View source for Our principle is not to proselytize from Christian to Hindu or Muhammadan to Hindu. We are teaching simply how to revive his own constitutional position to become servant of Krsna, how to love God. That is Krsna consciousness movement

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[[Category:Our Principles (Disciples of SP)|2]]
[[Category:Is Not|2]]
[[Category:Proselytizing|2]]
[[Category:Christianity|2]]
[[Category:Hindu|2]]
[[Category:Muslim|2]]
[[Category:I (Prabhupada)|2]]
[[Category:My Teachings (Prabhupada)|2]]
[[Category:Our Teaching (Disciples of SP)|2]]
[[Category:Simply|2]]
[[Category:How To|2]]
[[Category:Revive|2]]
[[Category:Own Position|2]]
[[Category:Constitutional Position|2]]
[[Category:Becoming the Servant of Krsna|2]]
[[Category:How to Love God|2]]
[[Category:How to Love Krsna|2]]
[[Category:This is Krsna Consciousness Movement|2]]
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB799MontrealJuly41968_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="802" link="Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 4, 1968" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 4, 1968">
<div class="heading">Our process, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is not for proselytizing, that "You are Christian. You become Hindu," or "You are Hindu. You become Christian," or "You are Muhammadan. You..." No. We don't recommend in that way. You remain in your religious faith, but we simply request you that you develop your love of God.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 4, 1968|Lecture on SB 7.9.9 -- Montreal, July 4, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">However you may be great in material science, knowledge, opulence, economic development, or everything, but if you want to see God, then you have to accept this process, bhakti. In the Bhagavad-gītā also the same thing affirmed. Not only in the Bhagavad-gītā—in all Vedic scriptures the same thing is affirmed. Simply if you want to see God, if you want to make your relationship with God, then it is bhakti. And our process, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is not for proselytizing, that "You are Christian. You become Hindu," or "You are Hindu. You become Christian," or "You are Muhammadan. You..." No. We don't recommend in that way. You remain in your religious faith, but we simply request you that you develop your love of God. That's all. We want to test your religion capacity—how much you have developed your love of God. That's all. We do not want to see how, what kind of rituals and performances you are doing. Phalena paricīyate. We want to see the result, how much you have tried or how much you have developed your love of Godhead. That's all. That is the Bhāgavata recommendation. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje: ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.6|SB 1.2.6]]) "That is the first-class type of religious principles by which one can develop his dormant love of God." That's all. If you are not developing your love of Godhead, simply following the rituals, the Bhāgavata says, śrama eva hi kevalam: ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.8|SB 1.2.8]]) simply laboring, simply wasting your valuable time. That's all.</p>
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<div id="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Lectures" text="Nectar of Devotion Lectures"><h3>Nectar of Devotion Lectures</h3>
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<div id="TheNectarofDevotionVrndavanaOctober271972_0" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" book="Lec" index="20" link="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972" link_text="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972">
<div class="heading">Our principle is not to proselytize from Christian to Hindu or Muhammadan to Hindu. We are teaching simply how to revive his own constitutional position to become servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972|The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Just like sun. Sun is creation of God. Sun is visible everywhere. Not that something American sun and something Indian sun. No. The sun is the same. Similarly, cātur-varṇyaṁ, the four principles of division, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, and śūdra, they are everywhere. It is not the monopoly of India.</p>
<p>Anywhere there are intelligent class of men, God conscious men, they are called brāhmaṇas. Anywhere who are prepared for the right cause, administrator, kṣatriyas. Anywhere who are interested in business, trade, agriculture, they are called vaiśyas. And anywhere who are simply satisfied by serving others, he's called śūdra. So our principle is not to proselytize from Christian to Hindu or Muhammadan to Hindu. We are teaching simply how to revive his own constitutional position to become servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So it is applicable anywhere and everywhere. It is not that it is monopoly of India or for the Hindus. No. And actually it is being accepted, practically. In all countries. Even from all religious sect. In our Society there are boys and girls, they are coming from Christian group, Jews group, Muhammadan group, but when they come here, all of them become the servant of Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.</p>
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<div id="TheNectarofDevotionVrndavanaOctober271972_1" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" book="Lec" index="20" link="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972" link_text="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972">
<div class="heading">People may not misunderstand our propagation that we are proselytizing some persons to Hinduism. Our propaganda is not to proselytize people from Christian to Hinduism. Our propaganda is to make everyone know this fact, that everyone is eternally servant of Kṛṣṇa.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972|The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 27, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">People may not misunderstand our propagation that we are proselytizing some persons to Hinduism. Yesterday one so-called jñānī came to me, and he challenged me that "Swamijī, formerly the Christians used to convert the Hindus and the Muhammadans used to convert the Hindus into Muhammadanism or Christianism. Now you are converting the Christians into Hinduism. Then where is the difference between their activities and your activities?" So this fool does not know this is not making a person from Christian to Hindu. This is not the process. We are not interested. I never said in any meeting in the Western countries that "Hindu religion is better than your Christian religion. You give up your Christian religion and come to Hindu religion." No, that was not my propaganda. There are many old students here present. They may remember. I never made propaganda. Rather when they inquired one can attain perfection by following Christian principles, I said yes. So our propaganda is not to proselytize people from Christian to Hinduism. Our propaganda is to make everyone know this fact, that everyone is eternally servant of Kṛṣṇa. That is our propaganda. Jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa (Cc. Madhya 20.108-109). That is our propaganda. We are trying to convince people that "Your original position is servant of Kṛṣṇa. You have now forgotten that. You revive your Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and you'll become happy." That is our propaganda.</p>
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<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
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<div id="NortheasternUniversityLectureBostonApril301969_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="51" link="Northeastern University Lecture -- Boston, April 30, 1969" link_text="Northeastern University Lecture -- Boston, April 30, 1969">
<div class="heading">Do not think that this movement is a proselytizing movement from Christian to Hindu, or Hindu to... No. You remain Christian, Hindu, Jew, or Muhammadan. It doesn't matter. Our process if that if you are really to perfect your human form of life, then try to learn, develop your dormant love of Godhead.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Northeastern University Lecture -- Boston, April 30, 1969|Northeastern University Lecture -- Boston, April 30, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">We are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. So if you think, "Oh, this is Indian name. This is Hindu name. Why shall we chant? Why shall I chant the Hindu name...?" There are some sectarian people, they may think like that. But Lord Caitanya says, "It doesn't matter. If you have got any bona fide name of God, you chant that. But you chant God's name." That is the prescription of this movement. And do not think that this movement is a proselytizing movement from Christian to Hindu, or Hindu to... No. You remain Christian, Hindu, Jew, or Muhammadan. It doesn't matter. Our process if that if you are really to perfect your human form of life, then try to learn, develop your dormant love of Godhead. That is perfection of life. That is perfection of life. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.6|SB 1.2.6]]). You profess any type of religion—then just test whether your religion is perfect or you are perfect, whether you have developed your love for God than any other love. We have distributed our love in so many things. When all those love will be concentrated simply on God, that is perfection of life.</p>
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithSanskritProfessorAugust131973Paris_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="64" link="Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris" link_text="Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris">
<div class="heading">Actually we have no program of proselytizing or making Hindu from Christian, Christian... We have no such program. We simply want to see that everyone is God conscious. Never mind through which venue, he becomes a God conscious.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris|Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Here is the gigantic ratha behind the crowd. The police cooperate.</p>
<p>Professor: Oh, yes?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Everyone likes. Yes. Even Christian priests they also like. No, any sane man will like because... Somebody sends me money: "Sir, you are doing so nice work, spreading God consciousness. Here is my little contribution."</p>
<p>Professor: I see.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. From your, these Western countries. Just week before, I got hundred dollars from one gentleman. Simply appreciated that I am spreading God consciousness. So actually we have no program of proselytizing or making Hindu from Christian, Christian... We have no such program. We simply want to see that everyone is God conscious. Never mind through which venue, he becomes a God conscious. It doesn't matter.</p>
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<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="MorningWalkFebruary171974Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Morning Walk -- February 17, 1974, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- February 17, 1974, Bombay">
