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Srila Prabhupada lilamrita
from Your Ever Will Wisher
by HH Satsvarupa das
Goswami
The word Prabhupada is a term of utmost reverence in Vedic religious circles, and it signifies a great saint even amongst saints. The word actually has two meanings: first, one at whose feet (pada) there are many Prabhus (a term meaning "master" which the disciples of a guru use in addressing each other). The second meaning is one who is always found at the lotus feet of Krishna (the supreme master). In the line of disciplic succession through which Krishna consciousness is conveyed to mankind there have been a number of figures of such spiritual importance as to be called Prabhupada.
Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada executed the will of his master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and therefore he and his associate Gosvamis are called Prabhupada. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura executed the will of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and therefore he is also addressed as Prabhupada. Our spiritual master, Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, has in the same way executed the will of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada in carrying the message of love of Krishna to the Western world, and therefore the humble servants of His Divine Grace, from all the different centers of the sankirtana movement, are following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada and prefer to address his grace our spiritual master as Prabhupiida. And he has kindly said, "Yes."
Even while recuperating in India, Prabhupada had always thought of returning to America to continue his movement. The Indians had seemed interested only in sense gratification, like that of the Americans. But many American youths, disillusioned with their fathers' wealth, were not going to the skyscrapers or to their fathers' businesses. As Prabhupdda had seen from his stays in New York City and San Francisco, thousands of youths were seeking an alternative to materialism. Frustrated, they were ripe for spiritual knowledge.
The devotees, still neophytes, knew nothing of spiritual life and in most cases very little of material life. But because they were sincerely taking to Krishna consciousness, Prabhupada was confident that their shortcomings would not prevent their spiritual progress. Although naturally beautiful, these Western youths were now dirty and morose; their beauty had become covered. But the chanting of Hare Krishna was reviving them, Prabhupada said, just as the monsoon revives the land of Vrndavana, making it fresh and verdant. And as the Vrndavana peacocks sometimes dance jubilantly, so the devotees, having shed their material bonds, were now ecstatically dancing and chanting the holy names. When a reporter asked Prabhupada if his disciples were hippies, Prabhupada replied, "No, we are not hippies. We are happies."
More than being a visiting lecturer or a formal guide, Srila Prabhupada was the spiritual father of his disciples. They accepted him as their real father, and he found them devoted and affectionate, far more than his own family had been. These young American boys and girls-"the flower of your country," Prabhupada called them-had received the blessing of Lord Caitanya and were delivering that blessing to their countrymen. Prabhupada said it was up to his American disciples to save their country. He was giving them the method, but they would have to implement it.
Srila Prabhupada loved his disciples, and they loved him. Out of love, he was giving them the greatest treasure, and out of love they were following his instructions. This was the essence of spiritual life. On the basis of this love, the Krishna consciousness movement would grow. Not surprisingly, some disciples had fallen away to their former, materialistic ways of living. But Prabhupada sought those sincere souls who would stay.
That was the important thing, he said. One moon is more valuable than many stars; so even a few sincere workers would accomplish wonderful things. The sincere and intelligent would stay, and Lord Caitanya Mahdprabhu would empower them to carry out His desires for distributing love of Krsna. In this way, the devotees' lives would become perfect. Many disciples, in fact, already felt this happening. Krsna consciousness worked because they sincerely practiced it an*j because Srila Prabhup5da carefully and patiently tended the growing plants of transcendental loving service he had planted in their hearts.
New York City April 9, 1969
Prabhupada traveled to New York City, the birthplace of his Krsna consciousness society, where his movement had been growing for nearly three years. Although the center was established and his books were being distributed, he still had to visit to strengthen the devotees. His presence gave them determination and courage. For seven months they had carried on without his personal touch, but his visits-when he would sit in his room and reciprocate warmly with them-were vital. Nothing could equal these intimate meetings.
Many devotees, new and old, crowded into Prabhupada's apartment at 26 Second Avenue. "There was one reporter," Prabhupada said, "-he was putting questions to me. And then he wrote an article: 'The swami is a small man, but he is delivering a great message.' That is true. I am small. But the message-that is not small."
Brahmananda showed Prabhupada,a globe with markers representing IS KCON centers. "Now there is one in North Carolina," Brahmananda said.
"Then it becomes fifteen?" Prabhupada asked. He was smiling and looking directly from one devotee to another. "I want each of you to go and start a center. What is the difficulty? Take one mrdanga. Then another person will come and join you-he will
take karatalas. When I came here, Branmdnanda and Acyutananda were dancing. And after chanting, hundreds of men will come to your storefront and enjoy chanting and dancing."
"The girls also?" Rukmini asked.
"There is no harm," Prabhupada said. "Krsna does not make distinction-female dress or male dress. I mean to say, the female body is weaker, but spiritually the body does not matter. In the absence of Lord Nityananda, His wife, Jahnavi devi, was preaching. First you must understand the philosophy. You must be prepared to answer questions. Krsna will give you intelligence. Just like I was not prepared to answer all these questions, but Krsna gives intelligence."
After eight days in his New York City home, Prabhupada went to Buffalo. At State University of New York at Buffalo, Rupanuga was teaching an accredited course in Krsna yoga with some sixty students enrolled, regularly chanting the Hare Krsna mantra on beads. Prabhupada stayed for a few days, lecturing and initiating disciples. Then he went to Boston for more initiations and several marriages.
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