From Dasa to Prabhu

[Guest guest]

I wrote the following article some years ago and sent it for the Centennial

Newsletter. I got inspired to do so because the editors mentioned at one

point that they were looking for articles about devotees who are joining

back the movement. ISKCON wanted to welcome them into Prabhupada's family,

the Reunification it was called. One or two publications came out and I did

not see it there. When I went to Mayapura festival, I visited their

temporary office and asked about my article. They remembered it but had sent

it to Prabhupadanugas, another newspaper, since they thought it

inappropriate for theirs. I never saw it in Prabhupadanugas either. So I

forgot about it until a few weeks ago.

 

When I was in NY for the last ratha-yatra (June 99), Sridhar Swami came to

take his breakfast with the French crew. At one point, amazed about Abhay's

accomplishment, he exclaimed: "someone should write a paper on him, it is

over due". Back home, encouraged by Maharaja, I looked for my old article on

my hard drive. It was still there, waiting.

 

I dedicate this article to Jayananda Prabhu. Vaiyasaki Prabhu wrote a book

in which Jayananda is one of the main heroes. He told me that he was not an

intellectual; he liked to work hard with his hands. He is remembered as a

saint who went home, back to Godhead.

 

Have you heard of Abhay Caran Prabhu? He has just became a prabhu. Not so

long ago, he was still a dasa. But now, his name is praised by Lord

Jagannatha's devotees throughout North America. When I saw Abhay for the

first time, it was during the great ISKCON crisis of the 80's. He joined the

movement around this time, but left the temple not long after taking

initiation. After that, I would see him only occasionally when he reappeared

during the Sunday feast dressed in karmi clothes, an anonymous face in the

crowd of visitors.

 

At that time, he did not fit my conception of a "real" devotee. To win my

respect a devotee had to attend Bhagavatam class, utter slokas each time he

made a particular point, and wear dhoti and tilak during ceremonies or

meetings. Above all, a real devotee was a book distributor! A formula deeply

rooted in my mind was: "The prime duty of our movement is to create

brahmanas, not sudras." Of course Abhay is not a sudra. No. He is a Vaisnava

engaged in sudra activities; he is therefore a brahmana... or rather, better

than a brahmana. Anyway, I am not writing an essay on the how those who join

the movement are transcendental to the varnashrama dharma.

 

Let's get to his story.

 

A few years ago, I heard that Abhay was thinking of building a Rathayatra

cart. So what? Good ideas are like soap bubbles; they burst in no time. But

not his. Though he had put into motion a huge undertaking, the proverb "No

one is a prophet in his own country" was being proved to be true: he was

alone to believe in his project. Abhay was still Abhay dasa, a survivor from

his first encounter with the movement, but to us he was just a shadow. His

true glories were revealed only when his new Rathayatra cart was used for

the first time in Boston; he drove it with great effort and anxiety. For

three years he had been thinking and dreaming about, working and sweating

for this great moment: to be able to parade Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the

universe, through the cities of North America in the best and most

beautiful way possible.

 

Today, in Edison, [after New York, Chicago and Washington, DC] where the

Towaco temple has invited him to bring his first chariot for their

Rathayatra, I am helping him to take the transcendental vehicle in the

trailer. It will be packed in less than an hour. I didn't need to take off

my dhoti and will not even have to wash my hands afterwards (lucky

brahmana). Standing there, holding a part of the cart in my hand, I am

watching: it is amazing. Abhay is a genius. A practical genius. One of those

who follow their inspirations and give them shape. With a jack of his own

innovation, he is raising one side of the chariot while a compressor

retracts the wheels inside the main body. It is wonderful.

 

I am proud to be his friend. Sometimes devotees would mistake me for Abhay

Caran; they would praise and congratulate me. I would quickly direct them to

the humble architect in jeans and T-shirt who hardly speaks any English. (He

is doing much better now.) While talking with him, they learn that Abhay is

employed as a mechanic who lives quite some distance from the temple. He

bought a used truck with his personal money, 35,000 $CAN, and built himself

a trailer. Since then he has built two more chariots, which cost in total

$100,000 only for the material, a lot more if the manufacturing and

assembling were to be taken into account.

 

As I observed him packing his giant toy, a recent public controversy popped

into my mind. Some Canadian politicians suggested that young people should

find their own means to establish themselves economically. They say that

they should be creative and adventurous. Unable to stimulate the economy,

government leaders have been freeing the society from the innumerable rules

the rich have used to bind it in order to avoid a further slide towards

chaos. Of course, the opposition has raised its voice against this

sour-grape philosophy. They say it must nevertheless be the duty and

responsibility of the government to assure that the new generations are

given facilities for starting their own businesses. Otherwise, only a few

exceptional entrepreneurs will emerge successful from the crowd. The new

generations should not be left by themselves, they say.

 

I joined ISKCON when the movement was growing like anything. It was buzzing

with excitement. Farms, temples, printing presses, restaurants, schools,

etc. were planned, and I could envision them all. Somehow or other, however,

we took a wrong turn somewhere, and most of our members were left to fend

for themselves. The result? Stagnation. Canada's government leaders --

materialists by definition -- have learned that the legs of society (sudras)

are just as important as the other parts of the social body and encourage

manual workers as much as they do the intellectuals. They are not hesitant

to invest in those who have technical and mercantile propensities. Shouldn't

we also cultivate such a view in our society in order to be productive and

efficient? Especially if we want Krsna Consciousness in every house. Or in

every village. At least in every town. I mean, not only in temples. In

ISKCON! We aspire for festivals and kirtans, where everyone glorifying

Jagannatha will be honored as a Vaishnava. With the personal help of guru

and Krsna, the "political" mess may be cleaned up and cleansed after.

 

Oh, sorry, I digressed again from the marvellous qualities of Abhay Prabhu.

He may not devote much time to reading and learning verses, but I remember

him being absorbed for two years, day and night, on how to build a better

chariot for the Lord. And what did he do all that for? So that the world can

shout "Jay Jagannath"! Right now he is thinking of constructing a platform

to help raise the Trinity instead of making Them climb dangerously up a

ladder. He also told me about his idea to go to Europe with his chariots.

(He is not going to build a ferryboat, I didn't say that!)

 

"I can conquer the world in 18 days if you are ready," said Srila

Prabhupada. An enigmatic statement. But if one dasa like Abhay is capable of

such a prowess, can't we presume that if more attention is given to the

aspirations of our members we would be able to accomplish incredible feats?

How many Abhays are there, incognito, ready to dedicate themselves fully if

properly engaged? Sometimes it doesn't take much to get big results. It can

be so simple; but it is so hard to be simple.

 

After his encouraging experience in Boston, Abhay decided to right away

build two more chariots. Which he did. Every year now, he travels from

Montreal to New York, San Francisco and other cities. Did you ever meet him?

Next time, say to him how much you appreciate his service. Everyone needs

encouragement. This way Krsna is very pleased.