# Your Ever Well-Wisher **Duration:** 55:03 <div class="video-container" style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%;"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8hh6s_wlWdM" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; pointer-events: auto; z-index: 10;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hh6s_wlWdM) --- ## Transcript **[00:20]** His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. **[00:25]** The movement he started is now known to millions around the world. **[00:30]** Yet he himself remained in the background.\\ **[00:34]** Without personal ambition he worked humbly to spread Krishna consciousness,\\ **[00:38]** devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.\\ **[00:42]** Yet his achievements and personal character did not go unnoticed.\\ **[00:47]** The worlds' leading scholars and religionists praised his unique contribution.\\ **[00:53]** And thousands grew to love him as their dearmost friend and well-wisher.\\ **[00:58]** In his memory his disciples erected a stunning memorial in the hills of West Virginia,\\ **[01:05]** Now visited by half a million people a year.\\ **[01:08]** In this and many other ways around the world Srila Prabhupada is offered expressions\\ **[01:14]** of love by those whose lives he most deeply touched. **[01:18]** Always remember Krishna, God, and never forget Him. This was the goal of the rich **[01:48]** spiritual culture that flourished in India for thousands of years. **[01:52]** Even today Lord Krishna is remembered and glorified through monumental **[01:57]** achievements in architecture, art, drama, music, dance and philosophy. **[02:04]** Calcutta, 1896, the capital of India, the crown jewel of the British empire. **[02:14]** An elegant city of wide avenues and spacious parks. **[02:18]** It is here that Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami is born. **[02:26]** A pure devotee of Krishna from birth Abhay Charan is raised in a well-to-do mercantile family. **[02:32]** From infancy he goes with his father to the Radha-Krishna Temple and at age four the **[02:39]** child spontaneously begins worshipping similar Deities in his home. **[02:43]** When Abhay Charan hears of Ratha-yatra, a traditional festival in **[02:48]** honour of Lord Krishna, it further inspires his natural devotion. **[02:52]** With his fathers help every year he holds his own small celebration **[02:58]** drawing the neighbourhood children into the festivities. **[03:01]** At age eight Abhay Charan enters the nearby Matti Laul Seel school. **[03:07]** After graduation he attends Scottish Churches College, one of the most respected in Calcutta. **[03:15]** At the time Mahatma Gandhi is organizing his countrymen in a nationwide boycott of everything **[03:21]** British. Gandhism is surging through India, uniting her in a massive non-cooperation movement. **[03:28]** Sensitive to British subujation of India's culture and people, **[03:35]** Abhay Charan becomes an early supporter of Gandhi's movement. **[03:37]** But 1922 marks a turning point in Abhay Charan's life. **[03:42]** He meets Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Saraswati Goswami, the greatest devotee of Krishna of his time. **[03:49]** Srila Bhaktsiddhanta belongs to the disciplic successon of spiritual masters extending back to Lord Krishna Himself. **[03:57]** He convinces Abhay Charan that Krishna's spiritual message transcends India's dependant position. **[04:07]** Nothing is more important. **[04:09]** He requests Abhay Charan to spread Krishna consciousness in the Western world. **[04:12]** Abhay Charan hears and is deeply impressed. **[04:16]** By this time Abhay Charan has a growing family. **[04:20]** He moves to Allhabhad and starts a successful pharmacy. **[04:24]** All the while his spiritual master's words remain implanted in his heart. **[04:30]** In 1933 he becomes a disciple of Srila Bhaktsiddhanta who comments, **[04:37]** "He will do everything in due time." **[04:40]** Three years later Srila Bhaktsiddhanta leaves this world, **[04:45]** after again requesting Abhay Charan to preach in English. **[04:50]** Abhay Charan takes his words to heart and starts writing prodigiously. **[04:54]** In 1944 he single-handedly begins publishing and distributing "Back to Godhead," a fortnightly. **[05:03]** The first issue addresses the crisis of war. **[05:09]** The second world war within twenty years is scourging the Earth. **[05:14]** "Back to Godhead" points out that people throughout the world want an end to war **[05:16]** but so often they want God's kingdom without God, and they can not have it. **[05:21]** "All our plans will be doomed to failure by our own selfishness unless we turn to God." **[05:28]** After the war Abhay Charan moves to Jhansi and founds the "League of Devotees." **[05:35]** He prepares a charter for an international organization, its members dedicated to a peaceful, God-centred life. **[05:42]** Aharaya Prabhaka, his first disciple remembers. **[05:47]** He was always teaching Krishna consciousness and people came to him for knowledge. **[05:56]** After hearing from him many wanted to become his disciple. **[06:00]** He told them, "I can make you my disciple, but first you please chant the names of God **[06:05]** And give up cigarettes, meat eating, illicit sex and gambling. **[06:09]** But few