How can I simply explain the Mahanta to my non-ECKist peers?

First, try to determine the level or awareness of the listeners. Do they have a most general, offhand sort of curiosity? Then say the Mahanta’s like a teacher or a coach. He tries to show how to live a better life—even as a pastor, priest, or rabbi would.

Such an answer often satisfies a general curiosity.

If a questioner persists, throw questions back at him on this order: “What religion do you follow?” “How does your pastor (priest or rabbi) try to uplift his church members?”

Listen carefully to the answer. In most cases, you can say, “My spiritual guide does that too.”

(from Youth Ask a Modern Prophet about Life, Love, and God, pp. 261–62)