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Prabhupada's last class of his visit was presented, as usual, with impeccable logic and reasoning. Krsna, he explained, could be compared to a fire. Just as a fire, although situated in one place, expanded its energy everywhere in the form of heat and light, similarly Krsna was situated in His own abode, Goloka, and expanded Himself throughout the creation by His energy. This energy, Prabhupada explained, had expanded in the form of the material and spiritual world. Although both were His energies, there was a distinction between them.

He explained this distinction by way of a clear analogy. "Just like the government has different departments -- education department and the department of correctional services, the jail department. The jail department is also a government department. It is not that the government is absent from the jail department. Rather, the government is spending more money for the jail department, more than the government spends on the university department. So both of them are government concerns, but one department is full of criminals, and one department is full of learned scholars. This is the difference. Don't think that the material world is out of the control of God. It is under the control, exactly. The jail department is also under the control of the government. So that is the difference between the material world and the spiritual world. Material world means full of criminals, those against God; and in the spiritual world, everyone is accepting the supremacy of God."

Prabhupada concluded his class with a request: "Our Krsna consciousness movement is giving the opportunity to everyone, how to go back to home, back to Godhead after giving up this body. One has to give up this body. That is certain. But why this body should be wasted for propensities like the animals? It should be fully utilised, how to go back home, back to Godhead. This is our propaganda, and we base it on the authority of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

"It is not that we have manufactured it. There is no question of manufacturing. It is authoritative. It is accepted by all the acaryas. So our request is that you also take this opportunity and be Krsna conscious, and in the next life you go back to home, back to Godhead, and be eternally happy. Thank you very much."

Srila Prabhupada asked for questions. Misha, a long-haired boy who had lived with the devotees on-and-off now for five years, raised his hand. "If one of your brahmana initiated disciples falls from this platform, leaves the temple and commits offences, then returns, demanding respect, should he be allowed to keep the sacred thread or should he be engaged in menial service, which never fails to cultivate humility?"

The room was quiet as Prabhupada gave his grave reply. "Well, that is to be judged by the spiritual master. You cannot judge."

Misha attempted to explain himself. "Well, I'm asking this because .. "

"You cannot judge who is following, who is not following," Prabhupada reiterated. "That is not your jurisdiction. Therefore he has accepted a spiritual master, his jurisdiction. He will do whatever is necessary."

"Has there been a case ..?"

"So that case you cannot judge. The case has to be judged by the spiritual master."

Misha stumbled on. "Could you give me an example of a case that has been .."

Prabhupada gave his final words on the subject. "Just like if somebody has done something wrong, he is taken to the court and the judge gives his decision, whether he is a criminal or not. The man who has arrested him, he cannot give the decision. It has to be tried by the higher authority. Then the judgment will be handed down."

Prabhupada paused, looking around the room for more questions. "Anything more?"

Tania, Misha's sister, whose on-going rapport with Srila Prabhupada was bringing her further into the circle of devotees, asked Prabhupada one last question. "Srila Prabhupada, would you please explain why Krsna consciousness hadn't come to the West until now; why it hadn't come earlier?"

Prabhupada's endearing answer drew Tania closer than ever. "Because you were not born," he said. "After your birth we have come here to take you back to home, back to Godhead. Now you take the opportunity; come with us. We were waiting for your birth."


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