people would agree to give up these habits. **[06:12]** Then he said: "Indians are imitating the Westerners. I will make disciples in the West." **[06:18]** Then, when the Indian people see Westerners following religious principles , they will also follow. **[06:24]** Following tradition, at age 58, Abhay Charan retires from family life **[06:36]** and five years later accepts the renounced order. **[06:38]** He is now known as "A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." **[06:43]** He lives alone in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodar in Vrindavana **[06:47]** engaged in deep studies and writing. **[06:50]** It was in Vrindavana that Lord Krishna revealed His pastimes fifty centuraries ago **[06:57]** and saintly persons throughout the ages have worshipped this land as the most sacred on Earth. **[07:03]** Unlike other holy men who live there, Bhaktivedanta Swami is not thinking of retiring. **[07:09]** For him Vrindavana is a source of inspiration, an ideal place to chant, worship and write. **[07:17]** Here he begins work on his life's masterpiece, **[07:21]** translation and commentary on the monumental devotional classic, "Srimad-Bhagavatam." **[07:27]** Bhaktivedanta Swami calles it, "A cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society. **[07:36]** But often he leaves Vrindavana to print his magazine and books in nearby Delhi. **[07:42]** Travelling takes time and tolerance but Bhaktivedanta Swami accepts it as part of his spiritual **[07:49]** mission to broadcast devotional service to Lord Krishna. **[07:53]** He writes, "Our leaders have carefully set aside the treasure-house of India's spiritual asset. **[08:02]** And they are imitating the Western material way of life. **[08:05]** But people are more unhappy than ever before because of exclusion of the most **[08:13]** important part of life-the spiritual aspect. **[08:15]** In Delhi, Bhaktivedanta Swami personally distributes copies of "Back to Godhead. **[08:20]** And with small donations struggles to maintain the publication. **[08:25]** He regularly sees Surendra Kumar Jain, a printer. **[08:29]** It was somewhere in the month of February 1956 that I first met Prabhupada. **[08:36]** He came to my press for getting the magazine printed, "Back to Godhead." **[08:41]** I found that it was not very easy for him to collect money. **[08:46]** He would come to the press practically every day and after the printing was done **[08:51]** He would do everything himself. He was a very dedicated person. A very committed person. **[08:55]** And at the times when he was not in a position to pay the bills, **[09:00]** I would ask him, "Why are you running this? Stop it. **[09:05]** He would say, "No, it is my mission and one day Surrenra Kumar you will see that I will succeed in my mission. **[09:11]** By 1964 Bhaktivedanta Swami completes three volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam. **[09:18]** Prime Misister Laul Bhadar Sastri lauds his accomplishment and recommends his books **[09:24]** For placement in India's Public Libraries. **[09:27]** Sumati Morarji, chairman of the Scindia steamship company gives contributions for **[09:34]** printing Bhaktivedanta Swami's books and arranges for his passage to America. **[09:37]** And he used to come every evening. And one day he said that he would like to go to America. **[09:45]** I was surprised. I said: "Swamiji, don't go, there you are too old and it will be too cold for you." **[09:51]** Still he insisted, so I said, "All right." **[09:55]** So I made arrangement for him to go on Jaladuta. **[10:01]** On way while he was passing through Surat, that day was Lord Krishna's birthday, **[10:06]** and he gathered all the people on board the ship. All the crew members, officers. **[10:12]** And recited some sloka and then some prasad was distributed to them and all that. **[10:21]** Bhaktivedanta Swami, a lone mendicant seventy years old, travelling half way across the world. **[10:30]** His only resources the message he carries and his unflinching faith. **[10:34]** The voyage on the Jaladuta proves a great trial. Bhaktivedanta Swami endures seasickness **[10:43]** And then suffers severe chest pains. In two days he has two heart attacks. **[10:48]** If another comes he thinks he would surely not survive. **[10:52]** But gradually he recovers. **[10:55]** He writes: "I feel today better, but I am feeling separation from Vrindavana. **[11:03]** "I have no qualification but I have taken up the risk just to carry out the order of my spiritual master." **[11:07]** September 17th. 1965. The Jaladuta arrives in Boston Harbour. **[11:17]** Onboard Bhaktivedanta Swami writes: **[11:20]** My dear Lord Krishna you are so kind upon this useless soul **[11:25]** but I do not know why you have brought me here." **[11:28]** Most of the poulation here is absorbed in material life. **[11:32]** How will I make them understand your message? I can simply repeat Your words and **[11:37]** if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding. **[11:42]** I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge. **[11:46]** But I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna. **[11:49]** I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, "devotion with knowledge," and now if You like **[11:59]** You can fulfil the real purport of