that I may not be washed away. I have to remain strong; then I can save him ."

(Conv Feb 14, 1977, Mayapura)

NOTE: To save oneself a diligent study of Srila Prabhupada's vani is a must!!! There is a common argument used by devotees lacking in enthusiasm to adhere to this. In order to justify their own lacking they try to put off an aspiring devotee to dive deep into the nectar of Srila Prabhupada's vani on the plea that one should not just read but he should do something practical, some service. It in fact wouldn't hurt if devotees just took a few years out of their life and spent it in reading the books cover to cover, thus learning the actual conclusions before preaching them to others. Better to be slow but sure than to be a cheap devotee with no substance…

"Now I want that we shall concentrate on making our devotees Krishna conscious and ourselves becoming Krishna conscious, and not be so much concerned with expanding ourselves widely but without any spiritual content. Just like boiling the milk, it becomes thicker and sweeter. Now do like that, boil the milk".

(Letter to: Rupanuga 72-05-09)

"Hearing, then kirt... After hearing, the next stage is spreading, pushing on, the news of Krsna. First of all hearing, then kirtitavyas ca, spreading. And smartavya. Smartavya means thinking always. Otherwise what you will preach? You hear, you think of it, you preach—this is the business ."

(Lecture SB2.1.1-5 Boston 1969)

"One who represents someone else must fully know that person's mission. The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement must therefore be fully aware of the mission of Krsna and Lord Caitanya; otherwise they will be considered foolish. All devotees, especially preachers, must know the philosophy of Krsna consciousness so as not to be embarrassed and insulted when they preach."

(SB 6.1.38)

 … At present with the amount of chaos that exists in Vaisnava circles and the amount of ignorance that prevails amongst those whom we would assume should know better it wouldn't hurt for there to be a time period of intense study of Prabhupada's Siddhanta to purify us and enliven us. Once devotees are equipped fully with the proper understanding then they can do well for others.

"After receiving the spiritual master's mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called sravana-kirtana—hearing and chanting. One who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana). This is explained in the Bhagavad-gita ( 2.41): vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana. One who has not listened carefully to the instructions of the spiritual master is unfit for chanting or for preaching the cult of devotional service . One has to water the bhakti-lata-bija after receiving instructions from the spiritual master." (C.C Madhya 19.152)

"Do you remember, any one of you, this verse from the Bhagavad-gita? Eh? But you don't read. So I am writing all these books simply for selling, not for reading. This is not good. And if somebody asks you, "You are so much eager to sell your books. Do you read your books?" Then what you will say? "No, sir, we don't read. We sell only. Our Guru Maharaja writes, and we sell." That is not good business. You must read. Why I am writing so many books? Not a single moment waste. If you want to become successful in Krsna consciousness, don't lose even a single moment".

(Lecture SB 1.16.24 Hawaii 1974)

…Failure to follow this is a sure falldown

"All the devotees connected with the Krsna consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (the Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure."

(C.C Madhya 25.279)

I am very pleased to see the things are going on, and that new centers are opening many in Germany. Now I am feeling very much inclined for retiring behind the scenes to translate my Srimad-Bhagavatam. This means that now you all leaders, especially the GBC members, must become very much responsible and do the work that I am doing to the same standard. So I want you leaders especially to become very much absorbed in the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and become yourselves completely convinced and free from all doubt . On this platform you shall be able to carry on the work satisfactorily, but if there is lack of knowledge, or if there is forgetfulness, everything will be spoiled in time . So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view . In this way, by constantly engaging our tongues in the service of the Lord, either by discussing His philosophy or by chanting Hare Krishna, the truth is that Krishna Himself will reveal Himself to us and we shall understand how to do everything properly. Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost. Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions.

(Letter to: Hamsaduta 72 06 22)

"The word sravayet, mentioned in a previous verse, indicates that one should not only read for himself, but should also induce others to read and hear . That is called preaching. Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended this practice: yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa (Cc. Madhya 7.128). "Whomever you meet, simply talk with him about the instructions given by Krsna or tell him of narrations about Krsna." Prthu Maharaja's history of devotional service is as potent as narrations about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should not make distinctions between the pastimes of the Lord and the activities of Prthu Maharaja, and whenever it is possible a devotee should attempt to induce others to hear about Prthu Maharaja. One should not only read of his pastimes for one's own benefit but should induce others to read and hear about them also. In this way everyone can be benefited."

