Only Try to Save Ourselves?

Sometimes uninformed neophyte devotees object when we speak of the mission that Srila Prabhupada gave us to make the whole world Krishna consciousness. They are disturbed when say that Vaisnava culture should become predominant on this planet. They say that such an agenda is egotistical, that instead of trying to impose ourselves on others we should rather just focus on developing our own Krishna consciousness. So what is the proper understanding?

Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya Lila, Chapter3, Text 149:

"There are two classes of devotees. One is called gosthy-anandi, and the other is called bhajananandi. A devotee who does not preach but always engages in devotional activities is called a bhajananandi, whereas a devotee who not only is expert in devotional service but who also preaches the cult of bhakti and defeats all kinds of agnostics is called a gosthyanandi."

Srila Prabhupada further elaborates on this in a lecture he gave in Mayapur, India on 6 April 1975:

"This is the business of acarya, to spread bhakti cult. Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt nāvamanyeta karhicit. It is said by the Lord that 'You should accept the acharya.' Acharya means one who transmits bhakti cult. Bhakti-samsanat spreading, gosthyanandi. One who is not spreading—he is cultivating Krishna consciousness for his personal benefit in a secluded place, sitting and chanting—that is also nice, but he's not acharya. Acharya means he must spread. Gosthyanandi. Bhajananandi, gosthyanandi. So generally, gosthyanandi means one who wants to increase the number of devotees. He's called gosthyanandi. And one who is self-satisfied, that 'Let me do my own duty,' he is called bhajananandi. So my Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was gosthyanandi. He wanted to increase the number of devotees. And the more you increase the number of devotees, the more you become very much recognized by Krishna. It is Krishna's business."

Therefore we should never think that there is something wrong with the desire to make the whole world Krishna conscious. Factually it is just the opposite. It's wrong if we don't try to make the entire world Krishna conscious. This is simply human decency. If someone is suffering, a compassionate person will try his best to relieve them from their suffering. Since at the present moment the entire world is suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness, how could a Krishna conscious person be callous to their suffering not caring whether they go back to Godhead or to hell? If he is actually Krishna conscious, such callousness is not possible.

Sunday Feast Lecture--Melbourne, Australia--27 December 2015

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Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: Who is My Spiritual Master?

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I am hearing lectures of many ISKCON gurus, but I am really confused about who is my spiritual master. My devotee friends are initiated, and they have so much love for their Guru Maharaja and are so much surrendered. I feel myself like a lost child. Sometimes I start feeling like maybe I don't belong to this society, but the love of Srila Prabhupada brings me back somehow. How will I identify who is my Spiritual Master? Is it like the feeling of surrender comes just by looking at him, or by hearing his words? Please guide.

Thanking You

Your servant
Priyanka

Answer: The One Connects You With Krishna

Your spiritual master is that person who connects you with Krishna. Others may introduce you to Krishna, but your guru is the one who connects you with Him.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari