Why Do we Write?

Srila Prabhupada left behind an impressive treasure house of spiritual writings. Namely, he dictated a total of 22,000 pages of text, translated and wrote purports to 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavatam, translated and wrote the purports to the 17 volumes of Chaitanya Caritamrita – in total 2,170 pages or 11,555 verses. He also wrote Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord

Kapiladeva and Sri Isopanisad. He wrote 7000 letters to his disciples which were published in 5 volumes of books. His Srimad Bhagavatam lectures he gave are compiled in 11 volumes of books, Bhagavad Gita lectures are compiled in 7

volumes of books and his conversations have been compiled in 42 volumes of books. He published 147 books.

This amount of writing is certainly astonishing and overwhelming. Reading one book monthly would take 13 years. Srila Prabhupada also instructed his devotees to

distribute these books widely (to this day almost 1 billion have been distributed worldwide) and to read them daily without diverting their attention to any other literature. He would in fact instruct: "There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books - in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness."

(Letter to: Sri Govinda -- Jaipur 20 January 1972)

Yet, at the same time, he instructed his disciples to write regularly for his Back To Godhead magazine. Even while the devotees were involved in great projects for the

propagation of the movement, with minimal sleep, he would encourage them to find some extra time, against all odds and write.

"...in the midst of your heavy duties go on writing

something glorifying the Lord and put our philosophy into

words...this writing is necessary for everyone."

(Letter to: Giriraja — London 12 August, 1971)

He underlines the importance of writing as crucial in preserving the parampara, the disciplic succession of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas. When a group of devotees started writing essays as a daily vow, he wrote back: "I am glad that you and the others are each writing one hour daily essays. That is parampara. All of our previous acaryas on our line have written substantially on the science of God-consciousness, so I would also like all my students to do this and I am very encouraged by this nice program you have initiated."

(Letter to: Vrindaban Candra -- Bombay 9 November, 1970)

One may wonder, if Srila Prabhupada already gave so much, why is he urging his disciples to still write more, knowing well his disciples might not be yet perfect in

Krishna consciousness and still subjected by the four defects of conditioned life: committing mistakes, the tendency to cheat, to fall into illusion, and imperfect senses.

Srila Prabhupada, in one of his commentaries on the sloka of the Bhagavad Gita, states that: "A common man with all the four defects of human frailty is unable to teach that which is worth hearing." (Bg 2.12 purport) Why, then, would he urge his disciples to produce writings that might not be even worth reading? To answer this question, we should first of all examine our understanding of the relationship between the spiritual master and disciple. Their relationship is established by the

process of initiation. Srila Prabhupada does not define initiation as a mere religious formality, but as a profound transformation in one's life. Commenting on the spiritual initiation of a great spiritual master, Narada Muni, by a group of saints designated as Bhaktivedantas, Srila Prabhupada states:

"...when Naradaji was impregnated with spiritual knowledge

by the grace of the great sages, there was a tangible change

in his life, although he was only a boy of five years. That is

an important symptom visible after initiation by the bona

fide spiritual master. Actual association of devotees brings

about a quick change in life for spiritual realization."

(SB 1.6.5 purport)

At Work: Srila Prabhupada wrote incessantly to give us "the lawbooks" for the next 10 000 years

In the case of Narada Muni, this quick change meant that he had to experience all varieties of God's creation by traveling alone through all forests, hills, towns, villages, etc., to gain faith in God and strength of mind, as well as to enlighten the inhabitants with the message of God. Srila Prabhupada then goes on saying that this is not necessary in the age of Kali. One may simply "devote his whole time

and energy to hear and repeatedly chant the holy scriptures left by the great acaryas..." This instruction might be as well applied to Srila Prabhupada's own books. We may hear and repeatedly chant Srila Prabhupada's books and by doing so, we should come to a certain level of realization. It is not that we should simply hear. One must also assimilate the subject matter. When we hear that we are not this body, we should not only theoretically accept it, but we should become completely detached from the bodily conception of life and when we hear of pure devotional service, we should eagerly hanker for the day when we are able to serve

Krishna without any other motive. After Narada Muni left home, he then progressively advanced and was ultimately able to see the Lord and receive personal instructions from Him. This was the pinnacle fruit of his initiation and we

should desire to taste that fruit at some point as well by following in the footsteps of the great sage Narada Muni.

