So, preaching (sankirtana), and not counting beads (japa)

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura emphasized that kirtana means not only loudly singing the holy name, but preaching. Jiva Goswami has given a definition of sankirtana, bahubhir militva yat kirtanam tad eva sankirtanam: "When many people come together and glorify the Supreme Lord, Krsna, it is known as sankirtana." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came and introduced sankirtana. In this age of Kali, if the holy name is chanted congregationally, the combined efforts will be fruitful (sango sakti kalau yuge). There is the difference between the preaching mission of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, and the so-called bhajana of the sahajiyas, or imitationists.

Once, one of our Godbrothers was the subject of our guru maharaja's stern remark. He was a man of good character, but his tendency was generally towards nama bhajana. He did not like to do any other service, but was only inclined to chant the name of Krsna on his beads. I was in charge of the Delhi temple at the time, and was intimate with him, so I wrote to Prabhupada: "If you permit, I would like to engage my Godbrother in some preaching work here in the Delhi temple." The letter that Prabhupada wrote is still here. He wrote me in his letter, "If you can bring him there and make him help you in the work of preaching, then you will be doing the service of a real friend to him. I don't recognize that sitting in the jungle of Balihati only chanting,
counting beads, is krsnanusilanam, the proper cultivation of Krsna consciousness."

Preaching Means a Fight

So, kirtana means preaching, sravanam, kirtanam. Kirtana does not simply mean loudly chanting, but preaching. And preaching means there must be a fight with the opposition party. Kirtana means a fight. Kirtana creates the divine vibration which will fight with all the ordinary vibrations that are floating in this world in subtle and gross waves. So, Prabhupada told us that our tulasi beads should not fast. His minimum advice was that we must do some service in the form of chanting Hare Krsna while counting on beads, at least once daily. His exact words were, malika upabasa na: "The beads should not fast." And his general instruction was to preach as much as possible.

Once I had a talk with one of the big spiritual leaders of the Udipi temple in Madras. He told me, "Sometimes I preach about Madhvacarya and the bhakti cult, but I have no time for sadhana, (regulated spiritual practices such as japa, gayatri mantra, scriptural study, and so on). I supported him. Our guru maharaja said that hari-katha, preaching about Krsna, is no less important than sadhana. Rather, it is a more living thing. Preaching is more vital. When we are preaching, automatically we must have the maximum concentration. On the other hand, while chanting on our japa beads, we may be absentminded. When we are speaking about Krsna to another person, we must be all-attentive. Otherwise we cannot speak accurately. All our attention will automatically be concentrated when we talk about Krsna. And in writing about Krsna, accuracy is even more necessary than in speaking about Krsna. So, writing is also kirtana. The cultivation of Krsna consciousness may even be more intense when we are engaged in writing about Krsna.

So, the preaching mission of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the Gaudiya Matha, has declared totalitarian war against maya, illusion, and even all other existing conceptions of religion. And our authority is Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Divine love is the supreme most goal of every soul. Beauty and love is the summum bonum, our highest attainment; that is the ultimate controlling principle, and not power. And beauty and love are found at their highest position in Krsna in Vrndavana. The ultimate conception of the Absolute Truth is that of reality the beautiful and divine love. At the same time, the difference between lust and love should be clearly realized. That should not be misconceived. The acme of dedication is demonstrated in the love of the inhabitants of Vraja.

So, preaching (sankirtana), and not counting beads (japa), is the real service of Krsna. But because we have taken a vow, and it is ordered by Mahaprabhu and our gurudeva, we must chant the holy name while counting beads; it is our duty. Our guru maharaja told us, "The japa beads must not fast." So, if we engage ourselves in preaching work, there should be no doubt that we are really obeying the order of Mahaprabhu. Although he , has advised us to chant one hundred thousand names, or sixty-four rounds daily, that is a provincial saying. What is really all-important is the spirit of service. We are not told that the gopis always count the name on tulasi beads, yet they possess the highest position in the service of Krsna in Vrndavana.

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