How to preach about Krishna to those who do not show interest to hear?
A Question from a devotee (Name hidden):
“Hare Krishna, prabhu. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I want to know everything or at least basics about Preaching, how to preach, how much to preach, whom to preach, whom not to preach. Sometimes, when I preach—-
(1) If I explain in a friendly manner, they take it for granted, “hey what Krishna consciousness man, forget about it” they say.
(2) If I explain in a aggressive manner and use little strong words, they say I’m arrogant, proud, etc, etc. Both sides they’ll talk.
What to do??? How to deal with such person??? Your Servant………”
REPLY:
Simple answer is: Do not preach to those people about Krishna.
You need not preach to those who are not ready to hear, who are envious, who are insulting, etc.
Krishna Himself will not accept such preaching of yours.
Why should you push Krishna into their heads when they are not ready to hear?
They are destined to take more and more births to come out of the clutches of material energy (Maya).
You can never bring all the 800 crore people into the Krishna Consciousness. Because Only one among thousands can even think of knowing about Krishna and even among them, only one in thousands actually know Him as said by Krishna Himself in Bhagavad Gita Ch-7, Text-3:
“Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.”
(How women preachers of Krishna are successful and how should they manage the preaching? READ HERE!)
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport for this sloka:
“However, Krishna can be known only by persons who are in Krishna consciousness. Other transcendentalists may achieve impersonal Brahman realization, for this is easier than understanding Krishna. Krishna is the Supreme Person, but at the same time He is beyond the knowledge of Brahman and Paramatma. The yogis and jnanis are confused in their attempts to understand Krishna. Although the greatest of the impersonalists, Sripada Sankaracarya, has admitted in his Gita commentary that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his followers do not accept Krishna as such, for it is very difficult to know Krishna, even though one has transcendental realization of impersonal Brahman.
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, the primeval Lord Govinda. Isvarah paramah Krishna sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah/ anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam.
It is very difficult for the non-devotees to know Him. Although non-devotees declare that the path of bhakti, or devotional service, is very easy, they cannot practice it. If the path of bhakti is so easy, as the non-devotee class of men proclaim, then why do they take up the difficult path Actually the path of bhakti is not easy.
The so-called path of bhakti practiced by unauthorized persons without knowledge of bhakti may be easy, but when it is practiced factually according to the rules and regulations, the speculative scholars and philosophers fall away from the path.”
Srila Prabhupada also says for this sloka:
Therefore unless one practices devotional service to the Lord, one cannot know Krishna as He is (tattvatah), even though one is a great scholar or philosopher. Only the pure devotees can know something of the inconceivable transcendental qualities in Krishna, in the cause of all causes, in His omnipotence and opulence, and in His wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation, because Krishna is benevolently inclined to His devotees. He is the last word in Brahman realization, and the devotees alone can realize Him as He is. Therefore it is said:
atah sri-Krishna-namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah
“No one can understand Krishna as He is by the blunt material senses. But He reveals Himself to the devotees, being pleased with them for their transcendental loving service unto Him.”
(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234)
(The devotional books that are the gems of India – A review! READ HERE!)
So, hereafter, do not expect that all those you approach will take up Krishna Consciousness. Just tell them once, twice or thrice. Try to give them the books on Krishna. If they are fortunate, they will take up Krishna Consciousness either immediately or after some period.
If they are not fortunate, they will continue to involve in highly materialistic way of life being engaged by maya and will take so many births again and again and experience the four types of pains such as birth, disease, old age and death.
Remember, Krishna has also said in the last chapter of Bhagavad Gita that we should explain about Him only to the interested persons.
18.67:
This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
18.68:
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
18.69:
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
So, speak about the Lord ONLY TO THE INTERESTED PERSONS. If anyone speaks arrogantly or adamantly, just tell him ALL THE BEST and leave the spot and use that saved time with another person.
(How to bring more people for your Krishna Conscious House Programs? READ HERE!)
Preaching is a natural art. There are many masters in every field. They would have got even doctorate in their field. But, they may fail in explaining the concepts in front of 1000’s of audience.
There are another class of people. They may be just ordinary graduates or even school finals. But, they may be experts in facing 1000’s of people and deliver the messages beautifully that can attract all the assembled people.
But, when a person is both intelligent as well as able to convey the message beautifully, he is well received by the audience and the world.
We can see some example even in politics and society.
First two material examples:
(1) Narendra Modi is not a Harward University scholar. But, he could defeat other parties. Why? The commanding way of delivering the message.
(FOLLOWING MULTIPLE CONCEPTS IN DEVOTION -DEMERITS! READ HERE!)
