A sincere disciple never thinks of introducing something that has not been sanctioned by his spiritual master. This does not mean that a sincere disciple cannot expand the instructions he has received. Every Vaishnava wants to expand people’s awareness of the holy names mercy, so they may write many books or preach widely in some other way, even if their spiritual master did not. As long as a devotee is preaching in accordance with parampara, it still qualifies as a humble act.
A devotee never wastes time but always uses his time in the Lord’s service. He remains tolerant and patient despite difficulties, detached, indifferent to sense gratification and prideless. He is always anxious to glorify the Lord, to chant His holy name with love, and to reside in the places where the Lord had His pastimes. Above all, he maintains hope against hope that he will receive the Lord’s mercy. We should seek out the association of such Vaisnavas.
According to the Bhagavatam, devotees who remain absorbed in hearing and chanting about Krishna do not suffer material miseries—not because the miseries are not present in this world, but because they are so absorbed in spiritual relishing.
To increase the preaching we have to increase our desire to preach. It is very difficult to preach when we don’t have a strong desire to do so. When we increase our own desire to preach, we will also increase the desire of others; because by preaching, we will both give them the message that others need to hear and increase their impetus to spread it. In general we see that it is not usually compassion that motivates devotees to go out and preach. Sometimes we are motivated by the desire for recognition more than by our compassion. Perhaps we are motivated by the desire for profit. There may be so many impure motivations. If we want to preach effectively, we will have to strengthen and purify our desire to share Krishna consciousness with others.
(SB 4.11.8-10 9.20.1995, Kaunas)
A devotee is prepared to give up selfishness. He is prepared to accept any inconvenience, even if it means his own suffering. He is prepared to accept that the selfless giving of Krishna consciousness is the highest form of worshiping the Lord. When we preach in this way, kicking out everything else, and when others experience our real love, they will want to reciprocate with Krishna. Anyone who becomes an object of such love will want to do something to reciprocate.
(SB 4.11.8-10 9.20.1995, Kaunas)
If we chant in good association, we will develop taste for chanting by the mercy of the advanced Vaishnavas, and thus we will strengthen our determination. Our desire to become free from offenses will become stronger, and we will hope to one day experience the full holy name. We do not base that hope simply on our own efforts but on the attainment of mercy—mercy both from the holy name and from those who are purely chanting it. A devotee should always be eager to receive such mercy.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)
Recently, a devotee asked me how a preacher can realistically distance himself from pride. This is easily reconciled by the devotee’s unwillingness to claim the credit for his preaching, and for his overwhelming desire to share the glories of the Lord with others. A Vaishnava always offers his obeisances to his superiors in his mind before speaking to others, then offers obeisances to his audience. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami does that often in the Caitanya-caritamrita. He offers his obeisances to the readers, because they are eager to drink the nectar emanating from the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. He thinks as he writes, “By their blessing and by the blessings of my superiors I will be qualified to say something worth saying.” In this way he remains a servant, free from pride. He never thinks of himself as a great orator but only as a humble conduit for the Lord’s mercy.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)
It is the enjoying spirit that is at the root of all offenses to the holy name. The enjoying spirit is the desire to enjoy either recognition, material profit, or gross sense gratification. This spirit prevents us from experiencing suddha-nama.
(Sri Siksastaka- bhasya, Moscow 5.17.2001)
Those who are materially motivated may get wealth or prestige, but they will not be given the authority to spread the holy name. Only Krishna can give the potency by which the holy name can be spread to every town and village. Followers and wealth are useful in preaching, but they are not the criteria by which we measure a successful preacher. Only those who serve real Vaishnavas receive the empowerment to preach effectively. This is the real standard against which a preacher’s success is measured—how much he distributes the Lord’s holy name.
(SB 1.5.36 Kiev, 03.10.1991)
A genuine Vaishnava wants nothing more than service to another genuine Vaishnava. Lord Caitanya said, “Na dhanam na janam na sundarim” : We do not want wealth, followers, or beautiful women. We only want to be engaged in Krishna’s devotional service birth after birth. A Vaishnava’s thinking is that simple.
(SB 1.5.36 Kiev, 03.10.1991)