Hare Krishna -
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Krishna and to all of his pure devotees and aspiring devotees.
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Nityänanda däsa: How should a Vaisnava behave towards the followers of other religions?
Bäbäji: The instruction of Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.26) is:
näräyana-kaläh säntäh bhajanti hy anasüyavah
"Those who are free from the propensity to slander others and who are fully peaceful worship Sri Näräyana and His plenary portions."
There is no dharma other than vaisnava-dharma. All other dharmas that are or ever will be propagated in the world are either steps on the staircase of vaisnava-dharma, or else distortions of it. Those dharmas that are steps leading to bhakti should be respected in proportion to their degree of purity. One should not bear any malice towards dharmas that are distortions of bhakti, but one should focus exclusively on the cultivation of one’s own devotional truths. One should not maintain any animosity towards the followers of other religions. When the time is ripe, the followers of various other dharmas will become Vaiñëavas easily. Of this there is no doubt.
Nityänanda däsa: Is it our duty to preach Vaisnava dharma or not?
Bäbäji: Certainly it is. Our Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu has given everyone the responsibility of spreading this dharma:
näco, gäo, bhakta-saìge kara sankirtana
krsna-näma upadesi’ tära’ sarva-jana
Sri Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lilä (7.92)
Dance, sing, and perform sankirtana in the association of bhaktas. You should deliver everyone by instructing them to chant Sri-krsna-näma.
ataeva ämi äjna dilun sabäkäre
jähän tähän prema-phala deha’ yäre täre
Sri Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lilä (9.36)
Therefore, I am ordering everyone to distribute the fruits of prema wherever they go and to whomever they meet.
However, one must remember not to give Sri-krsna-näma to unqualified people. Such people should first be given the necessary qualification; only then can they be given hari-näma. Furthermore, these statements of Sriman Mahäprabhu do not apply when neglect (upeksä) is appropriate, for instance, when dealing with inimical people. Trying to enlighten such people only presents obstacles to one’s preaching.
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Please forgive me for any offence or inconvenience.
Jai Sri Radha Madhav Ki Jai!!
Source: Jaiva Dharma (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura)
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