naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu / nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke / bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī
“By regularly hearing the Bhāgavatam and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” (SB 1.2.18)
All the devotees connected with this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure. (CC Madhya 25.278: PURPORT)
We can see that over time, these above words by Srila Prabhupada still remain true. Even amongst our devotees, so many do not read the books so generously given to us by Srila Prabhupada. He said preaching to people in kali yuga, even his own disciples was “like washing coal”. We are so contaminated by the filth of this dirty age, that as fortunate as we are, still we remain unfortunate if we do not regularly take advantage of all the sastric nectar left behind by Srila Prabhupada.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Let them do whatever nonsense they are doing. Let them chant and take prasāda. We don’t mind what they are doing. That is later on. When I was chanting in Tompkinson Park I never asked them that “Don’t come here. You are drinking.” Everyone was drinking. (laughs) I know that. Everyone had illicit sex. They were coming with their boyfriend, girlfriend. I didn’t know that? Was I going to restrict them from? Let them come, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Caitanya Mahāprabhu stressed on this, mass kīrtana every night. He was not speaking philosophy. Philosophy with Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, not with the mass of people. Mass of people—”Come on! Chant!” Give prasāda. This was Caitan… What they will understand, philosophy?
Devotee: They won’t understand.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Mass of people, let them chant and dance and take prasāda. So these centers are being opened for mass movement as well as class movement. In the village there is… Hardly you’ll get good, educated men. So there is no question of philosophy. Given them chance of chanting and take prasāda. It is useless to talk before them our philosophy. They’ll never understand. But they will understand prasādam. Prasādam is so nice. If there are few grains of prasāda, even the crows will come, the condemned bird. (laughs) He will also come. You do like this. So if this has been settled, do that. (Room conversation Bombay Jan 8 1977)
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