Who should preach?
I have discussed what preaching is. Now the question is who should preach? Is preaching a restricted activity for some and not for other? In the first quote Srila Prabhupada said “every member”¦should preach”�. Whoever is a member of the Krishna consciousness movement should see to it that they are engaged in some preaching activity. One may say “I am not yet a member.”� Srila Prabhupada replies;
“Actually a devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must engage in preaching”¦”� (Cc M 7.153),
“”¦one who knows the conclusion of the sastras”¦ endeavours to preach.”� (Cc M 25.276),
“Because the brahmana is the head (of society), he has to preach”¦not”¦that the brahmana should simply eat on behalf of the Lord and not preach”¦”� (NOD Ch.2)
“That is the mission of all genuine devotees of the Lord”¦to enlighten the miserable.”� (Bhag 1.6.38)
“It is the duty of enlightened souls to deliver the fallen ones”¦”� Bhag 1.13.14
“It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya’s message all over the world.”� (Cc M.16.64)
“Serious students of this Krishna consciousness movement must understand their great responsibility to preach”¦”� (Cc M 23.104)
“We are thoroughly instructing both men and women how to preach and actually they are preaching wonderfully.”� (Cc Adi 7.38)
“”¦all the wives of our students should be trained up for Deity worship and cooking, and when possible they should go on sankirtan party with their husbands and others”� (Letter 18/4/70)
“Your proposal for a grhastha travelling sankirtan party is a very good one”¦”� (Letter 24/9/71)
“”¦a preacher may be a householder, a sannyasi, a brahmana, a sudra or anyone, provided he knows the science of Krishna.”� (31/1/69)
“I am especially proud how my householder disciples are preaching Lord Caitanya’s mission. This is a new thing in the history of the sankirtan movement.”� ( 20/12/69)
Who preaches? Srila Prabhupada says; every member, a devotee of Lord Caitanya, those who know the conclusion of sastra, brahmanas, genuine devotees, enlightened souls, every disciple, serious students, both men and women, householders, wives, sanyasis, sudras”¦anyone. Anyone and everyone should preach.
Why should everyone preach?
In the aforementioned quotes Srila Prabhupada emphasis that everyone should preach. Why is that? Srila Prabhupada has given numerous reasons. Some of them are as follows.
“� It is the duty of every disciple to”¦spread Lord Caitanya’s message all over the world.”� (Cc M 16.64)
“� Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “yare dekha, tare kaha “˜krishna upadesha”�”¦This is the order of the Lord, who speaks as the supreme emperor. Everyone should be induced to take this order.”� (Bhag 9.11.25)
“� To preach Krishna consciousness is the best welfare activity.”� (Bhag 7.7.53)”�
“� The highest benefit one can render to human society is relieving one’s neighbour from all material problems. “� (Bg. 11.55)
“”¦everyone should engage in preaching, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way one will be very much appreciated by Lord Krishna and will quickly be recognised by Him.”� (Cc M 7.153)
“� A devotee travels all over the country from door to door, preaching, “Be Krishna conscious. Be a devotee of Lord Krishna. Don’t spoil your life in simply fulfilling your animal propensities. Human life is meant for self realisation, or Krishna consciousness.”� These are the preaching of a sadhu. He is not satisfied with his own liberation. He always thinks about others. He is the most compassionate personality..”� (Bhag 3.25.21)
Because it is our duty as vaisnavas we must preach. It is the order of the Lord therefore how can a true vaisnava neglect His desire. Out of compassion, knowing that it is the highest welfare work and ultimate benefit for society a devotee preaches and is thus quickly recognised by the Lord.
Very dear too
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