Bhaktivedanta. **[12:00]** Signed, the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. **[12:06]** Bhaktivedanta Swami first stays in Butler, Pennsylvania in the home of a friends son, **[12:13]** Gopal Agrawal and his wife Sally. **[12:18]** The swami was a friend of my husband's father, Mr. Agrawal in Agra, India. **[12:23]** And he asked me to sponsor the Swami, and that's what I did. **[12:28]** And that's why he came to our house in the middle of the night one night. **[12:30]** He stayed with us for a month in Butler. **[12:34]** And I learned, over the time I learned to love him as I would a father inlaw. **[12:40]** He was a very sensitive and kindly type of person. **[12:45]** He was indeed one of the most unusual men I've ever met in my life. **[12:51]** The swami came with so few possessions. He came with the clothes he had on his back, **[12:56]** He had a typewriter and he had his books. And he had a bag of cereal. **[13:01]** Imagine coming to a country on the other side of the world with so little. **[13:06]** And yet he came with so much in himself. **[13:08]** The Swami brought a pan with him in which he cooked his food and in fact cooked our lunch too. **[13:14]** Our little boy was only six months old when he came and the Swami was there when Bridge first stood. **[13:21]** And he laughed and laughed to see him stand up. When he left he was just oceanic, oceanic. **[13:29]** He just seemed to take in the entire universe when he left and he left a lot. **[13:35]** I enjoyed my association for that one month with him about as much as I have enjoyed anything in my life. **[13:40]** Although comfortable in Butler, Bhaktivedanta Swami thought, **[13:45]** The most important philosophy in the world, Krishna consciousness, **[13:48]** should be spread in one of the most important cities in the world, New York. **[13:53]** He moves to 100 West 72nd Street. **[13:56]** Three months later his typewriter and tape recorder for translating were stolen. **[14:01]** Bhaktivedanta Swami later said: I came to America risking my life. **[14:07]** I was physically unfit and at the fag end of my days. Sometimes I did not know where to live, **[14:12]** nor was I used to the severe cold. Seemingly I was alone for one year, but I never felt alone, **[14:19]** I always felt the presence of my spiritual master. So I did not loose my enthusiasm despite all difficulties. **[14:32]** Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in America during a decade of discontent. **[14:35]** There's widespread dissatisfaction with America's war in Vietnam **[14:38]** and with what some consider her racist exploitative dealings at home. **[14:47]** Disillusioned by the establishment the youth create a counter-culture of their own. **[14:49]** Around the time Bhaktivedanta Swami came waves of Americans are **[14:54]** breaking away from the status-quo, searching for an alternative. **[14:58]** For a short time Bhaktivedanta Swami lives in the Bowery in a loft given by a friend. **[15:07]** Mukunda Goswami, who was attending his classes at this time, tells of their first meeting. **[15:14]** He wore very thick glasses and had a big Sanskrit book spread out before him. **[15:17]** His voice was very deep and resonant. He spoke with great authority **[15:21]** and the Sanskrit slokas he spoke very beautiful, very melodious. **[15:25]** He was obviously a very distinguished scholar. I became very curious, almost astonished, **[15:31]** As to how someone of his stature, he looked very much like an aristocrat, **[15:36]** could be living in the Bowery, the skid-row of New York. **[15:40]** And afterwards I approached him to speak. I was standing and he was sitting on his small dais. **[15:46]** So he was looking up at me. And he had the look of a very happy, innocent young child. **[15:51]** And I could see that he actually had all the time in the world for me. He wasn't short of time. **[15:56]** I asked questions, he would answer. **[15:58]** Then after some time he moved to a somewhat better neighbourhood on Second Avenue. **[16:05]** We helped him rent a small storefront there and he had an apartment in the back. **[16:07]** And within a few weeks time this little storefront on Second Avenue, **[16:10]** on the lower-east side of New York, which was then populated by thousands of young hippies, **[16:14]** had been transformed into a beautiful Krishna temple. **[16:17]** Alan Ginsberg, I remember, began to come at that time. **[16:27]** When he moved down the lower east side I thought that was a stroke of brilliant social judgement. **[16:29]** Because traditionally swamis, yogis and masters all moved uptown to the rich. **[16:34]** And were sponsored and funded by the rich. And you would find Krishna Murti living **[16:37]** in elegant apartments on the upper east side with drawing rooms and French furniture, **[16:43]** and here was Bhaktivedanta like in the depths of Calcutta. Where the hippies were. **[16:48]** Where the acid-heads were, the freaks and the amphetamine-heads and the meth-monsters. **[16:56]** So it seemed some kind of ray of song and light to the right place. **[17:03]** The lower depths where it was needed. **[17:08]** And of course the lower east side was the intellectual centre in certain respects. **[17:11]** In art and in advanced spiritual vibrations, particularly in the sixties. **[17:18]** So it seemed a historically just move on his part. **[17:22]** A friend of mine told me about a love celebration at Tompkins Square Park which was last Thursday, **[18:32]** the Thursday before last and I knew I had been seeking a guru for a while. **[18:41]** So Krishna sent me there, and I was there and after meeting some of the initiates I knew that **[18:47]** the swami really had to be into something. **[18:52]** I came here in America in the September 1965. I was wandering the street. **[18:59]** And some of the boys saw me. And gradually they came to me. **[19:06]** My mission is to preach the philosophy of Lord Caitanya, chanting Hare Krishna **[19:19]** Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare **[19:26]** This transcendental vibration will cleanse the dirty things of the mind. **[19:36]** It doesn't matter what he is. This transcendental vibration is equally appealing to everyone. **[19:48]** Without any question of language, nationality, creed or caste. **[19:56]** Because it is coming forth from the depth of the soul. **[20:03]** Krishna was all along preparing something, Bhaktivedanta Swami later wrote. **[20:09]** And He brought me to you one by one. Sincere boys and girls to be trained in Krishna consciousness. **[20:15]** Now I can see that it is a miracle. Otherwise one old man with only a few books to sell for barely getting food. **[20:25]** How could he survive, what to speak of introducing a God conscious movement in a materialistic society. **[20:31]** For Bhaktivedanta Swami these are happy days, singing and speaking with the vigour of a young man. **[20:36]** He brings the Hare Krishna movement into the public eye, by chanting in the parks. **[20:41]** By distributing Back To Godhead magazine, by holding free Sunday love feasts. **[20:46]** Many are attracted. His hopes for the future expand without limit. **[20:51]** The Hare Krishna movement has taken root. **[20:54]** Some time in the spring of 1967 people handed me clippings from New York **[21:06]** newspapers saying that there was a swami in New York city. **[21:10]** So I went to New York to look up this person and his movement. **[21:13]** My first contact was with disciples apart from Bhaktivedanta Swami. **[21:18]** And I was frankly somewhat disappointed by the disciples. **[21:24]** They seemed to be not very informed about what they were doing. **[21:28]** They were a little unclear about the whole thing. **[21:30]** And yet they were terribly serious and terribly devoted to what they were about. **[21:35]** And I couldn't put those two pieces together. **[21:41]** You know, their confusion and uncertainty on the one hand and . **[21:43]** their commitment on the other until I met Bhaktivedanta Swami. **[21:47]** And as soon as I met him, which was after several visits to the temple, **[21:52]** I realized that this was the person who really made the whole thing go. **[21:57]** But the impressive thing about him was it was never himself in the center. **[22:03]** He never said you should do this because of me. **[22:08]** He always said you should do this, and I should do this, because of Krishna. **[22:12]** When he gave them instructions to do what they thought were impossible things. **[22:16]** Like he told one of the early disciples, "go start a magazine." **[22:21]** The guy had never had any contact with a magazine before in his life, except to read one. **[22:25]** And he said: "How am I to do that?" And Bhaktivedanta Swami said: "Krishna will help you." **[22:31]** He was just astonishing in terms of the personal impact he had on people. **[22:37]** The way that he was able to give them confidence in themselves. **[22:41]** But more importantly give them confidence that there was a guide who was leading them **[22:48]** And would give them the strength they needed. **[22:55]** Bhaktivedanta Swami does not belong to New York. He belongs to Krishna. **[22:56]** So when a few of his followers invite him to San Francisco he goes and introduces the free-wheeling youth to Krishna. **[23:02]** His ancient culture, His spiritual food, His eternal chant. **[23:07]** The way to stay high forever. **[23:10]** In the heart of the hippy movement, Height Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, **[23:14]** and in the hearts of the hippies, the Hare Krishna mantra resounds with unimagined potency. **[23:20]** As in New York Bhaktivedanta Swami gathers sincere followers. **[23:52]** The Hare Krishna movement begins to grow. **[23:55]** Bhaktivedanta Swami becomes respectfully known as "Prabhupada," meaning **[24:07]** "one at whose feet the masters sit." **[24:11]** From Montreal Prabhupada sends six disciples to open a temple in London. **[24:22]** Yamuna devi dasi remembers. **[24:25]** So we went to London that fall and although we had no permanent place of residence **[24:31]** And we were completely dependent on Krishna, somehow or another **[24:36]** By the enthusiasm that Srila Prabhupada had given us in Montreal **[24:39]** We were able to make contact with George Harrison **[24:44]** who was a member of the Beetles at the time. **[24:47]** And he was such a pleasant person to be with. He so much appreciated the Hare Krishna mantra **[24:55]** That he immediately said, "Lets make a 45 record." **[24:59]** So we cut a record and he was very pleased with it. **[25:03]** He did a little background music on it and it was released and Apple organized tours for us. **[25:10]** We went to Germany and France and had television coverage. **[25:14]** And in this way the London Times, the Sunday Times, wanted to do a feature on us. **[25:21]** And we were able to send the report back to Srila Prabhupada with the headlines, **[25:29]** "Krishna consciousness startles London." **[25:36]** As people come to him convinced of the Krishna conscious philosophy Srila Prabhupada **[25:39]** accepts them for initiation. Not on the basis of birth, as in the rigid Hindu caste system, **[25:42]** but on the basis of qualification and sincerity. In the whole history of Indian spiritual life **[25:47]** no one has ever attempted something as bold and seemingly impossible. **[25:53]** To transform Westerners into full-fledged devotees of Lord Krishna. **[26:00]** But by his intense spiritual energy and compassion, **[26:03]** Srila Prabhupada is successful beyond his own expectations. **[26:08]** How old is the movement. **[26:12]** But from historical point of view it is about five thousand years old. **[26:18]** Why has it just begun to really catch on in the Western world? **[26:23]** I mean just recently, you know in recent years it has began to sweep the Western world. **[26:29]** Why is this? **[26:34]** The Western world, younger generation were being frustrated, the hippie movement. **[26:37]** So when they saw something tangible they accepted it. **[26:45]** What things… if everyone in the United States believed in Krishna and to the extent that you do **[26:56]** What would happen to this country, how would it be transformed? **[27:00]** They would be very happy and peaceful. **[27:05]** There will be no more hippies. **[27:11]** What would you describe as a hippy? Someone who smokes… **[27:18]** You know better than me. **[27:19]** Something extraordinary. **[27:26]** The thing that really inspired me the most about Srila Prabhupada was his **[27:30]** complete dedication to his devotees. **[27:33]** The thing that Prabhupada liked the best was to be with his disciples. **[27:37]** It wasn't that he took on large amounts of disciples **[27:41]** and then sat backed and then just pushed them to do this and that and the other for himself. **[27:49]** He did more for us than we ever did for him. **[27:51]** And travelling with him personally I got to see what a tremendous sacrifice he made for us. **[27:55]** And even when he was ill he would still preach. He would still be concerned. **[28:00]** He would still be asking after how things were going in the society that he created. **[28:05]** How were individual disciples doing. **[28:08]** He always had time also to look to our personal needs. **[28:13]** He was very concerned. Prabhupada wasn't aloof. **[28:16]** All he really wanted was us to reciprocate the love that he gave to us. **[28:18]** And if we reciprocated he would give us more. **[28:21]** So my personal experience with Srila Prabhupada was that I found in him a person **[28:30]** that I could actually genuinely fully give myself to. **[28:33]** In Srila Prabhupada's eyes Krishna consciousness is not an armchair philosophy or a part-time religion. **[28:40]** It is a way of life. A transcendental culture that can end mans political, economic and social problems. **[28:48]** To realize his vision Srila Prabhupada circles the globe fourteen times in twelve years. **[28:54]** Inspiring his followers and discussing Krishna consciousness with all interested persons. **[29:00]** His door is open to everyone. **[29:04]** Actually nothing is private property. Everything belongs to God. **[29:10]** Rather we have stolen God's property and claiming, "my property." **[29:15]** There is Australia, the English man came here, but is that the property of English man? **[29:19]** It was there, America, it was there and when everything will be finished it will be there also. **[29:38]** In the middle we come and claim, "It is my property," and fight. **[29:43]** To revive the Krishna conscious tradition in its full richness, **[29:48]** Prabhupada envisions God-centred, self-sufficient farm communities **[29:53]** based on the principle of plain living and high thinking. **[29:57]** The first such community begins on 133 acres in the hills of West Virginia. **[30:02]** Prabhupada calls it "New Vrindavana" after Krishna's place of pastimes in India. **[30:08]** In 1972 Srila Prabhupada begins a Krishna conscious primary school system in Dallas, Texas. **[30:19]** Srila Prabhupada very practically introduced a primary school system to teach children **[30:26]** self-realization along with regular study. **[30:27]** This means that the Gurukul system is unique in that the educators are themselves free of vices. **[30:33]** We could hardly find an institution where the faculty members are free of loose sexual relationships, **[30:43]** intoxication, smoking, although they may have good credentials academically. **[30:51]** That would be rare to find. **[30:53]** But in Krishna consciousness the teacher must also be on the platform of pure devotional service. **[30:59]** Because the children are very impressionable and they learn what their educators are **[31:06]** actually doing, not just what they are saying. **[31:08]** So these are some of the principles that Srila Prabhupada introduced in Gurukula. **[31:14]** Srila