(SB 4.23.38)

"You mention you like to speak now very often, but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krishna Consciousness, and give them all good instruction, and let them go out and preach for making more devotees. Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness philosophy . If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya or renunciation and that will be their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. So first thing is to instruct all of your temple presidents and the other devotees to read daily, just as we have done in our morning class in Los Angeles. You may remember that we were reading one sloka each morning in Sanskrit and reciting it altogether and then discussing it thoroughly by seeing different new things. So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. Don't be too much concerned for the time being with nondevotees, now we must fix-up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?"

(Letter to Satsvarupa 1972)

NOTE: Nowadays there is a class of devotees whom we may call self-appointed leaders. That is they advertise themselves as such without the necessary qualifications. Through subtle manipulations and utilising of Srila Prabhupada's letters as well as other forms of vani (such as conversations, purports etc...) they manage to abuse devotees' naivety in the matter.

As such one must carefully consider therefore the real criterion for leadership, in this way such individuals can be exposed for what they truly are and innocent devotees can be spared the torture. The following statements reveal.

"We are taught to address others as Prabhu . Prabhu means master; and the leader of the masters is called Prabhupada. So if the Prabhus have surrendered to the Prabhupada, why there shall be such mentality of occupying the superior position ? This is contradictory.Kindly stop this unnecessary misunderstanding. Both Upendra and yourself are competent and experienced, so please adjust your disagreement amongst your selves. It is my request. As a matter of fact, as you are the pioneer in taking all risks to go to Australia, naturally you shall be considered as the leader, but a leader's position is also very grave and responsible . A leader has to lead others very tactfully and intelligently. Kindly therefore do not quarrel, but go on with your duties progressively."

(Letter to Bali mardana, Upendra Los Angeles 10 May, 1970)

NOTE: There is a significant point in this letter. Here Srila Prabhupada mentions that the one who is the pioneer in taking all risks, he is the natural leader, also interesting is Srila Prabhupada is saying that if everyone is surrendered to the one Prabhupada there shouldn't be the mentality of occupying the superior position this is self-evident that the lording it over mentality and superiority complex is born of a lack of surrender to the one Prabhupada...

"That is the business of leader: He must be himself always enthusiastic and inspire others to be always enthusiastic. Then he is real leader. And that enthusiastic mood is maintained when everyone is always without fail chanting 16 rounds daily, rising early for mangala aratrika, reading books, preaching--in this way, by observing strictly the regulative principles of devotional life, that enthusiasm or great eagerness to have Krsna will come out ."

(Letter to Trai Bombay December 27, 1972)

… Another significant point is he must always be enthusiastic and be able to inspire others to be the same. Sadly that is not what is stressed in general amongst temple authorities. It more or less is forced "co-operation" which will in time back fire.

"They have not understood. Real attitude of devotional service is, whether I am here or there, whether I am doing this or that, it doesn't matter, just give me little prasada, little service, or if you make me big leader, that's all right--that is devotee, satisfied to serve Krishna in any circumstances of life. So try to impress this fact, we should kill this restless spirit. Enthusiasm and patience, these things required. If under changing conditions, I lose my enthusiasm, if I cannot endure the difficulties of my duty, therefore I go away--then how I can be leader? These things must be understood. Otherwise the whole thing will fall."

(Letter to Satsvarupa 1972)

"Prabhupada: So what kind of leader are if you cannot lead others?... If you mislead them, then what is the use of taking leadership?. Good leadership means you must learn how to lead people. Yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janaḥ. If the śreṣṭha, the leader is ideal, then others will follow. But if the leader is not ideal, if he is not in the awareness of things, then people will be misguided…We are misled by rascal leaders. That is the difficulty, all rascals. If the society is led by real, learned scholars, then it will be nice. Qualified leaders. That is wanted. Leader means better qualified man to lead others. That is leader. Leader does not mean he is himself a fool and leading other fools… This rascaldom must be stopped . You do not know. Say you do not know. That's all. Why you mislead others? Giving them false knowledge."

(Prabhupada Conversations)

"So far as being leader is concerned, leader means spiritually not materially. This you should understand very clearly. If spiritual potency and strength is there, then material intelligence will automatically follow. We must have a solid foundation of chanting and following the regulative principles. Then one is fit to lead others. I hope you will understand this point."

(Letter to: Jagajivana 74-09-06)

"Prabhupada: (laughs) Yes. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye. (aside:) Don't come very near. If you advise rascals, they'll be angry. No good result. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye, payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. So we have to become very strong preacher. Then this movement will stay. If you simply take the temple worship, it will not stay very long. Just like...

Hrdayananda: Especially the leaders must preach.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hrdayananda: Especially the leaders must preach.

Prabhupada: And leaders means... If the leaders are good, then it will continue.

