Here is a fictional conversation between a ‘heavy’ preacher – used to calling people mudhas, canines and other low descriptions, and is badly in need of reform – with a reformer preacher trying to strike a balance. Let us see how the ‘heavy’ and negative can remain without turning people off.
One can easily take it as legitimate to be blunt. After all, this is Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s interesting say on the matter, that is often quoted by devotees:
The truth (satya) is propagated in a twofold way viz. positively or by the method of direct support and negatively by the method of opposition. The truth cannot be made sufficiently known by the positive method alone. Propaganda by the method of opposition more than the presentation of the positive aspect brings about more brilliantly in this world the appearance and glorification of the truth. The positve method by itself is not the most effective mode of propaganda in a controversial Age like the present. The negative method which seeks to differentiate the Truth from non Truth in all its forms, is even better calculated to convey the directly inconceivable significance of the Absolute. It is a necessity which cannot be conscientiously avoided by the dedicated preacher of the Truth if he wants to be loyal servant of Godhead. The method is sure to create an atmosphere of controversy in which it is quite easy to lose one’s balance of judgement. But the ways of the deluding energy are so intricate that unless their mischevious nature is fully exposed it is not possible for the soul in the conditioned state to avoid the snares spread by the enchantress for encompassing the ruin of her only too willing victims. It is a duty which shall be sacred to all who have been enabled to obtain even a distant glimpse of the Abolute.” (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur)
Here is a snippet from Srila Prabhupada, who responded to a question of negativity:
Prabhupāda: Why negative? It is the fact. That is the positive understanding. Why do you take negative? If you are suffering and if you say, if I say, “Don’t suffer,” is that negative or that is positive?
Bali-mardana: In other words, if you are suffering and I tell you “Don’t suffer,” it may sound negative but actually it’s positive.
Prabhupāda: Yes, positive. But they are rascals, they are taking as negative. (Interview with AP religious editor, July 16, 1976, New York)
One could easily deduce that these are allowances to say what we want, as bluntly as we want, meaning we can be in a bad mood, and impose our unhappiness into our messages of transcendence. Our use of words like rascals, dogs, fools… will not always have the same effect as Srila Prabhupada’s way of saying them. Here goes…
Reformer: Now, just imagine yourself preaching to the whole world. All the heads of state are sitting before you and all the world’s TV networks are filming you live. Let me hear what you’re going to tell them about our philosophy. We sometimes have to say unpleasant things, but there is a way of doing so.
Heavy: Er, uhm… anything?
Reformer: Yes. Whatever ‘s on your mind. How are you going to attract all those billions of people.
Heavy: Haribol everyone. Now, if you waste your valuable time going to a hell-hole of a cinema to watch The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, you’re not going there to think about death are you…
Reformer: Um… Isn’t that movie a little out of date? Its ancient. And… is hell-hole really necessary at this very early stage? Try not to preach DOWN to them as if you are superior.
Heavy: Ok. Haribol everybody. Now, If you want to waste your time going to completely space-out at a cinema to watch Gone With The Wind, you’re not going to think of death…
Reformer: Sorry, but that movie is a gonna too.
Heavy: Why?
Reformer: Its hardly relevant. It’s a Gonna With The Wind of time. You’re more likely have bed-ridden geriatrics in old-age watching that film, to help keep their memories alive. Something more relevant please.
Heavy: Oh, alright. Haribol everyone. Greetings. Now, if you want to waste your life by visiting a cinema to watch Chainsaw Massacre and Mission Impossible, your’re never going to think of death and gonorrhea are you…
Reformer: Why bring a STD into it?
Heavy: Well, I was inspired by your GONNA, with the wind of time.
Reformer: You see, your opening statement is not going to appeal very much, you know, to many people. You are assuming that everybody goes to movies, and perhaps engage in hanky panky, and want to go there to forget their troubles, right. Try rephrasing it with a more friendly opening. Why bring up the cinema anyway.
Heavy: Good day to the whole wide, wide slaughterhouse world of death, and Hare Krishna…
Reformer: It is true what you are saying, but try not to sound like a funeral assistant. Could you be a little more uplifting…?
Heavy: But Srila Prabhupada said that death is a 100% certainty.
Reformer: That may be so. But what if people are hearing you for the first time? You’ll make people think we’re a doomsday cult. They’ll be nervous. You can say the same thing after people have gained confidence in you.
Heavy: Hare Krishna dear citizens of this planet earth. I am most honoured to address you all, along with our fellow dung beetles, rats and sloths…
Reformer: Are you a Dr Doolittle or something?
