Answer
The answer is that we must use discrimination and sensitivity. If we give someone a very heavy dose all at once, they may reject it because they are not ready to digest it. A person without sufficient faith may not be able to accept statements like, “This sound vibration is God Himself.” If they hear this prematurely, they may ridicule it and unknowingly commit offenses to the Holy Name.
That is why we should present the Holy Name according to a person’s level of receptivity. Some pious souls immediately accept and develop faith. That is why if you tell ten people to chant Hare Krishna, perhaps one or two will readily take to it, while others may not. We have to use intelligence and gradually introduce them to deeper truths.
We should not immediately tell everyone, “Nama is Krishna Himself.” If someone is not ready, they may dismiss it. Instead, begin at a level they can appreciate. For example, one can simply say: “Chanting Hare Krishna will bring auspiciousness and benefit to your life, materially and spiritually. Try it and see.”
When they experience some positive effect, their faith begins to awaken. Then gradually deeper philosophy can be introduced. If someone does not even understand basic spiritual concepts — what an avatar is, what the soul is, what the spiritual world is — then presenting advanced truths is like trying to teach essays to someone who has not yet learned the alphabet. First teach A, B, C; then words; then sentences.
A very important practical method is to begin with Prasadam distribution. This is extremely powerful. In fact, the early expansion of the Krishna consciousness movement often began not with philosophy or even chanting, but with prasadam. People received sanctified food first, and purification gradually followed.
Prasadam requires no prior faith. If it is delicious, people happily accept it. If you hand someone japa beads and say, “Please chant every day,” they may politely say thank you and never chant. But if you lovingly offer prasadam, they receive it gladly.
And when they accept prasadam, their devotional life has already begun, because prasadam is Krishna’s mercy. Just as the Holy Name is Krishna, prasadam is also Krishna’s mercy in tangible form.
For those practicing Krishna consciousness while living outside a temple setting, one of the most practical and powerful services is prasadam distribution. Cook at home, offer the preparations to Krishna, and share them with others. Invite people for satsang and prasadam. Many may not initially come for philosophy, but they will come for lovingly offered prasadam — and through that, their hearts gradually open to the Holy Name.