In summary, it can be said that whether we are initiated or not by the spiritual master can be tested in proportion to the level of realization of the subject matter heard from the spiritual master. Initiation is a mere beginning of this

process as Srila Prabhupada states:

"...diksa, or initiation, means the beginning of spiritual realization."

(Letter to: Nayanabhirama -- Bombay 30 April, 1971)

"Diksa means... Di means divya. Divya means

"transcendental." And ksa, ksapayati -- ksapayati means

"explains" or "reveals," or "becomes enlightened." So diksa

means beginning of enlightenment, transcendental

enlightenment."

(Wedding of Prabhavati and Hari-nama – July 9, 1971, Los

Angeles)

One may repeat the words of the spiritual master in a parrot-like way and yet not realize their meaning. This is not enough. One must also realize. A Bengali saying says:

bhajan kara sadhana kara murte janle hoy.

Whatever Krishna conscious advancement you are making will be

tested at the time of death.

Srila Prabhupada explains:

"Just like a parrot is chanting "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,"

but when some cat comes in, "Kaw-kaw-kaw." No. Then

missing. So parrot life will not help you. You must be really

chanting, without any offense."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.2 – September 6, 1975, Vrndavana)

Jnana, or superficial knowledge, can be compared to the parrot-like chanting. The difference between jnana and vijnana (realized knowledge) is explained by Srila

Prabhupada as follows:

"One knowledge you get from me, and then you practically

apply your consciousness that "Yes, what Prabhupada has

said, it is right." That is called vijnana. One knowledge,

accepting blindly from the authority, that is knowledge. But

how it is practically made or done, that understanding is

called vijnana."

(Morning Walk – November 1, 1975, Nairobi)

The natural propensity of every living entity is that if one realizes valuable truths, these truths themselves unavoidably outburst into the world through his mouth, as though uncontrollably, to benefit others. Whether we speak of a neighbor informing us about discounts in the local market or a scientist revealing the cure for cancer. In the case of a devotee, realization of spiritual subject matter means that one feels the urge to enlighten others about Krishna. Srila Prabhupada instructs how this can be done through the medium of a written word:

"Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization. What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have realized about Krsna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should

be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers, glories.

This is one of the function of the Vaisnava. You are hearing, but you have to write also. Then write means smaranam, remembering what you have heard from your

spiritual master, from the scripture."

(Sri Brahma-samhita, Verse 32 Excerpt -- Los Angeles, August 14, 1972)

The Goswamis: Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatana Goswami left behind a tremendous number of transcendental literatures describing the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Prahlada Maharaja names 9 processes of devotional service. The two most important are the sravanam (hearing) and kirtanam( glorifying) followed by smaranam (meditating). If one hears sincerely and glorifies Krishna according to what he heard from the bona fide spiritual preceptor, he naturally meditates on the subject within his mind. Srila Prabhupada states:

"You cannot approach Krsna impurified. But if you think of Krsna always, in this way, meditate upon Krsna, then you'll be purified. Punya-sravana-kirtanah

[SB 1.2.17].

That meditation can be possible by hearing and chanting. Then thinking will automatically come. That is the process of Krsna consciousness. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam

[SB 7.5.23].

Smarana means remember. If you chant and hear, then remembrance will automatically come."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.22 – April 14, 1973, Los Angeles)

Not only should we engage in the active service performed by our gross senses, such as the tongue and the ear, but also try to become purified internally within our subtle minds. Writing under the guidance of the acharya is the best process for advancing in this way. Srila Prabhupada states:

"Actually, if we are engaged in writing and speaking on behalf of Krishna, this is the best process for advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Such activity forces us to think very clearly on the subject matter in order to speak or write on it to convince others."

(Letter to: Ranadhira — Los Angeles 21 May, 1972)

In fact, Srila Prabhupada says that explaining the scriptures is the only way to assimilate the knowledge contained in them:

"One can assimilate the knowledge of the revealed scriptures

only by hearing and explaining."