(2) Gandhiji was not attractively dressed. But, there were many scholars at that time wearing coats and suits. But, the entire nation honoured every request of Gandhiji. If Gandhiji told the people to abstain British made goods, the people heard it. Why? The People believed Gandhiji is pure and selfless in his thoughts and actions.
What this shows?
IF A PERSON IS INTELLIGENT – AT THE SAME TIME PURE AND SELFLESS, HIS WORDS ARE BELIEVED BY OTHERS.
No doubt in this fact.
Let us take spirituality.
Swami Vivekanandha’s words are very much respected by the common people even now. Why? Because, he had the command of language and faith in his culture and he had selfless motive to reform the people. (Let us not get into sampradhaya differences as I am writing just examples).
Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON was not a rich person when he went to USA. He had just handful of money in his hands. But, his words were trusted and accepted by most of the people who met or attended him. In fact, HIS WORDS purified 1000’s of souls from ignorance and sinful life. Why? Because he was PURE in thoughts and actions.
So, PURITY IS THE FORCE. As said by the scriptures.
(PURITY or LOVE – WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR DEVOTIONAL GROWTH? READ HERE!)
If a person is 100% Selfless and Pure in his thoughts and actions, and ALSO INTELLIGENT, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE REFORMED BY HIS WORDS.
You have GENUINE WISH to preach. I do not deny that. Your desire is genuine. That is also true. But, How to preach about Krishna? You should preach to the level up to which you can manage.
Preach ONLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT & ONLY THOSE TOPICS THAT CAN BE REPLIED WHATEVER QUESTION THE AUDIENCE ASKS.
Not reading alone is enough. You must ‘feel’ it practically. You should have 100% faith on Krishna and you should follow all the rules prescribed for a devotee.
Eg:
Chanting,
Regulative Principles,
Devotee sathsangha,
Temple service, etc.
If a person is doing sinful acts, his preaching will not attract all the people. So, He must be honest to his conscience and rules.
You may ask me: Can’t a new devotee preach to others? Can’t a person who is fighting between senses and God preach to others?
Why can’t? They can also preach. But, How?
They need not start to speak advanced concepts. They may just request others to chant and read the books on Krishna. Or, they can distribute the books on Krishna. For example, if you have not sufficiently learnt, you can JUST DISTRIBUTE THE BHAGAVAD GITA, BHAGAVATHAM, etc, to as much people as possible.
Srila Prabhupada said: JUST DISTRIBUTE MY BOOKS. THAT IS THE BETS WAY TO PLEASE ME.
That is true. If you speak in your own words, you may be bombarded with questions from the person hearing you. If you are not able to answer such questions, that person may lose his good opinion on the movement you belong to. Though you can bring them to the senior devotees, some sensitive persons may ask questions to you also. So, book distribution itself is enough.
For example, If you distribute the books of Srila Prabhupada, tell the people you meet:
“Sir/ Madam, Hare Krishna. Just see Bhagavad Gita As It is purported by the most revered acharya Srila Prabhupada who is an acharya coming from the bonafide disciplic succession. Just buy it that cost just ………. The money you give is spent for the services of Krishna and managing the temples of Krishna. This is a great service by you to Krishna. Just have a glance over this book”
If he seems to be unable to purchase Bhagavad Gita by paying, you can take small books of Srila Prabhupada and show them to him and tell:
“Prabhu…See these small books.. Each cost just …….. They contain very interesting details about Krishna, His creations and Spiritual life.”
Definitely, atleast 20-30 % of the people will purchase small books. If you like to show small books, the following books can attract even uninterested persons:
(1) Challenge.
(2) Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers.
(3) Easy journey to Other Planets.
These three books and other small books will attract all types of people. Once they read them, they will get interest in Srila Prabhupada’s other books. So, they will come to the temple, attend sathsangha and also purchase other books of Srila Prabhupada.
So, if you like to preach without difficulties, take some Bhagavad Gita As It Is and also these small books and distribute them as much as possible.
THIS IS THE BEST MODE OF PREACHING WE CAN DO.
In case you have learnt to good extent and can answer the typical queries of people, then, you can speak some extra details to make the people understand the basic concepts. Otherwise, just stop with distributing the books, till you learn sufficiently. Safe.
Let Krishna gives more favourable atmosphere and strength to you to spread His name.
Again I repeat: Do not preach to all. Preach only to those who show interest to hear. This is the order of Krishna in B.G 18-67.
Hope you are now clear about How to preach about Krishna.
All the best.
(10 IMPORTANT TIPS TO PREACH ABOUT KRISHNA PROPERLY CAN BE READ HERE!)