# Preaching Duty *On the responsibility to enlighten others* --- ### Duty to Enlighten Others > A devotee should not be satisfied simply by elevating himself in spiritual advancement. He has got other duties also. What is that other duties? That those who are innocent, those who are not interested... Everyone is interested, but there are persons who have forgotten his relationship with God. Therefore it is the duty of the devotee to enlighten others. That is required. — [[spoken/1967/670207cc.sf|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 7.49–65, San Francisco, February 7, 1967]] --- ### Even Without Followers, Krishna Is Satisfied > But apart from my calculation, you are realizing. This movement should be pushed on. Just like great souls always think of the poor souls, similarly, you should also feel. That is the way. Lord Jesus Christ, he also prayed for the sinful persons. So this is very good. If we struggle hard to push this movement, then, even we..., you don't get any follower, Kṛṣṇa will be satisfied. And our business is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is *bhakti. Hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate.* — [[spoken/1969/690207ba.la|His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda's Appearance Day Lecture, Los Angeles, February 7, 1969]] --- ### The Responsibility Now Depends on You > So actually, the responsibility will now depend on you. I am also old man. I may pass away at any moment. This movement should go on, you see, this movement started by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then accelerated by Gosvāmīs, and then again Viśvanātha Cakravartī. And when... Just like whenever there is... *Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati*. — [[spoken/1969/690207ba.la|His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda's Appearance Day Lecture, Los Angeles, February 7, 1969]] --- ### Devotees Live in Palatial Buildings > So if we are actually sincerely serving Kṛṣṇa, people may be envious, that "These people, living in palatial buildings." Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said only the devotees shall live in palatial buildings. Only the devotees. Just like the government servants. — [[spoken/1977/770207ar.may|Arrival Conversation, Māyāpur, February 7, 1977]] --- ### Kṛṣṇārthe akhila-ceṣṭā > *Kṛṣṇārthe akhila-ceṣṭā.* For Kṛṣṇa you can endeavor multifariously. That is wanted. That is the contribution of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. Before that, Vaiṣṇavas, they used to live retired life in Vṛndāvana or some other place—no preaching activities. This is the first attempt. Of course, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did it, but for the practical sake how we can serve Kṛṣṇa even sitting on big, big buildings and on motorcars we can serve Kṛṣṇa, that is introduced by Bhaktisiddhānta. Otherwise, people were afraid of becoming Vaiṣṇava: "Oh, I'll have to live underneath a tree like Rūpa Gosvāmī." Some of them will imitate like that. Imitation is no good. Rūpa Gosvāmī never said imitation. — [[spoken/1977/770207ar.may|Arrival Conversation, Māyāpur, February 7, 1977]] --- ### Success or No Success > So..., but this foolish civilization, they do not know it. It is our duty on behalf of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa wants it. Lord Caitanya wants it. Therefore, success or no success, that doesn't matter; Kṛṣṇa will help us. But it is our duty to enlighten the whole human society with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They are forgetful of Kṛṣṇa. They do not know what is God; therefore they say that God is dead, there is no God, God is impersonal. So many theories they have got. Actually, they have no idea what is God. — [[spoken/1972/720527in.la|Sannyāsa Initiation Lecture, Los Angeles, May 27, 1972]] --- ### Like Insects Falling on the Fire > The world is suffering for ignorance. They may be very proud of their advancement of education. After all, they have no education, no improvement. Simply they are bold enough, just like the insect. The insects are bold enough to fall down on the fire. Similarly, this civilization, without any control of the senses, *adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām*, being unable to control the senses, exactly like the insect flies very boldly, falls on the fire, similarly, these uncontrolled senses [are] leading them to the darkest region of materialistic life. — [[spoken/1972/720527in.la|Sannyāsa Initiation Lecture, Los Angeles, May 27, 1972]] --- ### Save Others Who Are in the Darkness > So it is the duty. There is... Caitanya has explained, *para-upakāra.* Save them. If it is not possible to save everyone—as many as possible. This is human life. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, to save others who are in the darkness. It is not a profession: "Now, Kṛṣṇa consciousness is my profession. I'm getting very easily food and shelter." Just like the Indians they are doing, a profession, say another means of livelihood. Not like that. It is for *para-upakāra,* actually benefiting the others. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then Kṛṣṇa will be very much pleased: "Oh, he is trying." 'Cause Kṛṣṇa personally comes for doing this benefit to the people, and if you do, then how much Kṛṣṇa will be pleased. — [[spoken/1975/750801r1.no|Room Conversation with Devotees, New Orleans, August 1, 1975]] --- ### Our Only Business Is How to Satisfy Kṛṣṇa > No other purpose than to serve Kṛṣṇa. This is only purpose. *Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam.* So our only business is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. So Kṛṣṇa in His original status as Kṛṣṇa, and in His other status as Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and in both ways, He's insisting to preach. That is a very important business. Neither Caitanya Mahāprabhu nor Kṛṣṇa has recommended that you become a great devotee and sit down in a place and talk big, big words and simply eat and sleep. Kṛṣṇa has never said. That is not Kṛṣṇa's, neither Caitanya Mahāprabhu's business. That is not required. — [[spoken/1976/760905r1.vrn|Room Conversation, Vṛndāvana, September 5, 1976]] --- *9 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the duty to preach*