There are many reasons why it is very important to spread the teachings of the Vedic scriptures around the world to everyone. This is called preaching. The purpose is simply to elevate the consciousness of everyone by correcting them so they become eligible to go back to the spiritual manifestation and live eternally in the same spiritual body in complete bliss.
“In this material world there are different types of achievement, but of all of them the achievement of knowledge is considered to be the highest because one can cross the ocean of nescience only on the boat of knowledge. Otherwise the ocean is impassable.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.75)
Why Vedic Knowledge?
- Most people are heavily covered in gross ignorance and to help them come out of ignorance, they need the knowledge from the Vedic scriptures.
- It is Vedic knowledge that can help people to slowly elevate their consciousness to a higher level. For example, to think of the well-being of all living beings is higher consciousness, and to be self-centered is low consciousness.
- The Vedic scriptures are vast with millions of verses and cover knowledge in all subject matters.
- The Vedic knowledge is existing eternally and not recently fashioned. It is re-established many times. For example, the Bhagavad-Gita is spoken by Lord Krishna whenever He appears in His original form. He appears once every 8.64 billion years in His original form and so far in the current cycle, He was spoken the Bhagavad-Gita more than 18,000 in this universe. He last spoke it 5,000 years ago.
- The Vedic scriptures were compiled into written format by God Himself and not any man.
- The Vedic knowledge like the Bhagavad-Gita was delivered directly by God Himself (Lord Krishna) and not via any agents.
“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.2)
“Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 4.36)
The Result of Not Preaching
If the Vedic knowledge is not spread, the non-Vedic knowledge will be spread and the whole world will become irreligious. There are also some Vedic followers who spread false Vedic teachings. Due to lack of proper understanding or lack of knowledge (ignorance) their knowledge is false but still they spread false knowledge to others due to their ego and arrogance. Only spread any knowledge to others if you can support it based on the Vedic scriptures, otherwise it is best to not to spread it. Spreading false knowledge is spreading irreligion.
Non-Vedic religiosity knowledge is basically knowledge that is recently fashioned by man and not eternal. The non-Vedic religiosity knowledge is based on the hopes and wishes of some people and in general it is simply the opposite of the Vedic teaching.
| Vedic Religiosity Knowledge | Non-Vedic Religiosity Knowledge
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| 1 | God is a person with a form. | God has no form. |
| 2 | God appears many times. | God appears only once. |
| 3 | God is described. | God is not described. |
| 4 | God has a spiritual body that never decays (No aging – no wrinkles, no white hair, no beard, no old looks etc..) | God has a material body (signs of aging). |
| 5 | We are the doer. God simply gives judgement based on our actions. | God is the doer of everything. |
| 6 | We suffer or enjoy due to our own actions (Karma). | God makes us suffer or enjoy (No Karma). |
| 7 | It is our choice whether we to go left or right. | God makes us go left or right. |
| 8 | It is our choice if we go to Temple or to casino. | God makes some go to Temple and some to casino. |
| 9 | It is up to us whether we spread our culture and religion or not. | Sit back and relax, God will spread whatever he wants. |
| 10 | People commit murders and rape. | God commits murders and rape. |
| 11 | God treats everyone equally. | God is partial to some. |
| 12 | If something good or bad happens to us, it is because of our Karma, we are facing the reactions to the actions we took in our past. God does not interfere. | If something good happens, it is God who is doing it because he is pleased with you. If something bad happens, it is your Karma. |
| 13 | I will work for the benefit of all living beings. | I will only work for my own benefit. |
| 14 | The boat is sinking. I will first save others and then myself. | The boat is sinking. I will save myself. |
| 15 | We should not hype up ourselves and others with false hopes based on our wishes. | Be positive, you will get to see God in one day if you do this. |
| 16 | The living entity is the eternal soul and not the temporary body. | The living entity is the body. |
| 17 | This is not the first life. | This is the first life. |
| 18 | This is the not the first creation of the universe. | This is the first creation. |
| 19 | Man can never be enslaved. | Man can be enslaved. |
| 20 | Females can never be taken captive. | Females can be taken captive. |
| 21 | No looting. | Looting is ok. |
| 22 | No stoning of people to death. | Stoning people to death is ok. |
| 23 | No eternal punishment for any soul. | Eternal punishment (People are put into a fire and kept alive to suffer eternally). |
| 24 | Love everyone. | Love only those who follow my path. |
| 25 | Everyone is my brother or sister. | Only those who follow my path are my brothers and sisters. |
| 26 | God loves all living beings. | God only loves those who follow my ways. |
| 27 | Animals are not food for humans. | Animals are food for humans. |
From the above differences, one will realize that Vedic knowledge is Divine and beneficial to all living beings.
“Prahlāda Mahārāja, a pure Vaiṣṇava, prays to the Lord not only for himself but for all other suffering living entities. There are two classes of Vaiṣṇavas — the bhajanānandīs and goṣṭhy-ānandīs. The bhajanānandīs worship the Lord only for their own personal benefit, but the goṣṭhy-ānandīs try to elevate all others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that they may be saved.” (Purport by Swami Srila Prabhupada, Shrimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.41)
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 4.7)
The Result of Preaching for the Preachers
We should never preach with only the intention of getting the results. But we should know that Lord Krishna will be most pleased with our efforts.
“Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.” (CC Madhya 7.128)
“For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 18.68-69)
“One who liberally disseminates this knowledge among My devotees is the bestower of the Absolute Truth, and to him I give My very own self.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad-Bhagavatam 11.29.26)