Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Some men would fall - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

Some men would fall

One day Chris was shocked to find Tirthapada packing his bags, ready to leave the temple. Despite his best attempts, Chris could not convince Tirthapada to stay. What was the problem? Tirthapada explained how he had stopped chanting, and, troubled by sex desire, had decided to live outside the temple, but he still planned to attend temple functions. Tirthapada left, promising to attend the temple regularly. He visited, just once. "You forget," he said.

Chris remembered Upendra's stories from the early days. "Maya is very strong," Prabhupada had said. "Some men would fall." Those who sincerely followed his instructions to chant Hare Krsna and avoid sinful activities would be successful.

Prabhupada had compared the Hare Krsna mantra to a big cannon. "Go and sound this cannon so everyone can hear it," he said, "and it will drive away maya."

Now Chris was practically the senior man in the temple. Bali-mardana had promised to return as often as possible to oversee Sydney's progress. He had recommended Chris for initiation; he would receive his new name and chanting beads in the mail soon. And Srila Prabhupada had promised to come in January.

Chris knew little of Krsna consciousness. And the others knew even less. Yet their firm faith in Srila Prabhupada compensated for their lack of experience. They accepted Prabhupada as a pure devotee, directly in touch with God. They accepted his books as truth and Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They hardly knew how to cook, lecture or worship the Deities. But they knew Prabhupada wanted them to chant Hare Krsna publicly and distribute Back to Godhead magazines on the street. Despite frequent arrests, they did this regularly. Chris recalled a recent letter from Srila Prabhupada. Krsna consciousness, Prabhupada had written, was flourishing all over the world by the grace of Lord Caitanya. Now it was the responsibility of his disciples to work hard to maintain these programs.

Now it is up to you to keep on working vigorously in the service of the Lord and, because He is seated within your heart, He will reveal from within all necessary intelligence for you to further extend your loving devotional service to Him.

The Australian devotees lacked training, but they were sincere. The stage was now set for Srila Prabhupada to personally enter. In the meantime, they would continue their business -- to administer "this novel idea" of Krsna consciousness to the people of Sydney.

- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu

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