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May 31, 1972 : Los Angeles

Satsvarupa: I asked Srila Prabhupada whether a sannyasi should worship a Deity while traveling. He said a sannyasi is not required to worship the Deity. He said, Lord Chaitanya never carried a Deity. I asked about the danda. Is it a Deity? No, he said. I asked if you could offer food to the danda (as with a Deity)? He laughed and said, "No." He said that the danda means body, mind, and words dedicated to Krishna's service. He said Harinama is the thing for a sannyasi. The holy name is our only shelter. Always carry your beads and danda.

"The first thing is enthusiasm. Don't be dead." He said, "You have to work more than me. Anyone who has life, he can preach. I say to my Godbrothers, 'You are all dead. You have no strength, no life. What have you done?' Because I am trying my best, blessing is coming from my Guru Maharaja. It is not to be advertised, but seen."

We have to take great responsibility. Simply touring is not required. By traveling we have to do something substantial to increase the society. We must spread conviction by literature, speaking, and preaching. The preacher is the best devotee because he is the soldier. If superficially we want to be managers, it won't be good. We have to work sincerely. We are servants. We have to satisfy the Master. Bring back all these fools back to Godhead. Don't try to be the proprietor of bricks and wood. That is not life. Preach.

Go and preach,
Go and preach,
Go and preach!


Reference: ISKCON In The 1970s - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami