A-Z OF PREACHING – What makes a good preacher ? If you feel inspired to learn to preach or just want to know what makes a good Krishna conscious preacher, here are some ideas to meditate on:

ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva
mam evaisyaty asamsayah

na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavita na ca me tasmad
anyah priyataro bhuvi

“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear. ” (BG 18.68-69)

A

ASSOCIATION. The mood for preaching and book distribution can be imbibed from the association of devotees who have that mood.

B

BLESSINGS. A preacher requires the blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to spread the glories of the holy names.

C

CHANTING . Desires for material pleasures are a barrier to good preaching. They can be removed by sincerely chanting the holy names, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

D

DEVOTION and DESIRE . A preacher acts with loving devotion towards Sri Sri Radha Krsna and has an intense desire to preach Their glories and teach others about Their wonderful pastimes in Vrindavan.

E

EQUANIMITY. A preacher does not distinguish between the living entities. All are fallen, but through the mercy of the preacher everyone has the potential for pure devotional service.

F

FORTUNE. A preacher desires to share with others, their good fortune of being situated in Krishna consciousness.

G

GURU. To preach successfully, the preacher must gain the mercy of the spiritual master, through: Serving him; Following his instructions and offering obeisances to him.

H

HUMILITY. “Those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord should be humbler than grass and more tolerant than a tree; then they can preach the glories of the Lord without difficulty.” SB6.4.5 purport by Srila Prabhupada.

I

INSPIRATIONAL. A preacher must be inspirational in order to convince the fallen conditioned souls to take up the process of Krishna consciousness.

J

JAPA. Chanting the holy names either congregationally, as kirtana, or personally, as japa, is the life and soul of a preacher.

K

KINDNESS. A preacher’s kindness is unbounded. Through compassion they are ready to sacrifice everything to save the fallen conditioned souls

L

LOVE. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has plundered the storehouse of love for Krishna and is freely distributing that love, through the medium of the Krishna conscious preacher.

M

MORNING PROGRAMME. Spiritual strength and inspiration are gained by following a regular Morning Programme, either at a Temple or at Home. Such a programme includes: Reading , Japa, Guru Puja, Kirtana and Offering of Bhoga.

N

NECESSARY. Sometimes it is necessary for a Preacher to risk personal injury in order to spread the cult of Krsna consciousness.

O

ORDERS. A preacher is prepared to travel constantly on the orders of Krsna and Guru, to spread Lord Caitanya’s movement

P

PRINCIPLES. Following the principles gives protection from falling into the degradation of material life. The four principles are refraining from: Eating Meat, Taking Intoxicants, Engaging in Gambling and Illicit Sexual activity.

Q

QUESTIONS. A preacher is always ready to answer questions from sincere people desiring transcendental knowledge.

R

REGULATION. The mind can be controlled by maintaining a regulated life style. Once under control, it can be trained to think of Krsna, His name, fame, form and pastimes.

S

SERVICE. A preacher always considers them self a servant of Krsna, Guru and the Devotees.

T

TOLERANCE. “A preacher must face many, impediments. Not only is he sometimes cursed, but sometimes he must also suffer personal injury.” SB6.5.44 purport by Srila Prabhupada.

U

UNDERSTAND. A preacher must understand the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, so as to teach the fallen conditioned souls

V

VALUE. A preacher is highly valued because their presence brings auspiciousness to society.

W

WORSHIP. Seeing the Lord during arati, offering bhoga and by constantly thinking of the form of the Lord, the heart of the preacher becomes cleansed of material desires and their mind becomes absorbed in the Deity worship of the Lord.

X

EXTRA. A preacher is eXtra special because they are selflessly acting as an instrument to bestow Lord Caitanya’s love upon the fallen conditioned soul. .

Y

YUGA-DHARMA. A Preacher is assisting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in spreading the yuga-dharma for this age, that is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

Z

ZEALOUS. A Preacher is enthusiastic to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna and to plant the seed of devotion in the heart of the conditioned soul.