Devotee: Maharaj, I have one question. I am very much afraid to write anything about Krsna consciousness because I see that I am having so many material desires; but at the same time, when I go out and I speak to people about Krsna, and the sweetness of Krsna, I see how much they are enjoying that. So I am thinking, even though I have no qualification, I should continue to write or to preach. Is this correct?
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: It is laudable that you want to do good to others. Mahaprabhu has given general instruction:
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa
(Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 7:128)
“Wherever you go, whomever you meet, talk with them only about Krsna. Deliver this news to anyone and everyone, and the new light will come to you, which in turn you are to distribute to others. In this way you will have a dynamic and progressive life and there will be no shortage of higher backing. If you obey my command, then you will find that I am there, backing you in this work.”
This is Mahaprabhu’s general advice. Such distribution is the only necessity in this world, where all are entering the jaws of death at every moment. Mahaprabhu wants His followers to be agents to preach Krsna’s devotion to the public, to speak about the special prospect of the land of Krsna, about Vrndavan.
So, it is laudable that you want to do good for others in this way; but at the same time, before doing so you must properly try to understand what is ‘good’; and then go to distribute that. This is no less important. It is very good to treat a patient, but you must know at least what is treatment, then you can go to treat them. That will be beneficial. One who is not properly adjusted, how he will venture to adjust others? First know what is your place, your proper adjustment in relation to the whole; and in that position, it will be revealed to you, shown to you what is your duty.
At the time of the second Great War, a picture of a soldier’s uniform was posted on the wall of the Writers Building in Calcutta, and at the bottom of the poster was written: “Put on this uniform, and the uniform will tell you what to do.” This was the advice there: “Put the soldier’s uniform on and the uniform will tell you what will be your duty”! So, first we must have proper adjustment, we must find our proper position, and then the insinuation will come to us, as to what is our duty.
This is the first stage; it is known as sambandha-jnana to know, who you are. And next, abhideya, the ‘means to the end’: the conception of my goal, my destination how am I to attain that? What are the steps? Our path must go in this way, otherwise, the whole attempt will be unsystematic, haphazard. We should understand what is the proper utilization of our energy, and act accordingly. This is necessary for systematic and substantial progress towards the goal; otherwise, ‘anyone can do anything, as he likes’ and he will have to reap the result of his deeds, accordingly.
First, sambandha-jnana: one approaches the fundamental question, “Who am I? Where am I at present, and where should I be, what should be my position?” It is just as, before going on a journey I must consult the map to see where I am and where I will have to go. Understanding ones position, ones orientation in relation to the destination, is ‘putting on the uniform’; the uniform will tell me “This is your duty”; and I shall have to do that. I shall be ready to do whatever is required of me, for my real progress.
It is not that we should think, “I must be great! I shall be an Alexander, I shall be a Hanuman… ” Rather, if you want to be a simple cow-boy, if you want to have the company of Krsna in that way, you will think, “It is so wonderful, to become a cow-boy, to have the duty of a cow-boy!” Rabindranath Tagore composed one song in which he says, “I don’t want to be a famous leader of the country, but rather I want to be a cow-boy in Vrindavan, in the jungle…”