<div class="heading">I asked them, "Just become lover of God. That's all. If you can love God through your religion, that's all right. You do that." I said that. I never said that "You become Hindu."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- February 17, 1974, Bombay|Morning Walk -- February 17, 1974, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Guest (1): Some of those childrens are Christians.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Never mind Christian, Hindu, Muslim. A Christian or a..., if we offer them nice food and nice dress, nobody will deny.</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: But these Hindus became Christians because they were offered nice food and dress by Christian missionaries.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, our point is not that, just to bring them and proselytize them to Hinduism. No. Take prasādam, take dress, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance. That's all. I never said to all these European and American disciples that "You become a Hindu." I never said. Ask them. I never said.</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Neither we would have agreed.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Why shall I ask them to be? I asked them, "Just become lover of God. That's all. If you can love God through your religion, that's all right. You do that." I said that. I never said that "You become Hindu." Then I would not have been able to...</p>
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<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="AnswerstoaQuestionnairefromBhavansJournalJune281976Vrndavana_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="169" link="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana" link_text="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana">
<div class="heading">It not the process of proselytizing to convince the idea. It is actually bringing them to their real position, that they're all part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. It is not artificial proselytization that "You are Christian, now you are Hindu." Or "You are Hindu, now you are Christian." "You are a sweeper, now you are harijana." It is not like that. It is actually bringing him to his own position, part and parcel of God.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana|Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: This next question is very closely related to the last question. Question twenty. "What is your view regarding proselytization or preaching? If you are..."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: It is not proselytization. Proselytization has no meaning. To bring one to the real understanding. Kṛṣṇa says that mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ ([[Vanisource:BG 15.7 (1972)|BG 15.7]]). All living entities are His part and parcel. He claims, sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya ([[Vanisource:BG 14.4 (1972)|BG 14.4]]). In all forms of life, as many living entities are there, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ, I am the seed-giving father. So the natural position is that every living entity, not only human being, but also animals, plants, everyone... So why not Indian, American, or Czechoslavakian, everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa? So it not the process of proselytizing to convince the idea. It is actually bringing them to their real position, that they're all part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. It is not artificial proselytization that "You are Christian, now you are Hindu." Or "You are Hindu, now you are Christian." "You are a sweeper, now you are harijana." It is not like that. It is actually bringing him to his own position, part and parcel of God. It is not... Proselytization will not stand. When one comes to the real understanding of his position, then that will continue. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is that. Bringing one to the original position. He's in diseased condition, he's thinking otherwise than servant of Kṛṣṇa. Now this movement is trying to bring everyone to the position that he is eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. It is not a rubberstamp proselytization that "You are Hindu, now you are Christian." Or "You are Christian, now are Hindu." So if he does not know what is his position by simply stamping that he is Hindu or Muslim or Christian, what benefit he will derive?</p>
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<div id="AnswerstoaQuestionnairefromBhavansJournalJune281976Vrndavana_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="169" link="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana" link_text="Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana">
<div class="heading">The exchange between God and the living entity is called sanātana-dharma or Vaiṣṇavism. So we are teaching that. We are not teaching Hinduism, Muslimism, Christianism. We are teaching how to love God. That's all. There is no question of proselytization. It is the natural.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana|Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: The worship of Viṣṇu is the supreme worship. So actually everyone should be worshiper of Viṣṇu. And that is Vaiṣṇavism. So Vaiṣṇavism means for everyone or sanātana dharma. That I have already explained. The human.... The living entity is sanātana. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ jīva-loke sanātana ([[Vanisource:BG 15.7 (1972)|BG 15.7]]). He is sanātana. God is sanātana. The exchange between God and the living entity is called sanātana-dharma or Vaiṣṇavism. So we are teaching that. We are not teaching Hinduism, Muslimism, Christianism. We are teaching how to love God. That's all. There is no question of proselytization. It is the natural. We are, by nature we are lover of God. Just like father and son. The love is already there. It cannot be extinguished. The father and son may be separated for many, many years, but when they come together the affection immediately revives. So we are teaching that, that we have got eternal relationship with God and revive it. We are embarassed by establishing artificial relationship with my family, country, and society, and so-called religions. These are all artificial. Real relationship, that "God is great and I am His servant," that is real religion. So we are teaching that thing.</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So the teaching is the same in India as it is in the Western countries.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That is being proved. Otherwise how they are worshiping Kṛṣṇa all over the world?</p>
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