02/09/98 - 1590

Preaching is the Essence

USA (VNN) - by Swami B.G. Narasingha <http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya>

"Preaching is the Essence, Books Are the Basis, Utility is the Principle, and Purity is the Force". How many times Srila Prabhupada must have made this statement? This is indeed an important slogan in any temple, ashram, or household where a disciple or follower of Srila Prabhupada resides. This "slogan" has been quoted thousands of times in the Bhagavatam class by sannyasis, gurus and leading preachers as "Prabhupada said" - but did you know that His Divine Grace never said this!

If you have the facility of the Folio then simply key in the above "slogan" and see for yourself. He never said that "Preaching is the Essence, Books Are the Basis, Utility is the Principle, and Purity is the Force." No doubt - there is truth in this "slogan" but the point is that this "slogan" which has become a standard of siddhanta and a standard by which to understand the desires of Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON actually never came from the lips of Srila Prabhupada!

This slogan about the books and preaching etc. comes from a Chinese scroll which was pointed out to Srila Prabhupada by his disciples on Feb. 25, 1977. Remarkably Srila Prabhupada did not even ditto the slogan at that time but he simply asked if it were translated correctly - to which it was replied that the scroll read that "cleanliness was the force," not purity. Although the devotees did indeed appreciate the "slogan" we do not find that Srila Prabhupada made any further mention of it.

For the most part every devotee in the world is under the impression that this "slogan," as above mentioned, was personally uttered by Srila Prabhupada many times and that he established it as a pillar of thought in his movement or even as "Law" for that matter. At least that is what we have been led to believe. I do not wish to challenge the fact that "Preaching is the Essence" - for talk about Radha and Krishna is actually the essence of all speech - or that "Books are the Basis" - for the Vedas are the basis of knowledge and so forth - but there is no record that this slogan, "Preaching is the Essence, Books Are the Basis, Utility is the Principle, and Purity is the Force," was ever uttered or written by Srila Prabhupada even once. So how is it that we have all come under this misunderstanding?