50% remains -- 1977 Ambhirama quote

[Guest guest]

"COM: Akhilesvara (das) ACBSP (Montreal - CAN)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2484784 from COM]

>

> I think it was Janesvara Prabhu who mentioned that, during a conversation,

> Srila Prabhupada would have said: half of his work remains? Does any one

> know where this is said?

 

Statement by Abhirama dasa:

 

I was personally present on two occasions when Srila Prabhupada spoke about

how important establishing varnasrama was to him. Both times were in the

summer of 1977, in Prabhupada's room in Vrndavana, before he left to go to

London. At the time, Tamala Krsna Goswami was Srila Prabhupada's personal

secretary, and I his assistant. I was also Prabhupada's nurse.

 

The first time, several devotees were with Srila Prabhupada. We knew that his

health was getting weaker. He was talking to the devotees about his imminent

departure. "I have no lamentation," Prabhupada said. He paused for a few

seconds, and then he said, "No, I have one lamentation." A devotee asked,

"Because you have not finished translating the Srimad Bhagavatam?" Prabhupada

replied, "No, that I have not established varnasrama."

 

On the next occasion, some time later, I was with Srila Prabhupada in his room

when he made the statement, "Fifty percent of my work is not complete because

I have not established varnasrama."

 

I remember one more quote from that summer. Prabhupada stated, "I want to

establish varnasrama." A devotee asked, "How will you do that, Srila

Prabhupada?" and he replied, "I will go to Gita-nagari, I will sit down, and I

will teach you to live off the land." I personally consider that to be the

bija mantra [seed mantra] of varnasrama.

 

 

— Telephone Interview with Abhirama dasa,

Vrndavana, India 18 February 1996,

(Interviewer: Hare Krsna dasi)