"In my old age, I have come to America..." Srila Prabhupada

[Guest guest]

"In my old age, I have come to America, and I am trying to teach Krsna consciousness, because my spiritual master gave me an order that I must do it.

It is my duty. I do not know whether I shall be a success or failure."

 

(Science of Self-Realization, Chapter Eight)

[Guest guest]

interesting post.

 

in fact His success speaks for itself.

 

In 1965 the U.S. lifted it's ban on immigration for

asians, Srila Prabhupada along with many other Indians

came to america then.

 

The ban had been in effect for many years as an attempt

to keep out chinese cheap labor from displacing

the amercian workforce.

 

So in 1965 the floodgates were opened.

 

coincidentally(or not), the renassaince of the 1960's

was just starting in greenwich village,New York City,

and also Haight Ashbury and Berkeley in california.

 

Srila Prabhupada with no assets started Kirtan in

The center of the storm in Manhattan.

 

Within a short time with help from the "guru" of the

counterculture ,Alan Ginsberg, along with the

music gurus of that movement like the Gratefull Dead,

Srila Prabhupadas movement took off like a rocket

among the counterculture.

 

within a very short time George Harrison and John Lennon

gave Prabhupada cache among the intelligentsia who were

in awe of the Beatles, and the result was Iskcon

became the first and only world wide "hindu" church.

 

for the indian diaspora who were from different places

and spoke different languages and practiced different faiths, Iskcon became the only game in town if they wanted

to congregate with other "hindu's" in the traditional

"hindu" temple culture, the temples around the world became cultural and religious meeting grounds for the indian diaspora.

Mostly educated and professional people at the time,

they came together under Srila Prabhupadas umbrella.

 

the effect of this had a profound effect on the political

situation back in India.

 

Due to Iskcon being the only worldwide "hindu' church

and cultural center , the wealthy and politically influential indians abroad became influenced by srila Prabhupadas message, this is the start of the

new politics of india, the BJP and the religious

minded new politics of India.

 

so did Prabhupadas humble effort pay off ?

 

you be the judge.

 

[Guest guest]

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja gave a class in Washington D.C. The year was about 1975. There was an Indian man in the class who could not appreciate the message of Krishna Conscious that His Divine Grace was giving.

To explain this irony of Indian people not taking to Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace said that Lord Caitanya requested all people born in India to preach the message of Krishna consciousness all over the world but the Indian people did not follow this instruction. Consequently Lord Caitanya cursed the Indian people to become impersonalists.

On another occasion His Divine Grace explained that the Indian people are naturally Krishna conscious. It is easy for them to take to Krishna Conscious. But, somehow, they have turned away from Krishna. Although they are closer to Krishna they have turned their backs on Him.

On another occasion, His Divine Grace called the Indians who came west who came to take and not give, new crows. Crows newly coming to a garbage heap will like to eat the garbage more than the crows that have been there a longer time and are less enthusiastic about eating the garbage. Similarly, Indians coming to the West are more enthusiastic for material gain than the westerners who are somewhat tired of it.

[Guest guest]

>>On another occasion, His Divine Grace called the Indians >>who came west who came to take and not give, new crows. >>Crows newly coming to a garbage heap will like to eat the >>garbage more than the crows that have been there a longer >>time and are less enthusiastic about eating the garbage. >>Similarly, Indians coming to the West are more >>enthusiastic for material gain than the westerners who >>are somewhat tired of it.

 

 

Yes, this seems to be true.

A sane Indian wouldn't come to west to earn money.

 

Hari K S.

 

[Guest guest]

iskcon is prabhupada's house

but many people come are not welcomed

 

prabhupada is very merciful

he gave krsna

but few could understand or appreciate krsna

 

class not mass

boil the milk

no lazies or crazies please

varnasrama?

 

take over the world in 80 days

and turn the world into a hiundu neighbourhood

 

hippies into happies

smindus into hindus

 

prabhupada prabhupada

where are you now?

are you by the yamuna

milking a cow?

 

krsna das

[AncientMariner]

But the question for me is what to do now? Prabhupada had success and he got a lowlife like myself chanting Hare Krishna and personally my life has benefitted from the little chanting that I do but most everyone around me is not at all interested in Krishna Consciousness and they view gurus as charlatans, cheats etc ad infinitum..