Sato Vrtteh
by Svami Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti
Following in the Footsteps of Previous Acaryas
CHAPTER ONE
PREACHING AND OTHER CHALLENGES
Other Dangers Faced While Preaching
Srila Prabhupada knew how to make everybody happy and make them feel connected and united with him. Because of this people did everything to please him. That was his special nature: he was very kind to every single individual he came across. Sometimes he touched the heads of the devotees who offered obeisances or who were approaching him for initiation. He was such a loving father. This love was the element that made all my spiritual masters so special and so attractive to those who got to know them.
People Come to Serve Themselves Through Krsna
Srila Prabhupada and other preachers were very much disturbed by the many people who just came for material facilities. These people did not come for Krsna. In the words of Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja: “Many people come to serve themselves through Krsna, and very few people come to serve Krsna through themselves.” Here an important distinction must be made. Krsna is the supreme power and He exists through Himself, for Himself and by Himself. And what does He do? He gives Himself to the whole world; however, those who are in an egoistical frame of mind don’t exist by themselves, but they want to do everything for themselves. They also think that everybody else should work for them, believing that Krsna’s only function is to supply them with what they want. They want to use the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an order supplier.
For many Christians, as well, it is customary to send the Supreme Lord, or his devotee Jesus, a list of all the things they desire: “Oh my dear Jesus, I need a bicycle; I need new blankets; I need new shoes; I would like to have a vacation in Tenerife. Okay my dear Jesus, I hope that you supply these things quickly. Thanks. Your devotee.” This type of mentality of just using the Lord as an order supplier is very popular in this world. Srila Prabhupada would struggle with this, as every preacher would struggle with it. But one thing is clear: if you yourself are in this condition, you’re not a preacher. You had better learn from a real preacher what the real goal of human life is, and how to serve the cause of your spiritual master. Otherwise, you will only become a burden to the guru and not a real help.