Bali Mardana: If they are not preaching, they are not leaders. They are bogus. (pause)

Prabhupada: Leaders means they should behave in such a way so that by following them, others will be benefitted. That is leader .

Jayatirtha: That's a perfect definition, Srila Prabhupäda.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Jayatirtha: That's a perfect definition. That should be in the dictionary, like that.

Prabhupada: Yes. What is that for definition?

Jayatirtha: The... A leader means one that if someone follows him, he's benefitted.

Prabhupada: That is leader."

(Morning walk 1974 Los angeles)

NOTE: Srila Prabhupada clearly mentions here that if the devotees become strong preachers then the movement will stay otherwise just simply temple worship it will not stay long. This is also true about temple management, it doesn't matter if one has all the managerial expertise and formulas in the world if there are not strong preachers, the movement will not stay. That basically is the crux of the matter, not just preachers but strong preachers. The obvious criterion for strong preachers is the purity which comes from sincerely following the routine work given to us by Srila Prabhupada, PURITY IS THE FORCE!!!

"The author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity ."

(Nod Introduction)

" A Vaisnava always feels himself incapable to repay his debt to his spiritual master therefore he works very hard in order to try and repay that debt. He knows that without the mercy of the spiritual master one cannot preach this Krsna consciousness and therefore he always tries to act in such a way that he may please his guru. Please continue in this way and keep very strictly the regulative principles and chanting the prescribed number of rounds on the beads and you will clear the way for success in your preaching work."

(Letter to: Catur Murti)

"That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. He teaches others by behaving Himself. "Example is better than precept." If you cannot rise early in the morning, then how can you ask others to rise early in the morning? What is the effect? There is no effect. We have got business early in the morning, to attend mangala arati. And if you sleep yourself and teach others, so who will take it? [break] ...we have introduced."

(Morning walk Hyderbad 1974)

"You are right when you say that setting a good example for the boys is the best precept. There is a saying that an example is better than a precept. Our exemplary character depends on strictly following the four principles, and this will conquer the whole world. Our boys and girls in London, by there exemplary character have drawn the attention of many respectable persons and even some public papers. Our movement is not only for some theoretical teaching, but it is for developing practical character and definite understanding"

(Letter to Aniruddha 1969)

"I am glad to hear that you are now concentrating on improving the regulative life of the temple rather than so much advertising with brochures. This is very nice; this is what I want. A good example is better than precept. The pamphlet is precept, but if we don't follow the precepts ourselves then such advertisement is not good."

(Letter to Mukunda 1974)

NOTE: The above letter is quite interesting. It clearly shows where Srila Prabhupada placed the emphasis. Preachers should note this one well; if precepts are not followed then advertisement is not good. One may argue as to what could be wrong with preaching. The answer should be obvious preaching without purity is an embarrassment to say the least.

"Your program for distributing books and having the street festivals and then preaching and making devotees is very good. Also by teaching by your personal example and attending to the Deity worship is the most convincing. Example is better than precept."

(Letter to Tamala 1974)

"The test of preaching ability is whether one is making some disciples or not. So it appears that your preaching is going on nicely. The standard of purity which I have introduced in the Krsna Consciousness movement will give you the real spiritual strength needed to preach. If you will simply stick to your principles, you will gain the respect of the whole world and our preaching work will be successful."

(Letter to: Tirthapada 70-11-13)

"Therefore our mission is if we can create some sadhu and they distribute themself all over the world ... As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, prthivrte ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama He wants that in every village, every town of the whole world, there may be a center of Krsna consciousness so that people will take advantage of it and they will also become sadhu. This is the mission of Krsna consciousness."

(SB Lecture 1974)

"The only thing is that we as preachers must be very, very pure, sincere and serious. The crude example is that when a man is physically very strong, and if he has sex intercourse with a woman, she is sure to become pregnant. When pregnancy fails, it is due to the weakness of the male partner generally. Similarly, if we are full with Krishna vitality, then wherever we go the audience will be impregnated with Krishna Consciousness. Now some of our leading boys, like you, Brahmananda, Tamala, etc. you should be very careful to train your other junior Godbrothers to the right type of preacher, keeping full faith in Krishna and the Spiritual Master, and executing the routine works of chanting and following the regulations. That will make you all great preachers, and wherever you go you will come out victorious."

( Letter to: Satsvarupa 69-10-31)

"So please stay on the purity platform; chant 16 rounds daily and without fail, follow all the regulative principles, and read all our books and your life is sure to be successful. Unless one is sufficiently empowered, one cannot preach Krishna Consciousness. So the fact that you are preaching so nicely is proof that you are already benedicted by Krishna. So preach Krishna Consciousness and be happy."

