Preaching and Technical Knowledge of Philosophy
Reading from Bhagavad-gita Study Guide: If a person is engaged in full Krishna consciousness, in the devotional service of the Lord, it is to be understood that he has understood all the Vedic knowledge. In the Vaishnava Parampara it is said that if one is engaged in the devotional service of Krishna, then there is no need for any other spiritual process for understanding the Supreme Absolute Truth. He has already come to that point, because he is engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. He has ended all preliminary processes of understanding.
HH BVPS Maharaja: So in other words, if the devotee is already engaged, you don't have to apply all these other preliminary processes to get you there, because that's the culmination. But if you are not engaged, then all these preliminary processes are what will, one will use to get there. If you are already cooking, do you need to cut vegetables? No. But if you are not cooking, that means, vegetables have to be cut, spices ground, pots washed, all the things, arrangements are there until you are cooking. But once you are cooking, do you need to do all those other things? No. So that's the point, so someone who is engaged, there is no need of this, but if they are not engaged, that's the point.
So someone is saying, "No, but we are just supposed to be engaged in devotional service." Yes, of course, that's what we are trying to get to. If you are, great, why do we... There is no complaint. But if you are not, what aspect of your life is not, that's what all this is for. If you are absorbed in kirtan, you don't have to look and see, "Well, what modes are at work here?" and this and that. Yes?
Prabhu: So what if somebody is engaged in preaching activities and is operating on this level, but some of the people that he is preaching to are not, and he is not somehow able to tell them how to be on these lower levels, shouldn't he try to...
HH BVPS Maharaja: Means, he, means, if... Shouldn't he try to...?
Prabhu: Try to be educated...
HH BVPS Maharaja: Yes, you should try to be educated. In other words, if he can simply by describing devotional service inspire them so much that they just immediately give up the modes and work in devotional service, then that's the most direct, that's the easiest, because that's the first recommendation. If not, then you follow the rules and regulations. So then one should know that, because if someone doesn't surrender then one knows that process. And if one can't do that then one takes up working for Krishna, so that means all the Vedic element.
So if one is educated in these, nice, but even if one is not, that doesn't mean one can't preach. Because, in other words, what you understand and you are advancing, so that means if someone else understands just what you understand, they'll advance. So that means, anybody who has any sincere understanding in Parampara can preach. Like that. But the more you have this means, the more tools you have at your command, so that means you will be able to deal with the broader range, or broadest range.
Prabhu: It seems that we have a lot of preachers that can bring people to chant, but then after some time when people have material desires, it's.. They are not able to guide them, so...
HH BVPS Maharaja: No.
Prabhu: Then people may go away.
HH BVPS Maharaja: Yes. But you also see is that there is not necessarily that many who can bring them to chant.
Prabhu: [Laughter]
HH BVPS Maharaja: But like you said, there is probably more of them than ones who know this stuff.
(From Sastra Caksus Course lecture on Bhagavad-gita 14.27-15.18, 18th Feb 2011, Bhaktivedanta Academy, Sri Mayapur)
Full Lecture Audio:
http://seminary.bhaktivedantaacademy.com/content/uploads/sc/year1/bg101/2011-02-18-BVPS-BG-14.27-15.18-Relation-in-Brahman-by-detachment.mp3
This passage starting approx. 01:59:15
Lecture Notes HERE
Photo by Jugala Prithi Mataji
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