By Pusta Krishna das
Lord Chaitanya predicted that the glories of the Holy Names of the Mahamantra would take place in every town and village throughout the world. This energy was reflected in the person of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur who wrote of the Bhagawat and sent a copy of this book to Canada around the time of our Srila Prabhupad’s appearance. The great carrier of that mercy was illuminated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad. He gave the order to Abhay Charan De, later known as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, to present the teaching of Krishna consciousness in the English language. Our Srila Prabhupad passionately and methodically took this order to heart and both translated Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition into English, and inaugurated the Back to Godhead magazine. After a number of years of trying to ignite the fire of these teachings in several places in India, he was drawn to travelling to America at the advanced age of 70 years old. Although he was living in his rooms just beside the Samadhi Mandir of Srila Rupa Goswami in Vrindaban, he left all of those spiritual comforts and by Krishna’s grace, made the difficult journey to America with only about 6 dollars and a few books.
It was apparent that he was full of faith and lived in the full grace of the Lord. Even when he stayed in the house of his sponsor, before his preaching in New York City, he was calm and personal. He never appeared like a man in desperation. He always believed in Krishna’s grace. He often would say to us…”so that is our plan, now let us see what is Krishna’s plan.” Free from false ego, fully connected with his Gurudeva and Lord Chaitanya, he carried on moment to moment, day to day. Challenged by serious health and other issues, he continued on and on, this humble sadhu from Vrindaban, and a servant of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga.
How many millions upon millions of individuals and families today are the beneficiaries of his merciful journey! He did this out of his great mercy and obedience to his Spiritual Master. He never looked rushed although he made use of his time so wisely. Despite his schedule of arising shortly after midnight to translate and comment on the Krishna conscious literatures for his disciples and generations of bhaktas to come, he listened to and replied to practically all the letters which his followers sent to him. We can learn from the grace with which he lived as a true Acharya (one who lives by example, whose very life is an expression of the teachings he is promoting). We cannot imitate his divine mood, but we can more deeply appreciate it. That appreciation, free from any envy of our beloved spiritual master, will carry us to his divine lotus feet where we can continue our spiritual training in the art of loving and serving Sri Sri Radha Krishna, in the divine eternal realm. Back to Home, Back to Godhead.
Pusta Krishna das
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