A Dead Man Cannot Preach – The Necessity of Becoming Enthusiastic
Spiritual life is not for the lazy or the lethargic. It is a field of activity that demands the highest level of dynamism. Śrīla Prabhupāda bluntly states, "A dead man cannot become a preacher." To spread the message of Godhead and to make personal advancement, one must be alive with purpose. This quality of becoming enthusiastic is known in Sanskrit as utsāha, and it is the very first principle of success listed in the Nectar of Instruction. Without this vital force, the practice of yoga becomes stagnant and mechanical.
Pulse of Devotion
In the material world, enthusiasm is considered necessary for success in business or education. In spiritual life, it is even more critical. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one must be very enthusiastic to execute the regulative principles and serve the Lord. This enthusiasm is not a temporary emotional high; it is a steady determination that says, "I must surrender to Kṛṣṇa in this life." Just as a student works hard to pass an exam, a devotee must be enthusiastic to achieve the perfectional stage of life, refusing to be discouraged by setbacks.
- A dead man cannot become a preacher. So you must be very enthusiastic that, "I shall preach the glories of the Lord to my best capacity." It is not that one has to become very learned scholar to become a preacher.
- There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles (such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam (SB 7.5.23) — hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa), (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas.
- Utsahat means you must be very much enthusiastic that "In this life, in this human form of life, I must complete my spiritual consciousness, or God consciousness, so that in the next life I may not have this material body."
Unlimited Fuel
There is a fundamental difference between material and spiritual enthusiasm. Material enthusiasm is limited; it is fueled by the prospect of reward (money or sense gratification). As soon as the payment stops or the body gets tired, the enthusiasm vanishes. Spiritual enthusiasm, however, is paradoxical: the more you work, the more energized you become. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites his own example—at the age of seventy-six, working without pay, he remained enthusiastic because the service of the Lord is intrinsically refreshing.
- In the material world, as soon as you stop payment there is no service. Why? Because they, by serving Krsna, they get transcendental pleasure. So the more you engage yourself in the service of the Lord, the more you become enthusiastic.
- In the material world, if you give service you become tired. But transcendental world, if you give service, you more become enthusiastic. Yes, more service. That is happening. I do not pay these boys. Rather, they pay me, and they engage the service
Shooting the Rhinoceros
How ambitious should a devotee be? Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages his disciples to be "enthusiastic to shoot the rhinoceros." This implies attempting the impossible for Kṛṣṇa. Even if one fails, the glory of the attempt remains. This spirit drives the preaching mission. A devotee thinks, "My scope is unlimited, my resources are unlimited (because Kṛṣṇa is unlimited), so I must work with unlimited enthusiasm."
- We should always be enthusiastic to try for shooting the rhinoceros. That way, if we fail, everybody will say Never mind, nobody can shoot a rhinoceros anyway, and if we succeed, then everyone will say, Just see, what a wonderful thing they have done.
- I (Prabhupada) have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit.
Misplaced Enthusiasm
While enthusiasm is essential, it must be directed properly. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against being enthusiastic for material achievements or accumulating knowledge simply for the sake of scholarship. Even within the institution, he cautions sannyāsīs against becoming overly enthusiastic about constructing bricks-and-mortar temples if it distracts from the primary duty of preaching. The building is meant for preaching; if the preaching stops, the building is useless.
- A devotee should not be very enthusiastic about attaining any material goal. He should not be like persons who engage in fruitive activities, who work very hard day and night to attain material rewards.
- A sannyasi should not be enthusiastic about constructing temples. We can see in the lives of various acaryas in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that they are not very enthusiastic about constructing temples.
Conclusion
Enthusiasm is the symptom of life, and in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it is the symptom of love. The devotee who serves with zeal attracts the attention of the Lord, who is pleased to see such eagerness. As the scriptures confirm, by maintaining this fire of utsāha in combination with patience and confidence, the path back to Godhead becomes clear and the journey a source of ever-increasing joy.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Enthusiastic. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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