# Preaching vs. Chanting in Seclusion *Preaching is more important than chanting in a secluded place or visiting holy places for one's personal satisfaction.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/preaching-is-the-essence|Preaching Is the Essence]] --- ## Preaching Is Superior to Solitary Bhajana ### One should endeavor to preach and not imitate exalted devotees ![[cc/adi/7/92#purport|A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. Those who are not advanced prefer to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in a solitary place...One should not attempt to imitate such exalted devotees. Rather, everyone should endeavor to preach the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in all parts of the world]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/7/92|Ādi 7.92]] Purport --- ### One should preach and not prematurely retire to a solitary place > One should not take to the demoniac activity of claiming to be a Vaiṣṇava just for false prestige, without performing service to the Lord. But when one engages oneself in the devotional service of the Lord, automatically the Vaiṣṇava reputation comes to him. There is no need to be envious of devotees engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord. We have practical experience of being advised by the so-called *bābājīs* in Vṛndāvana that there is no need to preach and that it is better to live in Vṛndāvana in a solitary place and chant the holy name. Such *bābājīs* do not know that if one is engaged in preaching work or in glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the good reputation of a preacher automatically follows one. One should not, therefore, prematurely give up the honest life of a householder to lead a life of debauchery in Vṛndāvana. —Kṛṣṇa, Vol. 3 --- ### Two kinds of devotees: goṣṭhyānandī and ātmānandī ![[sb/3/24/34#purport|There are two kinds of devotees of the Lord. One is called goṣṭhyānandī, which means those who are preachers and have many followers for preaching the glories of the Lord and who live amongst those many, many followers just to organize missionary activities. Other devotees are ātmānandī, or self-satisfied, and do not take the risk of preaching work]] —SB [[sb/3/24/34|3.24.34]] Purport --- ### Preaching is more important than staying in or visiting Vṛndāvana or Jagannātha Purī ![[cc/madhya/16/63#purport|It is a greater fortune to carry out Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's order than to satisfy one's senses by seeing Lord Jagannātha. Preaching Caitanya Mahāprabhu's cult throughout the world is more important than staying in Vṛndāvana or Jagannātha Purī for one's own personal satisfaction. Spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His desire]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/16/63|Madhya 16.63-64]] Purport --- ### A devotee must preach rather than sit in a solitary place ![[cc/madhya/11/176#purport|Sitting in a solitary place intending to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is considered a cheating process. This practice is not possible for neophytes at all. The neophyte devotee must act and work very laboriously under the direction of the spiritual master and he must thus preach the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Only after maturing in devotion can he sit down in a solitary place to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/11/176|Madhya 11.176]] Purport --- ### Sādhus who undergo difficulties to preach are superior > Those who are preachers are superior to those who go to the Himalayas to meditate. It is good to go to the Himalayas to meditate for one's personal benefit, but those who undergo many difficulties in order to preach are superior. They are actually fighting for Kṛṣṇa's sake, and they are certainly more compassionate. Those *sādhus* who leave Vṛndāvana to go fight in the world, to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, are superior *sādhus.* —TLK Chapter 11, text 24