Preachers Duty

19 April 2008, Mosul, Iraq

präyeëa deva munayaù sva-vimukti-kämä

maunaà caranti vijane na parärtha-niñöhäù

naitän vihäya kåpaëän vimumukña eko

nänyaà tvad asya çaraëaà bhramato ‘nupaçye

“My dear Lord Nåsiàhadeva, I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence [mauna-vrata]. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Kåñëa consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.” (Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva)

 I am often asked by devotees and non-devotees why I push myself so much. Some cannot understand why I am here in Iraq.  Prahlada Maharaja in this verse is explaining to us the duty of a preacher. A Vaisnava preacher is only interested in enlightening and bringing more souls to Krsna’s lotus feet. This material world is so horrible. I see it here everyday, last night one soldier wanted to talk with me because his spouse has cheated on him, stole all his money and left him…. is this material world so wonderful? Where is the enjoyment?  The devotee knows how miserable this world is with out Krsna, he understands that true happiness is a life with Krsna in the center. He is prepared to accept any difficulty placed in front of him, if the result is helping another soul. 

 Srila Prabhupada states in the purport:

“One wanders within the universe, life after life, but by the grace of a devotee, a servant of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, one can get the clue to Kåñëa consciousness and then not only become happy in this world but also return home, back to Godhead.”

 For me being in Iraq is neither an austerity, nor is it a hellish condition. It is a place I ended up somehow or other, a place where I can freely give the message of Sri Caitanya to so many souls.  It is not about the insurgency, it is not about supporting the current government of America. It is about following in the footsteps of great devotees and giving our hearts to all we meet. To me it is what I owe Srila Prabhupada. He gave up so much to save us. he endured so many obstacles.  I am not a pure soul, I a struggling like any other soul in the material world. But by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada he has given me the gift of devotional service. To keep it to myself is miserly.