India's Mission - Making Own Life Perfect and Distributing Knowledge
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the nation of India has a unique and solemn responsibility to the rest of the world. Citing the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he explains that anyone born in the land of Bhārata-varṣa (India) has the special duty to first perfect their own life by understanding the Vedic scriptures and then to distribute that knowledge for the benefit of all humanity. This distribution of knowledge is identified as India's true mission and the highest form of welfare work (para-upakāra).
Order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
The foundation of this mission is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya: janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra. Śrīla Prabhupāda interprets this to mean that Indians, having access to the "treasure house" of Vedic wisdom, must not waste their lives imitating Western materialism. Instead, they must realize their spiritual identity and then travel globally to share this wisdom.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "Anyone who has taken birth in Bharata-varsa, India, as human being, not cats and dogs," janma sarthaka kari, "first of all make your life successful," then paropakara, "then distribute the knowledge."
- Anyone who has taken birth in India as a human being will kindly make his life successful. And after making his life successful he should distribute this knowledge throughout the whole world for the welfare of the human society. This was Caitanya's order.
- India's mission is how to revive Krsna consciousness throughout the whole world. That is India's mission. Revive your Krsna consciousness, be fixed up in Krsna, and then distribute this knowledge. This is Indian mission.
Highest Welfare Activity
Śrīla Prabhupāda contrasts the distribution of spiritual knowledge with ordinary philanthropic activities, such as daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā (service to the poor). While feeding a starving man is good, it is a temporary solution. Distributing the knowledge of self-realization brings the conditioned soul back to their original consciousness, which is the only permanent solution to suffering. This is defined as real para-upakāra.
- To distribute knowledge is the best welfare activities, not this material so-called happiness, daridra-narayana-seva and this seva, that seva. That will not make them happy. If you give them knowledge, then they will be really benefited.
- To bring him (a starving man) to the knowledge of self-realization, that is good. If you can distribute knowledge to bring him back to his consciousness, original consciousness, that is real welfare activity.
Avoiding the Mentality of a Miser (Jñāna-khala)
Possessing knowledge brings the obligation to share it. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the term jñāna-khala to describe a person who is envious or miserly with their knowledge. Just as a scientist distributes a discovery or a lawyer trains assistants, a spiritualist must distribute what they have learned. To hoard spiritual knowledge without distributing it is a sign of envy.
- Jnana-khala means envious. You have got some knowledge, but you are envious. You don't want to distribute to anyone. Monopoly. But real jnani means if you have got some knowledge, you should daily distribute it.
- In this verse (of SB 10.2.19) the word jnana-khala is most significant. Knowledge is meant for distribution.
- Because she (Devaki) was under arrest in the house of Kamsa, she was like the flames of a fire covered by the walls of a pot, or like a person who has knowledge but cannot distribute it to the world for the benefit of human society (SB 10.2.19.
Conclusion
The world is in a state of darkness, described by Śrīla Prabhupāda as a "demonic civilization." India possesses the remedy in the form of the Bhagavad-gītā and Vedic culture. Therefore, the glorious mission of India is not to remain passive but to actively distribute this immortal knowledge. By doing so, India fulfills its destiny and performs the greatest service to the human race.
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 Distribution of Knowledge. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.