Prabhupāda Explains Why His Disciples Must Keep Travelling to Spread Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
To establish a worldwide spiritual revolution, dynamic preaching is far more essential than static institution building. In his numerous instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda places immense emphasis on the absolute necessity of constant travel. By forming moving saṅkīrtana parties, his followers distribute transcendental literature, perform ecstatic kīrtana, and successfully push back the illusory energy of māyā all over the globe.
The Duty of Leaders and Sannyāsīs
The highest echelons of leadership within the society are not meant for comfortable, stationary management. Rather, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly clarifies that members of the GBC and those in the sannyāsa order must remain constantly on the move. By touring from temple to temple, these advanced devotees train the younger members, oversee the standard of purity, and personally demonstrate the required preaching vigor.
- Sannyas means they should travel extensively, create new centers and new devotees—that is sannyasa business.
- I have instructed all of the GBC men to give up their staying in one place and to remain always constantly traveling throughout their zones from temple to temple.
- That is the first principle, the GBC. Not sit down in one place and pass resolution. No, they must be active. They must act like me. As I am old man, I am traveling all over the world.
- He is a sannyasi and his main business is to travel and preach as I am doing in this old age, and that will please me very much.
Following Lord Caitanya's Example
The concept of a mobile preaching unit is deeply rooted in the origins of the movement itself. When devotees convert buses and vans into moving temples, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that they are perfectly following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because the Lord Himself travelled extensively throughout India without settling in one place, the modern saṅkīrtana parties are executing His direct will.
- Moving temple means through bus, going from one place to another. That is better. From one temple, they go from village to village, town to town. That will be nice. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally did not establish any temple. He was moving. Is it not?
- Naturally the sankirtana men traveling with the bullock carts are blissful. It is Lord Caitanya's engagement. Lord Caitanya personally traveled all over India for 6 years.
- This traveling sankirtana party is really Lord Caitanya's movement, and when Krsna sees His men preaching in this way, He becomes very pleased. So you shall not lack for any facilities or inspiration to guide you at all times.
- You are the real representatives of Lord Caitanya. Without caring for any stable home, without any thought of personal gain, you are travelling distributing Krsna consciousness everywhere you go. I am very grateful to you both for assisting me so energetically.
Fighting Illusion and Distributing Literature
The material world is completely dominated by forgetfulness of God, and combating this ignorance requires aggressive, widespread action. By utilizing vehicles to reach every town and village, Śrīla Prabhupāda compares his disciples to soldiers fighting a transcendental guerilla war against māyā. The primary weapon in this battle is the mass distribution of Vedic literature, which permanently alters the consciousness of the public.
- When I hear about the Sankirtana Buses that are moving all over the world then I think that we are becoming like a gigantic guerilla warfare movement fighting with maya.
- This traveling in buses is the best means to drive away maya and establish Krishna consciousness all over the world.
- Touring and book distribution, side by side, this is the main business. The general public will not be very much interested to see the deity; it is our personal business.
- I thank you for the copy of Easy Journey to Other Planets in the Finnish language. Now go throughout all of Europe with your travelling party and distribute my books profusely, just as the Radha-Damodara travelling sankirtana party is doing in America.
Prioritizing Preaching Over Comfort
Establishing a permanent center requires dedicated personnel and vast amounts of energy to maintain properly. If a location lacks the necessary manpower, Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly advises closing the facility and taking to the road instead. Active preaching and travelling are always favored over the stagnant maintenance of buildings, ensuring that the movement remains vibrant and continually reaches new souls.
- What is the use of starting temple if you do not do it properly? Why should you waste your energy? Better travel and preach.
- In my opinion, it is better to travel and preach than open business. I had a nice business, one of the best in India, and Krishna took it all away, and now I am very much thankful.
- We should not open more centers at this time, especially in the smaller cities, it is better to go there with traveling Sankirtana parties, that was my point. And the deities in a moving vehicles is all right, providing they are cared for properly.
- To manage centers requires many men, so unless we have got many men this idea will not be very fruitful. Better if there are a few important centers and travelling parties for the smaller towns and villages, going and coming back.
Reaching the Youth in Universities
Modern educational institutions teach students everything about material survival, but they offer zero information regarding the eternal soul. To rectify this glaring defect, Śrīla Prabhupāda specifically directed his travelling parties to target schools and universities. By infiltrating these campuses, the devotees give intelligent young people the rare opportunity to discover the true purpose of human life.
- I wanted that many sannyasis would travel widely in the Western countries and preach to the young people, especially in the schools and colleges, and spread our Krsna philosophy in these places.
- Unfortunately—we are traveling all over the world—there is no institution, no school, no college, no university where this education is given that, What I am? Am I this body, or I am something else? No. I am something else.
- This college program and school work you are doing is very encouraging to hear. In these schools try to get as many classes as possible. This traveling Sankirtana is very good; to go from village to village as Lord Caitanya has predicted.
Conclusion
By demanding that his disciples stay actively engaged in travelling, Śrīla Prabhupāda protects them from complacency and expands the reach of the absolute truth. The constant movement of these dedicated preachers ensures that the holy names and transcendental literatures penetrate every corner of the globe. As long as these travelling parties continue to tour, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will remain a potent, living force capable of delivering 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 Our Travelling (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.