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Whose achievement is better

Manihara continued reading: "...and of varying degrees of education and from many walks of life, students, teachers, scientists, servicemen, laborers, and professionals -- indeed numerous race, creeds and nationalities -- are attached towards it. The unifying characteristics that brings such diverse individuals to Krsna consciousness are high ethical standards and a sincere desire to understand spiritual truths. To make a pleasure -- loving and easygoing Western youth to shed his fashionable dress and make him give up his dearly cherished beefsteaks, wine and women, cannabis and LSD, and don the saffron robe, shave his head, hold the danda, and chant Hare Krsna, is no mean achievement. That ISKCON has made thousands of Western youths perform this seemingly impossible task is an eloquent testimony of the impact it has made on the life of the contemporary West. ISKCON does offer to the modern man a haven of refuge from the complexity of anxiety of present-day life. The society has indeed set before itself a noble and laudable ideal..."

Prabhupada smiled at the irony. "When the Englishmen were ruling over this country and Gandhi had to do so much labor, his life sacrificed, some way or other they were gone. Now the same Englishman is working here as book distributor, who was our ruler. So whose achievement is better -- Gandhi's or mine?"

We all agreed: "Yours."

"And one Englishman is giving me massage," Prabhupada laughed, giving me a glance. "This rascal criticizing. But they have come to me for money? They are poor, or they are illiterate fools? They have come to me for money or some material gain? No. Unless they are convinced about the spiritual gain, why they should give me such service? They have no eyes to see."


- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
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  • Dear Srila Prabhupada,
    Your mercy is unbelievable,
    It's Nov 2001 and for no real reason I have very melancholically all day. I can't shake the feeling. So after nursery I went up stairs and and but on videos of you starting with 1973 and relishing all that you did. A few months before this one of the nursery mothers had given me a sari she had bought in india in 1977 that she had never worn. So as I was watching your past times I decided to try on the sari I put tilak, make-up, and gopi dots on as if I were going to temple by this time it was about 9:00pm. As I sat there I realized that I had know idea when you left us. I was still feeling sad or maybe it was kinda lonely I couldn't put my finger on it. And then I went to put on the next video on and it was you finale lesson with the date November 13th 1977 I could not belaeve it. It was Nov 13 2001. Out of you kindness and love You aloud me to remember You on this heart breaking day fully. wearing a sari that was also bought the year You passed away. The only thing I can feel and is thank You for remembering me.
    Chandrika davi dasi
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