Suppose you are going to distribute books,
Gurudasa Swami is taking the devotees out on parikrama each day. He used to live here in the early days of ISKCON Vrindavana, and thus he knows many wonderful stories and histories about the different places of Krishna's pastimes.
During his morning walk Prabhupada visited one of his Godbrother's mathas on the road out to Mathura. We found the gates closed when we arrived and no sign of life within, what to speak of any kind of program going on. After loitering around for a minute or two, someone finally came and let us in to see the Deities.
Later, back at our temple, Prabhupada commented, as he started class, that when we chant the Sanskrit slokas at the beginning of the discourse over the microphone, it is very attractive and pleasing to outsiders. His mood is clearly different than that of his Godbrothers.
Anantaram Sastri led the chanting of the Sanskrit, Pushta Krishna Swami read out the English translation, and then Srila Prabhupada delivered his lecture.
In commenting on verse forty-seven, Srila Prabhupada gave his disciples, many of whom are engaged distributing books in the West, extra impetus to execute their service with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. He explained to them purpose of the Krishna consciousness movement. "It is not active like a sword. But it is astra. It is killing the demons, but in a different way. The demonic habits are being killed by this Hare Krishna movement. This is astra, but it is being used in a different way, because in this age people are so fallen, this real astra weapon cannot be used upon them. They are already dead.
"So therefore another type of astra?to awaken them to life. That is Hare Krishna, maha-mantra astra. Otherwise they are already dead. 'Beating the dead horse.' A horse is dead; what you will get by beating with whips?
"So there are big, big demons. Hiranyakasipu, he was required to be killed by the nails of the Lord, Who appeared as a ferocious lion. But here, the tiny demons, there is no need of nails or any sword. They are to be awakened simply by Krishna consciousness, chanting Hare Krishna."
Since it is so difficult to comprehend spiritual topics in this age, he stressed that as neophyte devotees we must be actively engaged in Krishna conscious activities.
Recalling his recent meetings with Sharma dasa in Mayapur, he told us that to imitate Haridasa Thakura by trying to chant in a secluded place is simply cheating. For those whose minds are still disturbed, he said, they should be actively engaged, especially in book distribution. "Suppose you are going to distribute books," he said, "but what is the idea? 'It is Krishna's books; it must be distributed.' So Krishna is remembered there. At the same time, because it is Krishna's book, if somebody purchases, if he pays something, he'll look at it something that 'What this nonsense has written? Let me see.' Then he will get some idea. And if he reads one line, he comes hundred times forward to Krishna consciousness. This is the idea."
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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