Scathing words are meant to give people a jolt. That jolt is meant to startle them out of their complacency and bring them to understand their precarious position. A few biting remarks are often more effective than litanies of no-treading-on-toes politeness.
Those who are honest will appreciate such straightforwardness in a preacher. Those who become upset at his unequivocal words simply expose themselves as rascals. Even if at first people are turned off, if they have any sincerity they will think about it and come to appreciate it. Then they will be grateful that we took the trouble to attack their illusion.
Indeed, unless we preach vigorously, we will not be able to convince others. Many people who became devotees would not have done so had they not been strongly preached to.
At the Kumbha-mela in 1977, a young Mayavadi sannyasi confronted Srila Prabhupada. When Srila Prabhupada responded heavily, Bhakti Caru Maharaja, who was present, thought, "Why is Srila Prabhupada being so hard on him? Maybe if he dealt with him softly, he could become a devotee." But actually that man did become a devotee, joining ISKCON a few months later.
It may be said, "But that was Srila Prabhupada speaking. And Srila Prabhupada is especially empowered." But by Krsna's grace upon the devotee who is determined to preach His message, those who preach forcefully on Srila Prabhupada's order imbibe his mood of benefitting others and become enabled to do so.
- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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