Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples the Importance of Hearing and Lecturing
In the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, speaking and hearing about the Supreme Lord are not mundane academic exercises; they are profound acts of devotion. Throughout his instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda trains his disciples to understand that delivering an authorized lecture is a potent form of kīrtana. By learning how to hear submissively and speak faithfully, devotees purify their own existence while actively distributing the absolute truth to the world, particularly through educational institutions and the strategic distribution of books.
Lecturing as Absolute Kīrtana
While the public often associates kīrtana exclusively with musical chanting and dancing, Śrīla Prabhupāda expands this definition to include philosophical discussion. He explains that delivering a lecture from the Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is just as absolute as chanting the holy names on beads. Because both activities vibrate the transcendental sound representation of Kṛṣṇa, lecturing and chanting possess the exact same spiritual potency to awaken the dormant devotion of the conditioned souls.
- Kirtana means both lecturing and chanting with music. The chanting with music is specially attractive for the mass of people, but talking from philosophical point of view on Krishna Consciousness is also chanting.
- Unless there is chanting, there is no question of hearing. Hear means somebody must be chanting. Either we chant with musical sound or we chant by lectures of Bhagavad-gita, this is all chanting. And the others, they are hearing.
- I am very much hopeful that this movement can be spread all over the whole world if we organize simply the performance of Kirtana and a little lecture on the principles of Krishna Consciousness.
- Deity worship or lecturing in the colleges is just as important as book distribution. So, these things must be done very nicely and at the same time, book distribution should be done.
The Etiquette of Submissive Hearing
To become a potent speaker, one must first be a patient and submissive listener. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly enforces the etiquette of hearing within his temples, warning disciples never to sleep or let their minds wander during class. He also sternly corrects the prideful mentality of those who consider themselves too advanced to attend routine lectures, reminding them that even the spiritual master sits and relishes hearing the pastimes of the Lord from his disciples.
- Do not be paramahamsa that now I haven't got to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Don't be a better paramahamsa than your Guru Maharaja. I go and sit and I enjoy the lectures and how they are performing kirtana. So as I am doing, you must also do.
- During lecture time, if we don't care to hear or we do other things or take rest, that is not very good sign.
- If he is not satisfied with the standard of lectures in our temple, then he should be permitted to give some lectures himself, but this habit of going outside to hear others should be stopped immediately.
- Simply by hearing, by attending lectures in the different centers of the Krsna consciousness movement, where topics of Krsna from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam are discussed, they (mudha-dhi) will be purified of their sinful inclination.
Empowering All Sincere Disciples
In the realm of transcendental knowledge, material designations such as gender or academic pedigree are completely irrelevant. Śrīla Prabhupāda empowers all of his sincere disciples to take the podium and preach. He explains that the qualification to deliver a lecture is not based on mundane eloquence, but on the speaker's ability to faithfully memorize and repeat the purports of the ācāryas without adding their own mental concoctions.
- Anyone who is a devotee of the Lord, following in this line of disciplic succession, can deliver lecture, on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc.
- For lecturing, any one of our members can speak. Simply one has to memorize the purports and then speak in one's own language.
- Either girl or boy devotees may deliver lecture if they choose to do. We have no such distinction of bodily designations, male or female. Krishna Consciousness is on the spiritual platform.
- If a woman can lecture nicely and to the point, we should hear her carefully. That is our philosophy. But if a man can speak better than a woman, the man should be given first preference.
Preaching in Schools and Universities
To thoroughly overhaul the misguided direction of modern society, the philosophy must be presented to its intelligent class. Śrīla Prabhupāda actively encourages his disciples to penetrate colleges and universities by organizing bhakti-yoga classes and delivering guest lectures. He expresses immense satisfaction when his preachers secure regular speaking engagements on campuses, recognizing students as a vital and receptive audience for the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- I am so happy to see that you have introduced our Bhakti Yoga or Krishna Consciousness classes in two universities.
- I am so pleased that Devananda is doing marvelous work in propagating our Krishna Consciousness movement by lecturing in the Boston University, and he is being paid $25 per lecture.
- It is nice that you are visiting two university towns regularly for Sankirtana and lectures. Such news engladdens me.
- 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.
Using Lectures to Distribute Books
While a well-delivered lecture can inspire an audience, its effect is often temporary. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda trains his preachers to view every speaking engagement as a strategic opportunity to distribute transcendental literature. He instructs that the ultimate success of any lecture is convincing the listener to take a book home, as reading even one page leaves a permanent spiritual impression that can completely transform their life.
- Where ever you deliver your lectures to students try to introduce at least our small books. If the students purchase these cheaper, smaller books, they will get a permanent impression of Krishna Consciousness.
- You should know the tactic how to sell without irritating. What your lecture will do for three minutes, but if he reads one page his life may be turned.
- We may also appear and perform kirtana at the opening of the concert, and we will sell our books there, and if there is some opportunity to give also short lecture, that will be nice.
- Sankirtana means preaching, so for some time try in other ways to spread our Krishna philosophy anywhere and everywhere, by selling books, as many as possible, by holding kirtana and classes in schools and college.
Conclusion
The lifeblood of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement flows through the continuous hearing and speaking of transcendental knowledge. By ensuring that his disciples approach the podium with purity, preparation, and fidelity to the predecessor ācāryas, Śrīla Prabhupāda created a global army of empowered preachers. When devotees hear submissively and lecture eagerly—always aiming to place a book in the hands of the audience—they perfectly execute the supreme welfare work envisioned by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
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 Lectures (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.