[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on July 8th, 1997, in Holland, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 21]
Srila Gurudeva: Without form, there is nothing — only zero. Zero is also a shape. If the atma and Krsna have no form, then how is He in our hearts? But that form is transcendental. By these earthly eyes, we cannot see Him. In the Vedas there is so much pramana, evidence, proof for this. From the Vedas we can prove that Krsna, Rama, and Visnu are Himself God, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna is svayam brahma. It has been written in Vedas,
syamac chabalam prapadye
sabalac chayamam prapadye
-Chandogya Upanisad 8.13.1
[By rendering seva to Syama, one attains His transcendental abode, which is full of spiritual bliss and astonishing, variegated lilas; and within that cit-jagat, one attains the eternal shelter of Syama.]
Syama, who is Syama? Vasudevo arcayat. Who is Vasudeva? In Gokula, where there are cows, this Syama is grazing cows here and there. The cows have such big big horns. This has been written everywhere— in so many Upanisads and Vedas. So, there are lakhs and lakhs of examples of this. We should know all these truths. If you don’t know all these things, then how can you preach? If anyone questions anything, then you will be defeated. There should be some strength by sravana, kirtana, smarana, and by the practice of bhakti-yoga. Also by knowing some sastra pramana, Veda, and Upanisads, we can answer all their questions. Then if we say anything, they will not be able to answer. We should be a preacher like this, like Svamiji. How was he a good preacher? Anyone coming to him with any kind of argument was defeated. He was so strong in all these things. Then you can preach. But if you have no realization of chanting and remembering or bhakti-yoga, no realization of bhakti. If you don’t know anything; if you are not reading, then how can you preach?
Otherwise, if you don’t know anything, if you are only an expert at making money and cheating others— it will not do. From the very beginning, we are being experts at making money and cheating others. Telling so many lies and taking some money. We will do this plan, that plan, that plan and cheat others. This preaching will not be permanent. It will not be. In a moment, as it is coming, it will go also. Ramanuja, Madhva, Visnusvami, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa-Sanatana and all our acaryas have preached like this; permanent preaching. If the world will be going here and there, their true preaching will be forever. It may be covered for some days, but again it will come. So we should try to realize all these things. Preaching is not so easy. To take the hearts of all is not as easy as we think. So, we should try to know all these things and then preach. Make your life successful and then do welfare for others. First, you should practice and then realize something. Then become a guru and preach.