(Letter to Vaikunthanatha and Saradia 1971)

"I don't think there is need to divert your attention by producing advertising. I have seen your advertisements as shown to me by Syamasundara., and I think you have made the thing less important. This kind of ad is not good, it is not grave. Our process is to show Krishna Consciousness as it is, not as others want to see it. By showing KC in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that we should change to accommodate the public, but that we shoud change the public to accommodate us . Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things. That way your enthusiasm and talents will have big effect by being concentrated. Therefore, kindly concentrate for producing books and magazines in European languages, as many as possible, and make this your life work. These books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising. If we simply present Krishna Consciousness in a serious and attractive way, without need to resort to fashionable slogans or tricks, that is sufficient. Our unique asset is our purity . No one any where can match it. That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity in performing our routine work, not that we require to display or announce ourselves in very clever ways to get attention. No, our pure standard is enough. Let us stand on that basis."

(Letter to Yogesvara 1971)

"So far the Road Show and this Yoga Village are concerned, these things should be stopped. Simply perform our kirtana. If we divert our attention in this way, the whole thing will gradually deteriorate. He is going far away. All these things are nonsense inventions. Such inventing spirit will ruin our this movement. People may come to see, some will become devotees, but such devotees will not stay because they are attracted by some show and not by the real thing or spiritual life according to the standard of Lord Caitanya. Our standard is to have kirtana, start temples. What is this ``Road Show'' and `` Yoga Village?'' It will be another hippie edition. Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. Simply have kirtana, nothing else. Don't manufacture ideas ."

(Letter to Sudama 1972)

NOTE: The last two statements are useful and show the danger to compromise presentation and the standard of purity. Particular attention should be paid to the last statement. Preaching undoubtedly is a very delicate science that is mastered with the time, practice and blessings of the guru. Those who are after some external result may well conclude that because people are attracted, their preaching must be authentic. As such they don't stop to see if it was accomplished by compromising and watering down the standard. In this last statement Srila Prabhupada says that if preachers make a show, the type of people that will be attracted will cheap people who are not after the real thing. There is a popular saying " birds of a feather flock together" it's very clear…  

Prabhupada: Yes, compromise means you don't want real business but you want some money by cheating and by bluffing. That's all . That is compromise. If I aim... Just like this Mahesh Yogi is doing: Yes, God has given you senses, why should you not enjoy? You simply enjoy. You simply give me thirty-five dollars, I'll give you a special mantra. And here, Allen Ginsberg told me, Swamiji, you are very conservative. I said that I am the most lenient. I'm not conservative. You are conservative. You cannot give up your bad habits. I am very liberal and accepting everyone. But you are... Because you are conservative, you cannot give up your bad habits; therefore you deny to come to my camp. I am very liberal.

Ätreya Rsi: A Vaisnava is conservative with Krsna and liberal with everybody else.

Prabhupada: That is not conservative. Conservative means unnecessarily catching something. That is conservative. If you try to protect your life, will anyone say You are very conservative. I wanted to kill you, and you want to keep your life? Is that conservatism? Do you think?

Ätreya Rsi: No.

Prabhupada: And if the murderer thinks that You are very conservative. I wanted to kill you and you did not allow. That is not conservative. That is self-preservation, that is not conservative. Conservative means unnecessarily you catch some rules and regulation without any meaning or without any utility. That is conservative. In Sanskrit it is called niyamagraha. (end)

(Conversation with Srila Prabhupada)

I am much encouraged by your description of your enthusiastic programs there. Others have spoken big words and yet deviated from our basic regulative principles and caused so much havoc. You have now gone there to institute the right thing. I am very much disturbed on hearing so many reports of things going against our principles there in Hawaii but now you have given me the transcendental bliss by your reports of devotees
joyfully engaged in Sankirtana and prasadam distribution and reading our books regularly. Continue the routine work and encourage the others. You follow as you are doing and as you have begun things there so others will join you. Those who are not following the regulative principles may say and act whatever crazy thing they may do but we must not compromise with our principles. Those who are actually sincere about spiritual life will gradually see the purity of our movement as you are conducting it and they will become attracted to the real thing. Those who want to be cheated do not take the solution even when it is at hand but prefer to be cheated .

(Letter to Sudama 1974)

"But now they must keep very clean and never break the regulated principles . Purity is the force and if the people in general notice that we are clean both inside and outside that is to our credit ."

(Letter to Trai 1973).

JAYA SRILA PRABHUPADA

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