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Srila Prabhupada’s preaching example is not only interesting
to us because he is the founder of ISKCON, but also because he is
the one whose preaching spread Krishna consciousness around the
globe.
Srila Prabhupada
From the time Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, he was
engaged in the preaching mission. The following lists some milestones
in Srila Prabhupada’s life as a preacher:
- Taking up the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (Calcutta,
1922).
- Making preaching programmes at home.
- Writing, producing and distributing Back To Godhead magazine
(started 1944).
- Establishing the League of Devotees at Jhansi.
- Writing his books; placing them in shops.
- Accepting sannyasa in 1959.
- Going to America to preach (September 1965).
- Establishing the first temple in New York.
- First public harinama in Thompkins Square Park.
- Establishing temples around America.
- Travelling, lecturing, and writing profusely.
- Meeting VIPs.
- Establishing ISKCON’s infrastructure.
- Establishing various ISKCON preaching programmes.
ISKCON
- The main methods of preaching for the devotees in the beginning
were harinama and sumptuous Sunday feasts.
- Gradually magazine distribution accompanied all harinamas.
- Krishna books first distributed at 1970 Ratha-yatra, San Francisco.
- Devotees found ways to distribute the books, gradually focused
more on that, and became increasingly competent.
- Devotees “discover” the Christmas marathon.
- Devotees distribute prasadam and magazines on the subways
of New York.
- The Radha-Damodara Bus Party.
- Improper tactics, attitudes, and methods crept into the preaching
practices of some devotees:
(i) Too much emphasis on money.
(ii) Devotees believed they could do anything to sell books and
Krishna would protect them.
(iii) Being overly pushy, aggressive, and mistreating people
A long journey of learning separates the ISKCON of the 70’s
from the ISKCON of today. Today, preachers are more conscious of
the importance of leaving good impressions on people. We have training
for preachers and some more mature experienced leaders. We communicate
with the media, government, and other religious groups. The whole
approach is more sophisticated and effective.
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