IN PRAISE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA – ESSAY 5: MARCH 1, 2025
- Bh. Iryna
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, at the age of sixty nine, when most people are looking for peace and comfort, left everything He had and took the risk of going to America to preach Krishna consciousness. He had nothing with Him: no money, no connections, no certainty as to whether people in America ate anything other than meat. But He had firm faith in Guru and Krishna, and because of this He was able to endure all the trials sent by fate: “O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like! (Markine Bhagavata Dharma, a prayer written by Srila Prabhupada on board the cargo ship Jaladutta upon arrival in Boston).”
Many preachers of Krishna consciousness came to the West before Srila Prabhupada, but none of them could achieve the success that came to Him and destribute message of love and freedom so wide. Why? What was the secret of Srila Prabhupada and what allowed Him to open doors that were previously closed; unlock hearts and completely conquer them? To launch from scratch this huge business that is growing and developing all over the world to this day? To turn the lives of thousands of people upside down?
Each of us wants to be successful and the stories of great people inspire us to follow their example.
First of all, Srila Prabhupada Himself followed what He taught. He came to inspire, to give hope, to tell about pure love and eternal happiness; He has no selfish motives in relationships with people; the only thing He want is to give every living being the most valuable thing He has - the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna. Secondly, He does not pay attention to the external characteristics of a person: whether he/she was poor or rich, stupid or smart, neat or smelly, white or black, thin or fat, of high social status or low, etc. He sees in everyone a soul suffering in separation from God, for which He came. Everyone is important to Him and He never forgets anyone.
One of Srila Prabhupada’s names is patita-pavana, which means savior of the fallen in Sanskrit. Taking shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada relieves fear and grief, eliminates anxiety and gives a feeling of happiness and protection.
In the Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, He writes: “The doors of the spiritual knowledge are open for everyone. No one is barred out. All classes of men can approach Lord Kṛṣṇa by thinking of Him, for hearing and thinking of Him are possible for everyone.“ The best way to remember Krishna is to always chant His Holy Name, which is non-different from Him: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and also to read the transcendental literatures compiled by Srila Vyasadeva (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Isopanisad, etc.), which “transfer our thoughts from the material energy to the spiritual energy and enable us to remember the Supreme Lord at the time of death.“
By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the entire world received a matchless Gift in the form of the opportunity to get rid of the sufferings of birth, disease, old age, and death. He hospitably invites everyone to His home, ISKCON, where He lives forever and personally takes care of every member of the Movement from life to life. He has opened the door to the spiritual world for everyone in the sound of Hari-kirtana, recorded in His books, lectures and bhajans. My dear mind, please, may this melodious voice of Srila Prabhupada always resound in my heart; let my body, mind and speech bow before Him life after life; and may I always have the opportunity to help Him through His devotees in Lord Caitanya’s mission.
If Srila Prabhupada had not come, what would have happened? How could we have passed our lives? Would we find something to live for?
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