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EDITORIAL June 6, 1999 VNN4045 Comment on this story First Purpose Preaching BY JNANADAS EDITORIAL, Jun 6 (VNN) — Dear Devotees, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri-Sri Guru and Gauranga. Here is a suggestion for a preaching program which can expand the scope of our preaching and our influence in society. I have been working on the ideas for this project for many years, although the project itself is in an embryonic state. I am just making the first steps to get it off the ground. If you would like more information, or you would like to make some input, or you would like to be involved, please contact: Jnanadas at this e-mail address (gourgovinda@compuserve.com), or else at : 32 Handsworth Wood Road Handsworth Wood Birmingham B20 DS, UK. Tel: 0121-682 9159 I will be very happy and interested to hear from you. (The following reads as very left-brained, analytical. It doesn't have to be that way) The First Purpose of ISKCON The overall mission of the Krsna Consciousness movement is to spread love for Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada expresses this in the Second Purpose of ISKCON (1966): "To propagate a consciousness of Krsna, as it is put forward in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam". At the same time, he intended that the movement should establish a sound basis for society. This involves propagating spiritual knowledge and practice and defeating materialistic philosophy, values and practice. For instance, Srila Prabhupada emphasized the importance of scientific preaching and establishing varnasrama, although neither of these programmes relates specifically to the personal form of Krsna. They are expressions of the First Purpose of ISKCON, which is: "To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world". The First Purpose concerns realities, principles and practices which may not necessarily mention Krsna explicitly. Nevertheless, it is an important preliminary phase of our preaching. Benefits By fulfilling the First Purpose of ISKCON we can: * fulfil Srila Prabhupada's vision in a broader way; * exert a positive influence in society; * gain more social credibility; * become more peaceful and unified ourselves. Basis for a program The challenge for devotees is to find a basis for the program which does not appear to be sectarian. That is to say, our First Purpose program should not require the public to accept what looks like a religious belief system. At the same time, we must have a strong program for defeating materialism and promoting spiritual values. The following is a suggested basis for the program. People need knowledge of the fundamental spiritual realities, and how to express them in real life. Our Vaisnava philosophy enables to identify spiritual realities which are: * essential and fundamental parts of our everyday life and experience; * unavoidable, undeniable and incontrovertible. Six specific Essential Realities (tattvas) are: (1) karma (deliberate action); (2) varna (the specific contributions that we make as individuals); (3) atma (the individual consisting of body, mind and conscious self or spirit); (4) sac-cid-ananda (the actual nature of the conscious self, namely our capacity for self-existence, knowledge and fulfillment); (5) Paramatma (Providence, the Universal Maintainer of our individual existence, our collective existence and the lawful universe in which we live); (6) acintya bhedabheda-tattva (part and whole, or belonging with individuality) We can show that these realities are undeniable; that is, no one can deny them without talking nonsense. Someone may try to deny their essential and fundamental nature. However, they are so essential and fundamental, that if we see them also in the attempted denial. Armed with this insight, we can establish spiritual principles and defeat materialistic teaching. This is a strong platform from which to present society with a nonsectarian spiritual program. This is vital, for there are many individuals who will accept nonsectarian principles, but not explicit Krsna consciousness. This is theoretical knowledge. Now we need practical principles by which we can live in harmony with these Essential Realities. Bhagavad-gita explains the symptoms of action, knowledge etc in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance respectively. Using this insight we can show to relate to these Essential Realities in a sattvic rather than a rajasic or tamasic way. We can also show from experience and history that the sattvic course of action is the best. Programme The following is an outline for a systematic framework for First Purpose preaching. (1) Identify the essential spiritual realities and principles (2) Propagate spiritual knowledge and techniques in appropriate ways The presentation needs to be developed to suit different interest groups. Initially, we can publish books, booklets and tapes; and give lectures and workshops. This will bring us in contact with the public. They can hear us, and we can hear their concerns and needs. (3) Network in a positive way with like-minded people There are many people with useful information, contacts, insights and experience. (4) Engage other interested people in propagating our materials There are many people with lots of energy, who will help us to spiritualise society, even though they do not want to become full-on devotees of Krsna. We can engage them in fulfilling the First Purpose of ISKCON. We can demonstrate the varna principle practically by engaging people according to their enthusiasm and ability. (5) Respond to interested enquiries, offers of help and requests for specific materials or presentations This will enable us to develop a proactive campaign, which responds to real needs and opportunities. (6) Enhance our understanding, procedures and culture Potential The program outlined above will enable us to fulfil many purposes, for example to: * address the First Purpose of ISKCON; * identify universal, spiritual realities, principles and techniques in a logical and practical way; * establish soul and Supersoul as the basis of knowledge and life; * defeat evolution and the Big Bang theory, showing that they are not only false but nonsensical; * give a systematic and logical basis for spiritual education; * give a systematic basis for spiritual leadership; * show how sound environmental policy comes from sound spiritual principles; * introduce the varna principle practically; * show how to apply the saranagati process to all spiritual paths; * establish consciousness as the real basis of physics and show that sankhya philosophy is the ideal system; * demonstrate how to approach shastra in a practical and non-dogmatic way; * show how the essential realities are the ultimate source for all the philosophies; all the leadership systems; and all the commercial and agricultural systems; * establish a network association of spiritually minded people for propagating the above principles. 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