Prabhupada gradually trains his disciples in the time-honoured tradition of deity worship **[31:20]** to help them advance spiritually. He explains, "I have introduced this system of deity worship **[31:27]** "among the non-belivers, the atheists. Krishna can not be understood with our present senses. **[31:33]** But by His kindness he agrees to personally appear as the Deity to accept our service. **[31:38]** When we are attracted to the beautiful form of the Deity we will forget our attraction for material things. **[31:45]** And as we serve the Deity we will develop pure love of God. **[31:50]** Then our lives will be successful. **[32:07]** In Melbourne, Australia Srila Prabhupada worships Lord Caitanya, a divine incarnation of Krishna. **[32:13]** By Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy we have installed the Deity here in your country. **[32:23]** You are very fortunate that Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come to your country. **[32:31]** To teach you how you become free of all anxieties. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. **[32:43]** Everyone is full of anxiety but everyone can be free from all anxieties **[32:54]** if he follows the path chalked out by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. **[33:00]** As people are fallen in this age, the method also has been offered-very simple. **[33:10]** They have been recommended simply to chant the holy name of God, that's all. **[33:19]** For five years after first arriving in America, Srila Prabhupada presents Krishna consciousness **[33:26]** primarly to Westerners. From housewives to hippies to heads of state. **[33:31]** Then, in November 1971, after a world tour, he returns to Delhi with some of his followers. **[33:39]** The Mayor receives him with the fanfare that greets a homecoming patriot. **[33:44]** Prabhupada quotes Lord Caitanya. **[33:47]** It is the duty of those born in India to benefit others by spreading Krishna consciousness. **[33:53]** This is India's greatest glory. Her unique gift to the world. **[33:57]** Thirty thousand Indians gather nightly at the Delhi fair grounds to see the **[34:03]** Western devotees and hear Prabhupada speak. **[34:06]** To bring about this change in India, the revival of Krishna consciousness, **[34:22]** Prabhupada's plan was to bring his dancing white elephants. **[34:29]** He told us that, When I bring my Western disciples to India, they will all come to see **[34:36]** my dancing white elephants, he said. **[34:39]** So we were actually very fond of being Prabhupada's dancing white elephants. **[34:46]** We took that as the special mercy of Prabhupad on us, that we could be his dancing white elephants **[34:54]** and help him in any way we could to preach Krishna consciousness in India. **[35:01]** Prabhupada was told by an astrologer in Navadvipa, in West Bengal, **[35:10]** when he saw a photo of Prabhupada's face, he said that this man, he has the ability **[35:18]** to make a house in which the whole world can live peacefully. **[35:20]** To make a house in which the whole world can live very peacefully. **[35:26]** And when I told Prabhupada that, he said, "Yes, that is my mission." **[35:30]** That within Krishna consciousness the whole world can live peacefully. **[35:36]** While the Hare Krishna movement spreads worldwide **[35:40]** Srila Prabhupada wants to nurture its roots in India. **[35:44]** He journeys to Maypur, West Bengal, the birthplace of Lord Caitanya. **[35:49]** It was Lord Caitanya who inaugurated, five hundred years ago, **[35:55]** the congregational chanting of the God's holy names. **[35:58]** In Mayapur devotees purchase a small tract of land and start constructing an international guest house. **[36:05]** For a handful of devotees who know nothing about construction, this is not an easy task. **[36:13]** Srila Prabhupada directs and encourages them. **[36:16]** For ourselves, he says, we are happy and satisfied living in a grass hut. **[36:21]** But if we simply have a hut, who will come here? **[36:25]** The more we develop our land, the more people will be attracted. **[36:29]** Prabhupada plans to build a temple of understanding to house the world's largest planetarium. **[36:34]** and around it a spiritual city with schools, shops, farms. **[36:40]** And many temples for worshipping Lord Krishna. **[36:43]** Within the hearts of India's people is a natural respect for the eternal Krishna conscious culture. **[36:51]** Many come forward to take part in Srila Prabhupda's movement and accept initiation from him. **[36:58]** No one should go hungry within a ten mile radius of the temple, Prabhupada instructs. **[37:06]** In March 1972 devotees start the ISKCON food relief program, distributing prasad, **[37:11]** vegetarian food offered to Lord Krishna. **[37:15]** As the Mayapur project develops Prabhupada invites his disciples from six continents **[37:21]** to join together yearly on the anniversary of Lord Caitanya's appearance. **[37:26]** Prabhupada wants them to be purified and inspired by remembrance of the Lord in His holy land. **[37:32]** In Vrindavana Srila Prabhupada treats his followers to a guided tour of the holy places **[37:40]** and personally relates Lord Krishna's pastimes. **[37:43]** The devotees relish a bath in the sacred waters of the Yamuna river. **[37:52]** Prabhupada