Heavy: I’m trying to portray our respect for all living beings.
Reformer: Why the dung beatle?
Heavy: Well, I was trying to introduce a… you know, like the story of King Puranjana was an allegorical story, so I thought I’d indirectly refer to the people through those creatures.
Reformer: Can you explain?
Heavy: The dung beatle stands for people who are like hogs, you know… working very hard collecting all that dung and…
Reformer: You mean like a mudha.
Heavy: Mudha…? What’s that again, I’ve heard that word before…
Reformer: An Ass.
Heavy: Ah… the place where the dung comes out…
Reformer: No… Ass, donkey, mule
Heavy: Oh I see. I didn’t want to be very heavy by directly calling people hogs, dogs, camels and asses, so I chose this indirect way.
Reformer: And rats…?
Heavy: Oh that’s for proliferation. Illicit sex and too many unwanted children.
Reformer: And the sloth?
Heavy: Ah yes, sssslllloooowwww motion actions… laziness.
Reformer: Very interesting… but they are terrible examples, and that’s one lousy allegory.
Heavy: If I may say so, but your’re pretty heavy yourself.
Reformer: Alright, lets try again. Make people believe in you and trust you. Assure them with your words. Krishna consciousness is attractive, not a turn-off. You’re supposed to be a holy man… a man of peace, of wisdom, of high standards.
Heavy: My dear citizens of the world. Hare Krishna. On this momentous occasion I stand before you all. Here in this audience are many big, big leaders of big, big companies, earning big, big money to make big, big homes with big, big cars for big, big egos.
Reformer: Apart from the unnecessary repetition, why do you always have to drag your message down. With all those big, bigs you sound like a rap talker with no music. Why are you trying to get AT them? Why not talk WITH them? Share what you have to say.
Heavy: But I’m pointing out the nonsensical, exploitative and… the mudha facts.
Reformer: But your facts are sure to turn them away from you. Is this favourable or unfavourable? The art of negative preaching is to speak of the nonsense going on in the world but at the same time allow your audience to agree with the facts. Try again.
Heavy: Hare Krishna ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. I have a message of love, peace and harmony, and it comes from God almighty. I want to share something. I am just a bag of blood, dung, bones…
Reformer: May I ask you a question?
Heavy: I’ll try my best to answer – by guru’s blessings.
Reformer: Are you in a grumpy mood?
Heavy: Well, I’m lower than a mudha worm in the dung, but personally, I feel, sort of… ok.
Reformer: See, the way of preaching negatively is to do it positively. If your negative preaching turns people off, that is unfavourable. If your negative preaching becomes acceptable to people, then that is favourable. So try and preach favourably.
Heavy: Hare Krishna dear people of this planet. Boy, don’t I have some positive news for you all. You’ll gonna love this. By chanting Hare Krishna, you’ll be doing the most positive of all positive things that is favourable for your lives. I’m with you all, and you’ll with me. You are not your bodies. Together now everybody…
Reformer: Now your talking like a motivational cheer-leader to an audience that barely knows what you stand for. Where’s your introduction?
Heavy: Welcome, and Hare Krishna to all fellow citizens of the world. Did you know, ladies and gentlemen, that the average human body produces about two swimming pools full of saliva in a lifetime. Anybody for a saliva swim and…
Reformer: I think you need to mellow out a bit.
Moral of the conversation:
Just as Srila Rupa Goswami enjoined us to use sankalpa and vikalpa, or accepting things favourable or rejecting things unfavourable for Krishna consciousness, we have to know that whoever we speak to about Krishna, also has this ability to accept and reject. It would be a disservice to cause people to reject us on the basis of our superiority being detected, which is in opposition to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s way of giving respect to all.
This accepting and rejecting is divine in origin because Sri Aniruddha of Catur-vyuaha is the Lord of the mind. This survival instinct is also there in all active living creatures. Since humans have this dual ability, we cannot underestimate our fellow ‘fallen’ humans just because they seem to be in ‘Maya’ or are ‘foolish.’
If we remember our own times of foolish struggle in Maya before coming to Krishna consciousness, we’ll have more dignity and respect when preaching. Otherwise, we can ask, how does an ‘ex-fool’ preach to a ‘fool?’ Besides, we cannot imitate great souls in their ‘heaviness.’
The negatives of life and society have to be pointed out, but if we faithfully abide by Srila Rupa Goswami’s dual ability to ultimately do things favourably, then even negativity becomes positive, as in ‘negative-positivity.’
Ys Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS