View source for Hearing and Preaching the Message of God

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the essence of all religion is to hear and disseminate the message of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By studying his instructions, we learn how to submissively receive this knowledge, why empty rituals are a waste of time, and the supreme importance of preaching this message to the suffering world.

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=== The Supreme Necessity of Submissive Hearing ===

The Absolute Truth cannot be grasped by a challenging attitude. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that if one truly wants to understand the spiritual reality, they must give up the futile path of mental speculation and lend a submissive ear to the authorized messages of God.

* [[Vaniquotes:After giving up speculation, what should we do? Bhagavatam recommends that we become submissive and hear the message of God submissively|After giving up speculation, what should we do? Bhagavatam recommends that we become submissive and hear the message of God submissively.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Don't waste your time. Simply always pour in, give aural reception to the message of Urukrama. Don't waste a single moment. This should be your life's policy|Don't waste your time. Simply always pour in, give aural reception to the message of Urukrama. Don't waste a single moment. This should be your life's policy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Specifically, we have to receive the messages of the Lord with a purified heart|Specifically, we have to receive the messages of the Lord with a purified heart.]]

=== The Essence of the Nectarean Message ===

The message of God is not abstract or ambiguous; it is concrete, transcendental knowledge. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the most perfect manifestations of this message are found in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' and the ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'', which must be received through the medium of the realized devotee.

* [[Vaniquotes:A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead|A third-class devotee has to receive the instructions of devotional service from the authoritative sources of Bhagavata. The number one Bhagavata is the established personality of devotee, and the other Bhagavatam is the message of Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Message of Godhead is presented herewith (the book Message of Godhead) in that transcendental spirit, for the benefit of people in general and real seekers of truth in particular|Message of Godhead is presented herewith (the book Message of Godhead) in that transcendental spirit, for the benefit of people in general and real seekers of truth in particular.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in propagating the bhagavata-dharma or activities of the devotees, has recommended that people submissively hear the message of the Personality of Godhead. The essence of this message is Bhagavad-gita. BG 1972 purports|Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in propagating the bhagavata-dharma or activities of the devotees, has recommended that people submissively hear the message of the Personality of Godhead. The essence of this message is Bhagavad-gita.]]

=== The Perfection of Occupational Duties ===

Human society performs various religious and occupational duties, but without spiritual focus, they are dead rituals. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' to assert that all such labor is completely useless unless it provokes an attraction for hearing the message of the Supreme Lord.

* [[Vaniquotes:It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.8): "Duties (dharma) executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord"|It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.8): "Duties (dharma) executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Real religion develops this spiritual consciousness and also attachment for the messages of God, without which all labor in the performance of religious rites is only a waste of energy|Real religion develops this spiritual consciousness and also attachment for the messages of God, without which all labor in the performance of religious rites is only a waste of energy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:SB 1.2.8: "Duties (dharma) executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord." The test of perfection is one's unalloyed devotion to the Lord|SB 1.2.8: "Duties (dharma) executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord." The test of perfection is one's unalloyed devotion to the Lord.]]

=== The Mission of the Lord and His Avatāras ===

The spiritual world is perfectly harmonious, but the conditioned souls in the material world suffer due to forgetfulness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the primary mission of the Supreme Lord and His innumerable incarnations (''avatāras'') is to descend and re-establish this life-saving message in human society.

* [[Vaniquotes:All avataras, their mission is to preach the message of God. Avatara has no other business. The message of God. Saktyavesavatara|All avataras, their mission is to preach the message of God. Avatara has no other business. The message of God. Saktyavesavatara.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:From His kingdom the Personality of Godhead sends His bona fide servants to propagate this message by which one can return to Godhead, and sometimes the Lord comes Himself to do this work|From His kingdom the Personality of Godhead sends His bona fide servants to propagate this message by which one can return to Godhead, and sometimes the Lord comes Himself to do this work.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Sometimes they (eternal associates of the Lord) come by the order of the Lord - not to hold any administrative post, but to associate with the Lord in person or to propagate the message of God in human society|Sometimes they (eternal associates of the Lord) come by the order of the Lord - not to hold any administrative post, but to associate with the Lord in person or to propagate the message of God in human society.]]

=== The Duty of Preaching to the Fallen Souls ===

A sincere devotee does not keep the message of God to themselves; they act as instruments of the Lord's compassion. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that broadcasting this message is the highest welfare activity, noting that great devotees gladly accept persecution just to save the conditioned souls.

* [[Vaniquotes:Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Krsna consciousness. Thus they may be elevated to transcendental, spiritual life, and the mission of their lives will be successful|Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Krsna consciousness. Thus they may be elevated to transcendental, spiritual life, and the mission of their lives will be successful.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Lord Jesus is a living example how one has to suffer in this material world simply for the matter of preaching the message of God. In Bhagavatam also there is another example like Lord Jesus. He is Prahlada Maharaja a boy of five years old|Lord Jesus is a living example how one has to suffer in this material world simply for the matter of preaching the message of God. In Bhagavatam also there is another example like Lord Jesus. He is Prahlada Maharaja a boy of five years old.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Lord Krsna clearly says in the Bhagavad-gita that no one in human society is dearer to Him than a devotee who constantly engages in His service by finding ways to preach the message of Godhead for the real benefit of the world|Lord Krsna clearly says in the Bhagavad-gita that no one in human society is dearer to Him than a devotee who constantly engages in His service by finding ways to preach the message of Godhead for the real benefit of the world.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the message of God is the ultimate lifeline for conditioned souls drowning in material existence. Simply performing mundane occupational duties or religious rituals is a useless waste of time if it does not culminate in an attraction to hearing this transcendental knowledge. This message, perfectly encapsulated in the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' and ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'', cannot be accessed through mental speculation; it must be received with a submissive and purified heart. Furthermore, because this knowledge is the only remedy for material suffering, the Supreme Lord continually descends, and sends His most confidential representatives, to broadcast it. Therefore, the highest perfection of human life—and the greatest service one can render to the Supreme Lord—is to submissively hear the message of God and enthusiastically preach it for the ultimate benefit of the entire world.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:God%27s_Message|God's Message]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

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