By: Babhru Dāsa
Almost every religious institution around the globe has some sort of energetic concept of sharing their teachings with others. Is it wrong? Of course not. Surely it is a good thing! In simplistic terms, sharing is one of the most fundamental activities that a human can do. Indeed, sharing is an experience of love and reciprocation. Two things almost all humans deeply relish.
Taking that into consideration we can easily understand that sharing God’s message is surely amongst one of the most (if not the most) benevolent acts one can perform. Yet, this idea has such a fascinatingly strong tendency to be blown out of proportion. And for Gaudiya-vaishnavas in the Sri Bhaktivinode Parivar, whom “preaching” is such a core principle for, the “line” of mature preaching standards and efficacy sometimes get muddied. It’s a broad topic surely, but in this essay one point is to be investigated.
Namely, where do we draw the line between benefitting others (by outreach) and benefitting ourselves (by inward development)? Sometimes there is no line, and that is indeed a big problem.
In general, it should be seen that decline in ones personal practice and precepts is always a negative thing. If one’s “inner wealth” is going down because of their “so-called “giving wealth” to others, then is this truly a valuable thing? It seems not. Although an argument could be made for such a case. But is it a strong argument? Not really. It is shallow, and without substantial inner power.
What is more pleasing to Bhagavan Sri Krsna and Srimati Radhika? That you, Their bhakta who was once infatuated with Their devotional service, according to the precepts of Sri Rupa Goswami, lose yourself in the mire of illusion (to one extant or another), in order to give the “chance” for others to attain the bhakti-marga? Or is it pleasing to Sri Krsna that you steadily attain higher and higher levels of absorption of Him, while simultaneously sharing His divine message in a way that supports your bonafide practice and growth? Surely the latter is more sensible. A few famous proverbs can help to illustrate this point:
“One brilliantly shining moon is unlimitedly more valuable than many many insignificant stars, who can barely even be noticed in the moon’s presence.”
“It is better to have one healthy milking cow, than a cowshed full of sickly cows.”
Furthermore, to think one is some great benevolent preacher of God’s message and “above all reproach” is a terrible thing! Alas! For a false ego to achieve such epic heights is surely a remarkable thing. And more, to think that the infinitesimal soul is the doer and accomplisher of anything, especially in the devotional realm is a terribly degraded idea. Such ego is always a great detriment to the devotional humility that is characteristic of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His sincere followers. Perhaps the most fundamental practice for a sadhaka is embodied in the following verse by Sriman Mahaprabhu Himself:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”
Yet, that being said, it is certainly ok to make very temporal sacrifices to ones inner benefit in order to help others. But it cannot be stressed enough what “temporal,” means. Any sacrifice should be seen as having an “end date,” that is quickly approaching, and not just a perpetual compromise in the name of “self-sacrifice.” That is not good, and would generally constitute as being fueled by an illusory idea of sacrifice. One that is internally and unknowingly allowed due to weakness of heart, and not via an overflow of great compassion and stoicism.
After all, practice, speaks far louder and truer than precept ever could. As a concluding point, it should be pointed out that even in the case where one never “preached” a day in their life, but their life was exemplary and saturated with vibrant devotional bliss, is it really possible for others to not be energized upon coming in contact with such a person? Surely it is not possible. And therein lies the difference between true inner spiritual power, and so-called “outer” devotional achievement.”