namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

Foreword by HH Jayapataka Maharaja

It is exciting and enlivening for me to know that Her Grace Prema Padmini Devi Dasi has written a book entitled Free to Preach. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instructed every human to glorify Lord Krishna; I keenly desire that this instruction be fulfilled. There are so many men and women in the grihastha asrama, as students or living at home, who can perform significant preaching to further Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan movement, but many of these devotees have not yet fulfilled their potential. It’s a tremendous revolution in Krishna consciousness when devotees are so inspired to feel “free to preach”—besides carrying out their household chores and other occupational duties; it can help to quickly change the world we live in.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement spread so quickly because it was a combined effort of various sections of society. Everyone should exercise the freedom to preach!

Srila Prabhupada writes in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, 9.34:

"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu indicates that the distribution of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra should be performed by combined forces. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He laments, “How can I act alone? How can I alone pick the fruit and distribute it all over the world?” This indicates that all classes of devotees should combine to distribute the Hare Krishna maha-mantra without consideration of the time, place or situation."

Free to Preach shows that grihasthas are also free to become dynamic instruments in the hands of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila, 3.203, Srila Prabhupada describes how an ideal grihastha fulfills his responsibility to preach by following in the footsteps of Advaita Acarya:

Advaita Acarya set an ideal example for all householder devotees . . . in His execution of a daily festival at His home. If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya . . . and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasadam and talking about Krishna . . . and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Krishna consciousness movement. Thus they will daily perform sankirtana-yajna.

Free to Preach demonstrates that housewives and other women are free to become empowered preachers on behalf of Lord Caitanya. This is very inspiring, as at least fifty percent of the planet’s population are women. Often the women’s preaching potential is significantly underutilized. The real way for women to become liberated is to serve the liberated souls by assisting them to liberate the conditioned souls from material bondage. Women can reach audiences that are unapproachable for men. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura stated that women could preach in the Nama-hatta and it’s endearing to see that Free to Preach shows how this is possible and what challenges one may face in achieving this priceless goal. We hope that this book will inspire many devotees to become active in the field of congregational preaching and to share in the nectar of Krishna consciousness.

If all can lend their mite to fulfil Lord Caitanya’s desires, the world will rapidly change and countless souls will get His causeless mercy. That everyone has the potential to become a preacher is such a dynamic idea that it defies my ability to glorify it enough. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura stated, prana ache yara sei hetu pracara, “Whoever has spiritual life and enthusiasm preaches.” How actively devotees preach the message of Lord Caitanya constitutes the practical index of their enthusiasm and life. May Free to Preach serve as an inspiration and practical guide for existing and potential preachers everywhere.

Your's in service,