I want to preach in India

[Guest guest]

> Srila Prabhupada (apparently) said:

>

> "My spiritual master wanted me to preach in the Western countries. Now

> that I have done that, I want to preach in India."

>

> I remember this being quoted on 15 Nov 1977 in a speech in memory of Srila

> Prabhupada, by an ex-disciple who has since become highly envious of him.

>

> Does anyone have any more information about this quote, e.g. when it was

> said, to who, and in what context?

 

Tamal Krishna once told me about the sannyasi conspiracy in LA that

forced Srila Prabhupada to leave there and come back to India. He said that

just before leaving America for Japan and then India, Srila Prabhupada had

gone before Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarkadisha and prayed. He was crying, saying

that when he left India in 1965 he had no intention of coming back. He

thought he was meant to just preach in the west. But now Krsna was forcing

him to go back: 'I do not know why you want me to go back there."

 

But then once back in India Srila Prabhupada became completely

energized and concentrated most of his time and efforts on developing his

Mayapur, Vrindavana and Bombay centers. In 1976 Hridayananda Maharaja came

to visit as the GBC secretary for the month of February:

 

February 26, 1976 -- Mayapur

 

As Prabhupada relaxed on the balcony, Hridayananda Maharaja came out to see

him. This is his first extended visit to India. He's beginning to understand

the significance and magnitude of the projects Prabhupada has begun here.

He expressed his new-found enthusiasm and realization to Prabhupada. "Your

American disciples are beginning to appreciate the importance of India,

Srila Prabhupada. When we first arrived we could not understand why you were

so busy here, but now we can see that it is the most important place on the

planet!"

Prabhupada looked at him gravely, raised his eyebrows, and replied

decisively, "It is the most important place in the universe!"

[end]

 

So Srila Prabhupada did come to see that preaching in India was

extremely important for the future of ISKCON, although this does not

minimize the importance of his preaching in the west. In November 1976 Bali

Mardan turned up in Vrindavana, looking for a preaching assignment. Srila

Prabhupada suggested he go to Australia since he was the first one to preach

there. Bali took a day or two to think about it. Then he came to see Srila

Prabhupada in his garden during massage. It had also been suggested to him

that he could manage the new guest house in the Bombay temple. So he asked

Srila Prabhupada what was the most important--preaching in the west or

preaching in India? Srila Prabhupada replied without hesitation, "Preaching

in the west." That settled Bali's mind and he left for Australia a few days

later.

 

 

Your humble servant,

Hari-sauri dasa