Preaching to Shaivites

July 4, 1973

He criticized Western civilization for ruination of human living. They are thinking there is no time for self-realization. Not only must they work eight hours a day, but they try to save time for spending at naked dancing, vacations, intoxication. Our movement is fighting this. It is not religious sentiment, but trying to save humanity from ruin.

Regarding Midwest zone, he said that since centers are established there, then go into interior come and go, come and go, some go south, some go north, in this way (cover all the towns and villages). If we make some devotees, we can open centers. Centers should not be opened whimsically, opened one day and closed the next.

I can go with my party and encourage the centers also to send parties, not just to do hard-core book distribution. Give them direction but preach, meet people, hold feasts in cities go to the interior, chanting in Kansas City, Topeka, Minneapolis, etc.

Riding home in a taxi from the pandal, question asked by Jayapataka Swami: If we gain political power, will we follow Manu-samhita?

First gain power, he said. Then yes, Manu-samhita. Actually everything is in the Gita and Bhagavatam in gist. Manu-samhita is based on varnasrama and that is in the Gita, I created the four orders. First we would divide society into orders by quality and work, not birth. Someone made a brahmana would have to act like a brahmana or else he would be punished.

Being asked, he told Pancadravida Swami how to preach to smartas in South India who may know Sanskrit:

Learn five slokas a month; in six months you'll know thirty slokas. That should be enough to present Bhagavad-gita. PDS said Hrsikesananda was going to help him with pronunciation. Prabhupada said, this-ananda, that-ananda, be your own person. Do not be dependent on someone else to learn your work for you. When asked how to preach to Shaivites, he said, Ask them, 'My dear sir, do you accept Bhagavad-gita?' They will all say yes. Then quote: 'Those whose intelligence is maddened worship the demigods.' Come to understand Bhagavad-gita well, even in English, and you can preach.

About me and getting through international airlines, customs entanglement, He is doing his best, but he does not have experience. If every month a new man, then I have to suffer. TKG said, But we suffer when you get angry upon us. He said, But your suffering is secondary. He was detained three hours in Paris and practically jailed four days from Africa to Australia. I am coming and going so much. I am a little bit known. I should not have to wait on lines. That is the job of the secretary. He should be so expert that these rascals with all their rules are answered and I am not detained as an ordinary person.

I would say, It is all right. I have checked everything. He would reply, You say that, but then I will be stopped at the airport. If everything is not cleared, he is detained.

You have to have a brain, always alert. One who has a brain has strength.


- From "ISKCON In The 1970s" by HH Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

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[srilaprabhupadanectar] Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Preaching to Shaivites