I speak too strongly in public. People don't like it. I burn people out. Or so I'm told. Some devotees tell me I should tone down and speak in such a way that everyone always feels satisfied.
I disagree. I've been disagreeing on this point with devotees for years, and will probably continue disagreeing up to my last breath. ''Pig-headed arrogance!'' Maybe. However, as my critics advocate being milder with others, I request them to be mild with me also. Kindly consider that my vitriolic words may not be wholly actuated by ad hominem nastiness, but that my motive may be as stated -- to satisfy Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada said that preaching means fighting.
Preaching is always difficult. That I am repeatedly saying. You cannot take preaching as very easy-going. Preaching must be a fight. Do you mean to say fighting is easy? Fighting is not easy. Whenever there is a fight, there is danger, there is responsibility. What is preaching? Because people are ignorant, we have to enlighten them. That is preaching. 731212mw.la
Our fighting is against atheism. They say, There is no God. God is dead. I am God. You are God. We are fighting against these principles. So our fighting is very strong. Don't think that we are sitting idly. I have come here to fight with these atheists. We go everywhere. We are fighting with atheists all over the world.
You cannot expect a favorable situation. And still you have to preach. That is preaching. They will speak like madmen, so many things. They are mad, after all. nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti. They have no sense. All materialistic persons are madmen. Still, by the order of superior, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we have to do this preaching work. Actually, the American boys are fighting against so many unfavorable situations. They are sometimes beaten in the airport, do you know that? Still they are preaching. That is preaching.
- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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