You cannot manufacture preaching. You must do preaching according to the principles ordered by your spiritual master. You cannot manufacture your own way of preaching. That is required. There must be some leader. Under the leadership.
If everyone manufactures...
Excerpts from Morning Walk Conversations with Srila Prabhupada, December 5, 1973, Los Angeles
"I belong to Krishna's family"
PRABHUPADA: You see the so-called swamis and yogis. They could not do anything, because they are outsider. They are not within the jurisdiction of Krishna. One must remain within the jurisdiction of Krishna. Then his spiritual life is assured. Otherwise, [no more?(?)]. [break] Similarly, everything, everyone belongs to Krishna's family, but we have to see what he's doing for Krishna. Just like everyone is citizen of the state. Why a man is given high position and big title? Why? Because he's recognized.
The Bhaktivedantas World Sankirtan Party and Inside Nam Hatta are hosted by Hansadutta das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and trustee of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Participate or learn more about World Sankirtan Party.
Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, the Hierarch, created a hierarchy, a structure of spiritual authority in which every devotee has a responsibility (able to respond) and authority to carry out this specific responsibility conferred upon him by a devotee in the line of hierarchy above him which originated (origin, author, authority) with Srila Prabhupada. more
SUDAMA: Right.
PRABHUPADA: So one must give service. Simply to feel, "I belong to Krishna's family," and doing nothing for Krishna, that is not...
SUDAMA: That's no good.
PRABHUPADA: That's no good. That is not good. That means he'll... Very soon he'll again forget Krishna. He'll again forget Krishna.
SUDAMA: Actually, the other element is so powerful. These people here, because, even though they are part of Krishna's family, but because they have forgotten, then we become influenced by their forgetfulness.
PRABHUPADA: Yes. Forgetfulness means maya.
SUDAMA: Yes.
PRABHUPADA: Maya is nothing. It is a forgetfulness. That's all. It has no existence. Forgetfulness, it does not stand. But so long it is there, it is very troublesome.
There must be some leader
SUDAMA: I've been asked a question by some devotees sometimes that they don't feel happy. So even if they are unhappy, mentally, should, they still should continue in Krishna consciousness. I tell them, even if one is unhappy...
PRABHUPADA: But you should show example. If you show example different way, how they will follow you?
SUDAMA: Yeah.
PRABHUPADA: Example is better than precept. Why you are living outside?
SUDAMA: Well, I...
PRABHUPADA: Last time I was so much deteriorated in health, I had to leave this place. That does not mean I'll leave the Society. I went to India and recuperated. Or came to London. That's all right. So health may be sometimes... But that does not mean we shall give up the Society. If my health is unsuitable here, I go... I have a hundred centers. And you'll not go out of this universe for your health recouping. You have to remain
within the universe. Then why do you go out of the Society? [break]
...Sri Narottama dasa Thakura. We have to live with devotees. Why I
left my family? Because they were not devotees. Therefore I come...
Otherwise, in old age, I would have been comfortable. No. We should not
live with the nondevotees, may be family men or anyone. Just like
Maharaja Vibhishana. Because his brother was not devotee, he left him,
left him. He came to Ramachandra. Vibhishana. You know that?
SUDAMA: Yes.
HRDAYANANDA: So Prabhupada, it says that a sannyasi should live alone. That means only with devotees.
PRABHUPADA: Who...! Where it is said sannyasi should live alone?
HRDAYANANDA: I mean, sometimes in your books.
PRABHUPADA: Eh?
HRDAYANANDA: Sometimes in your books. So that means with devotees.
PRABHUPADA: In general, sannyasi may live alone. But sannyasi's duty is to preach.
SUDAMA: That I don't ever want to stop.
PRABHUPADA: Eh?
SUDAMA: I don't ever want to stop preaching.
PRABHUPADA: Yes. Well, preaching, you cannot manufacture preaching. You must do preaching according to the principles ordered by your spiritual master. You cannot manufacture your own way of preaching. That is required. There must be some leader. Under the leadership. Yasya prasadad bhagavat... Why it is said? Everywhere, in the office, there is some immediate boss. So you have to please him. That is service.
Suppose in office, in a department there is office superintendent. And
if you do in your own way, "Yes, I'm doing my business," and the office
superintendent is not pleased, do you think that kind of service is
nice? No. Similarly, we have got, everywhere we have got immediate
boss. So we must work. That is systematic. If everyone manufactures,
invents his own way of life, then there must be chaos.
SUDAMA: Yeah, that's true.
PRABHUPADA: Yes. Now we are world organization. There is spiritual side, and there is material side also. That is not material side. That is also spiritual side, means systematic management. Otherwise how it will be done?
Comments
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Related Articles
You cannot make a devotee What's missing? Hierarch, Hierarchy and YouRelated Topics
Festivals - Preaching Society of Devotees - Disciples of Srila Prabhupada