acquires land in Bombay, India's most cosmopolitan city. **[38:24]** Although he has only a hut for a temple Prabhupada envisions an international cultural centre. **[38:30]** His ambition is to give as many people as possible access to the nectar of transcendental life, **[38:37]** whether through philosophy, service or spiritual food. **[38:42]** So that everyone can become happy, hopeful and peaceful. **[38:45]** Doctor N.D. Deasi, a leading Bombay industrialist recalls. **[38:50]** From 1971 through 1977 I must have met Prabhupada many, many times. **[38:57]** And each time I met Prabhupada I would try to find fault with him. **[39:01]** And even I would try to make him angry, or I once even tried find out whether was greedy. **[39:11]** I just couldn't find any fault with him. **[39:14]** And in fact in matter of business life or daily life we do try to see the weekness of the other person **[39:24]** And sometimes, as a businessman, we try to take advantage. **[39:28]** But here was a person who just wouldn't become agitated. **[39:33]** There was absolutely no lust in him, there was no greed in him. **[39:37]** There was… I couldn't see a spot of jealousy in him. **[39:42]** And then I realized, after six year of, that he was a very empowered, divine person. **[39:51]** Gradually, Srila Prabhupada says, I am seeing all my dreams being fulfilled. **[40:01]** In Bombay a spacious marble temple, a theatre, a restaurant, **[40:03]** a library and a twin-towered seven story hotel. **[40:06]** In Mayapur the planned spiritual city develops. **[40:11]** In Vrindavana the popular Krishna Balarama temple, **[40:18]** and international guest house and a secondary school. **[40:25]** Prabhupada sees his society grow into a world-wide confederation **[40:32]** with more than one hundred temples, restraints, institutes, schools and farm communities. **[40:37]** Five hundred years ago Lord Caitanya predicted that one day the holy name of Krishna **[40:43]** would be heard in every town and village of the world. **[40:46]** By the mid seventies Hare Krishna becomes a household word. **[40:52]** When I first met the first Hare Krishnas I can remember how surprised I was **[40:58]** And really I wondered what this meant. **[41:02]** The costumes and the chanting and the shaved heads appeared a little strange, a little bizarre to me. **[41:08]** But the more I came to know the movement, I came to find that there was **[41:14]** a striking similarity in the essence of what they were teaching and saying **[41:18]** and in my understanding of the original core of Christianity. **[41:21]** That is living simply, not trying to accumulate worldly goods or profit. **[41:27]** Living with compassion toward all creatures. Sharing, loving and living joyfully. **[41:33]** I am impressed with how much the teaching of one man **[41:38]** in the spiritual tradition that he brought has impacted itself into the lives of so many people. **[41:43]** So in my own view his contribution is a very important one and will be a lasting one. **[41:50]** As a child Srila Prabhupada celebrated Ratha-yatra near his home in Calcutta with his playmates. **[41:58]** Years later he is still celebrating the Ratha-yatra festival-- **[42:02]** but now on the main streets of twenty large cities around the world. **[42:06]** And with hundreds of thousands of disciples and guests. **[42:09]** People follow, imitate Americans. I am travelling all over the world. **[42:26]** Everywhere I see they are trying to manufacture the skyscraper building. **[42:40]** Imitating your country. **[42:42]** So, if you kindly become Krishna conscious and chant and dance in ecstasy, **[42:46]** emotional love of God, the whole world will follow you, **[42:51]** and it will be Vaikuntha, there will be no more trouble. **[42:54]** Thank you very much. **[43:51]** Whether before huge crowds or a few disciples or alone, Srila Prabhupada's mood of devotion prevails. **[45:03]** Wherever in the world he happens to be Srila Prabhupada follows a regular daily schedule. **[45:07]** In the quietude of the early mornings he goes out for lengthy strolls and **[45:13]** shares intimate moments with a small group of students and guests. **[45:16]** Rejecting superficial and dogmatic thinking he carefully guides his students **[45:22]** to increased insight and understanding. **[45:24]** After his walk Srila Prabhupada greets the Deities of the Supreme Lord, **[45:30]** offers obeisances and lectures on a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam. **[46:10]** So you may have two million dollars, I may have ten dollars, you may have hundred dollars. **[46:16]** Everyone has got some riches. **[46:19]** That is admitted. **[46:23]** But nobody can say that I have got all the riches. **[46:26]** That is not possible. **[46:30]** If somebody can say that I have got all the riches, he is God. **[46:35]** That is spoken by Krishna. Nobody has said in the history of the world. **[46:45]** Krishna said, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva loka mahesvaram. **[46:49]** I am the enjoyer of everything. And I am the proprietor of all the universe. **[46:58]** Who can say that? **[46:59]** That is God. **[47:02]** In the afternoons Prabhupada meets with guests. Here in Los Angeles with scholars of religion. **[47:09]** Your pride, your property, your family, your bank balance, your skyscraper buildings, **[47:17]** all taken away. Bas, finished, gone away. **[47:19]** This is God. Now understand God? **[47:25]** If you believe or do not believe God will come one day, will take you, will take your everything **[47:30]** And get out. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. **[47:35]** That those who are not believer in God, **[47:40]** to them I come as death and take away everything, finished. **[47:48]** That one has to believe. Yes. As sure as death. Then God is sure. **[47:55]** So unless one is mad man, he cannot say there is no God. **[48:03]** Anyone who denies the existence of God, he is a mad man. **[48:14]** Prabhupada, wouldn't it be better to say he is bind, he is stupid. **[48:15]** Yes. The same thing. **[48:16]** Mad is the sum total of all stupidity. **[48:21]** Festival takes place **[48:26]** Whereever Srila Prabhupada is he continues to write prolifically. Rising long before dawn **[48:32]** he spends hours translating and commenting on original Sanskrit and Bengali texts. **[48:38]** Sometimes they wash their hands and feet before entering the temple. **[48:44]** His most significant contribution is his books. **[48:48]** Srila Prabhupada sees sixty million distributed in twenty-eight languages. **[48:57]** Professors from dozens of major universities use them as standard texts and write appreciative reviews. **[49:03]** He also did a very important work in introducing to the Western world for the first time **[49:10]** the devotional philosophy of Sri Krishna Caitanya. **[49:14]** Not only did he introduce these texts, **[49:18]** but he introduced them in a way that was quite different from the other translations **[49:24]** that had been made. I've read so many different translations for example of the Bhagavad-gita. **[49:29]** Which had all been interpreted from the impersonalist type of philosophy of the Advaita school. **[49:37]** And here you might say for the first time was a truly devotional translation, **[49:41]** a spiritual translation of the text which I felt really came **[49:45]** much closer to the true meaning and the purpose of the Bhagavad-gita. **[49:50]** Established in 1972 the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust exclusively publishes Srila Prabhupada's works. **[49:57]** It becomes the world's largest distributor of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. **[50:03]** For Srila Prabhupada the transcendental knowledge in these books forms the basis of the **[50:09]** Hare Krishna movement. A movement prophesised to grow for the next ten thousand years. **[50:14]** In 1977, dispite his failing health, Srila Prabhupada continues travelling and teaching. **[50:23]** February, 1977, the world's largest pilgrimage, Kumba Mela in Allahabad, India. **[50:30]** Millions gathered to bathe in the holy Ganges. **[50:33]** Although physically weak, Srila Prabhupada attends. **[50:38]** His disciples perform kirtan and distribute books and "Back to Godhead" magazines. **[50:43]** Practically from the very beginning Srila Prabhupada gave us notice that he would not always be with us. **[50:54]** Of course it was only a few months after he opened the storefront on 26 2nd Avenue and he became very ill **[51:02]** and he had that heart attack or whatever it was and it seemed even at that time that he might leave then. **[51:07]** And he warned us. He said, "I am an old man, I may leave at any moment." **[51:11]** Notice is already given, three score and ten, that is already passed. **[51:15]** So Prabhupada was never under any illusion that he would remain forever in this world with us. **[51:23]** But he said, "My instruction will remain." **[51:25]** And he trained us from the very beginning to follow his instruction and to use our individuality **[51:32]** to execute his instructions for the glorification of Krishna. **[51:37]** Although his illness steadily worsens, Srila Prabhupada speaks nightly at a program in Bombay. **[51:44]** In May he journeys to Hrsikesa at the foot of the Himalayas to try to regain his health. **[51:51]** There he continues to instruct his intimate disciples. **[51:56]** Then in October Srila Prabhupada returns to his old home, Vrindavana, to spend his final days. **[52:05]** Even though he is physically incapacitated, Srila Prabhupada's intellect remains clear. **[52:27]** He continues dictating translations and comments on his life's work, Srimad-Bhagavatam, **[52:34]** until days before he departs from this world. **[52:37]** Everything is acting, moving, by the supreme desire of Krishna. **[52:45]** This consciousness is Krishna consciousness. **[52:53]** November 14th, 1977, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada passes on. **[53:03]** That divine personality who spoke on different subjects with thousands of meanings, **[53:25]** who imparted knowledge in thousands of ways, and who inspired thousands of devotees **[53:31]** has now returned to his Lord, Sri Krishna. **[53:35]** Being kind to his devotees, Lord Krishna gave them the association of Srila Prabhupada, **[53:42]** being independent in his desires, the Lord has now broken that association. **[53:50]** Yet Srila Prabhupada remains. **[53:52]** He lives forever in his teachings and he lives forever in the hearts of His followers. **[54:37]** As their ever well-wisher.