Srila Prabhupada's Risks and Difficulties
When we say that a preacher takes risks, it does not just mean physical risks. He also risks his reputation and his own spiritual standing. For instance, giving initiation is a risk, especially to less qualified candidates. For a disciple to fall down is a blot on the guru. Srila Prabhupada took tremendous risks. He initiated, not a few, but several thousand disciples from undisciplined, uncultured backgrounds. He gave sannyasa to unlikely candidates: young men fresh from irresponsible, hedonistic hippie life, immature devotees who hardly knew a word of Sanskrit except the few slokas they could mispronounce. Srila Prabhupada established the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna among the mlecchas, although even he could not be sure of how They would be treated in future.
Even though many failed to live up to Srila Prabhupada's hopes, there is no question of blaming Srila Prabhupada, for he did it all without the slightest motive for personal gain or aggrandizement. But even Srila Prabhupada himself once said that, "My only mistake was that I initiated so many disciples." Of course, we don't take it as a mistake, but as his causeless mercy for having given us a chance. But we should not take lightly the risks he took for us. As Prabhupada gave himself to us, we should also give ourselves to him and to others and really endeavor to live up to his expectations.
Srila Prabhupada's lila is not all joy and victory. Much of it makes us wince as we recall what Prabhupada went through to bring Krsna to us. Prabhupada struggled alone in the streets of Delhi and New York, sometimes without proper clothes or food. After starting his movement Srila Prabhupada sometimes had to deal with unsubmissive, disrespectful or even rebellious disciples. Sometimes some disciples tried to dominate Prabhupada, argued with him, or openly defied him. We don't like to hear of these things, but seen in retrospect, they teach us how an ideal acarya behaves, even in the most distasteful circumstances. We also gain insight into another aspect of the risk a preacher and spiritual master takes: the risk of disciples later behaving obnoxiously towards the guru. We see how Prabhupada was not afraid to "get his hands dirty" but faced up to everything and took all risks in his ongoing challenge against maya. All glories to you, our dearly beloved Srila Prabhupada! You saved us by force, despite our envious natures. Your true followers, following in your footsteps, cannot neglect unpleasant realities that have to be faced in order to further your mission.
- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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