HIGH CLASS NOT MASS

HIGH CLASS NOT MASS
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
I like this idea of distributing books and preaching. That is Lord Chaitanya’s plan, and because you are doing it so nicely you are already making the greatest contribution. So what need there is for some special instruction from me? But if you want, I must give, because you are serving Krishna so nicely. So in that case my request to you is that you enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world. Overall, there is a shortage of first-class, experienced men to manage things to the highest standard, as you are doing. Therefore I am calling upon you, the big leaders, to push this idea forward, namely, to attract some educated men to join us. The idea is that they will only agree to join us if we conduct ourselves intelligently by our preaching approach. The secret will be to engage them as they like to be engaged. Suppose I have some education, I am business student, or I have some skill or talent, I am typist, a musician, or something like that. I will like to utilize these things for Krishna, only if I am encouraged in a certain way, very tactfully. I must not be discouraged at first by too much forcing me to accept everything such as shaving the head, rising very early, going for street sankīrtana, etc. No, let me come gradually. Let me study Krishna Consciousness and see how it is practical and sublime. Gradually I may get some taste for these other things and agree to do them voluntarily and intelligently. We are not dogmatic or like an army-camp. We are servants of Krishna. We understand that Krishna is our protector under all circumstances. We have no anxieties, so we are very liberal and tolerant of others. Seeing their sinful activities, we consider them innocent victims of māyā, and we try to help them understand the real position of life. You know this art, how to attract and engage men, so aim for the top-class of men and give them every opportunity and facility to become convinced of our philosophy and engage themselves to their satisfaction. That will be the best contribution. Spread this idea also to the other leaders. So now I do not think there will be any difficulty for you to fill your Seattle centre with the best devotees in our movement. And then I shall be very glad to come there at the next opportunity to give them personal instructions. Appeal to the high class of men, not the mass. The mass also — we do not eliminate anyone — but if the best men are there to run things, the masses will follow later.
Issue No. 170 3 February 2008
Śrī a -tilā Ekādaśī, 12 Mādhava, 521 Gaurābda Circulation, 2,035 — Letter to Sukadev. 13 December 1972.

– An expert from Sri Krishna-kathamrta Bindu, a free bi-monthly magazine service provided by Gopal Jiu Publications.