How to Harmonize Personal Practices and Preaching?

Harikatha, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Gaurang Mahaprabhu instructed followers to practice and also to preach devotion to Sri Sri Radha Krishna. How should I nicely combine my personal practice and also preaching for good of others? Five years ago you told me that only somebody asks me something I should tell. But sometimes I also hear from devotees that I should speak to others even if they don’t specifically ask me. What is your personal advice for me now?,

  • Question: Gaurang Mahaprabhu instructed followers to practice and also to preach devotion to Sri Sri Radha Krishna. How should I nicely combine my personal practice and also preaching for good of others? Five years ago you told me that only somebody asks me something I should tell. But sometimes I also hear from devotees that I should speak to others even if they don’t specifically ask me. What is your personal advice for me now?

    Srila Gurudev:You see, your target should be correct. If target is to deliver a speech and get name and fame then everything is lost as I am doing. I am losing everything, not good. Target should be the satisfaction of Krishna. I cannot do this I have to pray for the grace of Guru, vaishna, Bhagwan so that I can speak for His satisfaction. When I shall surrender to Him, then He will give the capacity to speak Harikatha. Otherwise not. You will find Bhaktivinoda Thakur has said –

    siddha-deha diya,brndabana-majhe,
    sevamrta koro' dana ,piyaiya prema,
    matta kori' more,suno nija guna-gana.

    In his own hymn he is saying this. You give me realised form otherwise, you are transcendental, I have this mundane body, how can I serve you? Kindly give me the realised transcendental form where I can come to the Vrindavan majhe in Vrindavan dham, transcendental realm. You give the service. I cannot get it forcibly. You are not subservient to me. You give the service. If you want you can give the service. And you give me that Prem, make me drink prem and hear whatever Krishna is speaking through me, you may speak through me and you will hear, I am not speaking. You will speak through my mouth and you will hear, what is this? Very difficult. I am not that person. So you are not getting actual benefit. But He is very gracious, if we try sincerely then they will come utter that and we can speak Harikatha for the satisfaction of Krishna, Vaishnava and Guru, not for any ulterior desire.

    Target should not be different, something else. Then everything will be lost. Our Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati thakur also, in his last message said- One and all should take absolute shelter, worship the transcendental sense organs of Radha-Krishna by submitting to the transcendental counterpart Guru, grace incarnated form Guru, aChaitanya Charitamritaepting a sadhguru and your target should be the satisfaction of transcendental sense organs of Radha-Krishna. And by that you should remain united. If there are different targets you cannot remain united. This world everybody has got different target so they cannot remain united. In the transcendental realm target is one, enjoyer is one Supreme Lord. And others are servants. They are serving in different delightful relations. Appear to make this world also same thing but if you want sincerely because he is residing in our heart, sincerely if you want He will help you. He is always ready to help you. In this kaliyuga, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared and he has given order to preach this to whole world, not only India, without nama-sankirtan, bhakti nobody can be rescued, this you have to propagate.

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