(SB 1.1.6 purport)

The only qualification is that one simply repeats the words of the acharya in his/her writing and gives up the speculative habit. We should be careful about the

dangerous mentality of one who is trying to surpass the acharya. Srila Prabhupada delineates the limits of realization as follows:

"Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. One must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time one must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should

be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization."

(SB 1.4.1 purport)

For this reason, Srila Prabhupada often asks his devotees to simply stick to his purports and words when presenting the Krishna conscious philosophy to the audience. As we have shown before, there is enough stock.

"Writing means sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam means hearing from the authority and again repeat it. This is our business, sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23], about Visnu, not for any politician or any other man. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh, about Krsna or Visnu. So that is success. Hear and repeat, hear and repeat. You haven't got to manufacture. Any one of us, simply if you reproduce the purport which I have given in the Bhagavata, you become a good speaker."

(Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975)

"They should read our Bhagavatam. The purports are there: They should assimilate them in their own words in a literary career."

(Letter to: Satsvarupa -- London 13 December, 1969)

There is another, yet very important, reason why the devotees should write, which might be all the more relevant now when Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically present to authorize or denounce the activities of his disciples. Krishna consciousness is the natural consciousness of every living entity. It cannot be confined to a particular religious sect or organization. Anyone can become Krishna

conscious regardless of the material circumstances, since Krishna consciousness is enacted purely on the spiritual platform.

At the same time, it is essential to seek a bona fide association of the devotees. That is the only ambition of a Vaishnava. In the words of Narottama Das Thakura:

tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vas: "My mission is to serve my guru, but live with the devotees."

So there is a need to search for good association fixed in the instruction of the

guru. One must therefore hear to see who is who. Srila Bhaktissidhanta Saraswati Thakura used to say:

"Don't try to see a sadhu by your eyes, try to see him by your ears. Well-dressed fool is not recognized until he speaks."

Srila Prabhupada states:

"...all our men should write. Otherwise how we shall know that he has understood the philosophy?"

(Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975)

"Writing articles means to express oneself how he is understanding the whole philosophy."

(Letter to: Giriraja -- London 12 August, 1971)

One may hide behind all-attractive titles claiming to be the top most representative of the guru or Krishna, yet, if he or she does not vibrate whatever they have understood from the acharya as it is, there is no benefit in such association.

Srila Prabhupada gives a clear warning in this connection:

"No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acarya."

(SB 1.4.1 purport)

If we are looking for sadhu sanga (devotee association), we must be ready to hear/read from such a sadhu. Those who do not care to hear/read what exactly the devotees preach are doomed to be cheated in matters related to the ultimate

purpose of the human form of life. Srila Prabhupada states:

"One should approach a sadhu or great sage not to see but to hear him. If one is not prepared to hear the words of a sadhu, there is no profit."

(SB 1.4.6)

We may not be liberated souls, but if we simply follow the

instructions of the Lord's representative and repeat his

message as it is, we may benefit others by distributing the

mercy of the spiritual master.

"A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons. This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally liberated from the

contamination of the material nature."

(SB 4.18.5 purport)

If we sincerely present in writing the philosophy Srila Prabhupada has given us and based on his instructions as above mentioned, Srila Prabhupada will consider it an

extension of his own writing.

Hayagriva: What about excerpts from your books? Is that all right?

Prabhupada: Oh, excerpt from my book or my article, the same thing. The same thing. So there is no difference. That is also my writing. And whatever you are writing, that is also my writing. [laughs] So everything is all right. [laughter]

Hayagriva: It's all your vibration.

Prabhupada: Yes. But they should be divided into different names. [laughter]

(Discussion with BTG Staff -- December 24, 1969, Boston)

Just as Krishna had killed the armies of the Kurus even before the fight on the battlefield of Kuruksetra began, Srila Prabhupada has already conquered the world by his voluminous exposition of the Absolute Truth for this age even before we begin to write. And just as Krishna asks Arjuna to fight and win glory while acting as a divine instrument in His transcendental hands, the greatest of acaryas is urging us to simply put our name on the work that he is simply performing through us. Let us become a trustworthy instrument only. Srila Prabhupada states:

"We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity."

(NoD Introduction)

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