Srila Prabhupāda first arrived in America from India on the ship Jaladuta in the Boston harbour Massachusetts USA on Friday September 17, 1965 and first registered ISKCON on July 13th 1966 in New York City, USA.
Srila Prabhupada came to the United States carrying within his heart the orders of his spiritual master to spread the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu beyond the borders of India throughout the entire world.
As he looked across Boston’s bleak polluted skyline, he could understand the difficulty of this mission and felt great compassion for those godless people, thus, with perfect humility, he composed this historic prayer in Bengali (translated to English), praying for the deliverance of the fallen souls.
1: My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.
2: But I guess You have some business here. Otherwise, why would You bring me to such a terrible place?
3: Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.
4: But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible, because You are the most expert mystic.
5: How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.
6: All living entities have come under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. I wish that You may deliver them.
7: I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.
8: The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives them with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.
9: It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (Canto 1 Ch 2 Text 17-21): ‘Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam and rendering service unto the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is practically destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
At the time loving service is established in the heart, the modes of passion [rajas] and ignorance [tamas], and lust and desire [kama] disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness and he becomes happy.
Thus established in the mode of goodness, the man rejuvenated by loving service to the Lord gains liberation from material association [mukti] and comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead.
Thus the knot in the heart and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions [karma] is terminated when one sees the self as master.”
10: He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear.
11: How will I make them understand the message of Krsna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.
12: Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like.
13: O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.
14: Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel gladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.
15: O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like.
16: I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now if You like You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.
Signed, the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.
On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. dated Saturday 18th of September, 1965
Born-
Abhay Charan De
1 September 1896
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.
Left this world-
14 November 1977 (aged 81) Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Resting place-
Bhaktivedānta Swami's Samadhi, Krsna Balarama Mandir Vrindavan
Religion-
Sanātan Dharma,
Vaishnavism,
Street Sankirtan - the chanting of Hare Krsna all over the World - The Yuga Dharma for this degraded Kali-yuga.
Lineage-
Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.
Sect-
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Notable work-
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Nectar of Devotion.
School-
Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta (B.A.)
Monastic name-
Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhakti-vedānta Svāmī
Temple-
Gaudiya Math, ISKCON
Philosophy-
Achintya Bheda Abheda (Simultaneously one and different philosophy of Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu)
Teacher (Spiritual Master or Guru)-
Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur
Predecessor-
Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur
Initiation-
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Diksa
1933 by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur.
Ordination (Sannyas initiation)-
Taking Gaudiya Sannyas in 1959 from Bhaktiprajnāna Keśava Gosvāmī.
Srila Prabhupada's basic enlighting teachings are as following-
Devotee - "It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that if one thinks of Krsna at the time of death, he (she) goes to Krsna. What if one thinks of his spiritual master?"
Srila Prabhupāda - "He (she) will go to Krsna because spiritual master is also going to Krsna." (BG, Class Ch 7 Text 2, Oct 28, 1975 Nairobi)
The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are TWO involved, not one Prabhupada has told us. The individual jiva-souĺs have THEIR choices too, EVEN if that choice means rejecting Krsna! Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" affair.
In other words, loving reciprocation is ONLY possible on a "two-way" street between two, with each contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows.
This also means the individual jiva-souls CAN reject Krsna if they choose, which in a sense proves that "free will" DOES truly exist.
Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will." (Philosophy Discussions on Rene Descartes)
Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence, that is force.” (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)
Having "free will" is the eternal constitutional make up of EVERY "marginal living entity," and is the foundation for ALL jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna.
The jiva-souls on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavan ALWAYS have their independent "free will" that is part and parcel of their unique individuality included in their marginal identity (As jiva-soul)
This "freedom" of having individual self expression," allows the jiva-souls to each make their own unique personal offerings and voluntary contributions to Visnu or Krsna, where each jiva-soul can offer or serve Krsna in their own unique personal way.
This is REAL freedom.
In this way each individual jiva-soul has their own special unique (personal) association and relationship with Krsna that no other jiva-soul has like theirs.
These loving exchanges are based on a "two-way" relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls.
However, in the temporary material creation, it is different because those who have entered the material creation have previously chosen to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan by rejecting Visnu in Vaikuntha or Krsna in Goloka Vrindavana.
So why then does Krsna allow the jiva-souls to have their independent freedom to even leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan if they choose?
Devotee – "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?” Why doesn’t He save me from thinking like that?”
Srila Prabhupada - “That means you lose your independence, that is force. In Bengali it is said, ‘if you catch one girl or boy and demand, ‘you love me, you love me, you love me,’ is that love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver. ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!’ That is not love; that is threatening. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?” (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C)
First of all we read from above by Prabhupada, Krsna gives the jiva-souls "free will" in the spiritual world that allows them to make their own choices there.
Having free will also makes the jiva-souls fully responsible for all their choices and actions.
Rejecting Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan and therefore having to enter the material creation, (but only less than 10% make such a choice) was a mistake by those jiva-souls because the material creation is NOT the real home of the individual jiva-souls.
It is unnatural for the individual jiva-souls to be covered by a temporary material bodily vessel or container that they are given when they enter the material creation.
It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each jiva-soul MUST have their "free will" to make their own choices, even if it means leaving Krsna if they choose, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or service.
This quality or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcels expansion of the Krsna.
Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can NEVER exist.
Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We CAN misuse that." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)
Having "free will" is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is ALWAYS part and parcel of their eternal character and personality in the spiritual world.
This means the jiva-souls can even choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they choose to do so, otherwise free will has no meaning.
In other words, free will clearly means the jiva-souls can choose to even reject Krsna's promise that they they will never fall down again into the material world.
Many big, big Gurus and Swamis have misunderstood the full implications of 'free will" and have not properly understood it.
Free will always allows this and if it didn't then there is no question of loving exchanges.
This is why it is foolish that big, big sannyasis and gurus in some other sangas (religious cults) claim once entering the spiritual world, the jiva-souls can never leave or down again.
No, they CAN fall down again and again if they choose to do so!
And as said above, such choices or fall downs have nothing to do with Maya (material energy) because Maya does not exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. It is simply the misuse of free will that is the cause of fall down.
The choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows a "two-way" relationship, this means one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose to do so.
Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will."
Hayagriva - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."
Srila Prabhupada -"Yes, but that is free will, he misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Talk on philosophy of Rene Descartes)
Syamasundara - "But can we predict returning back home back to Godhead will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, however some do come back?''
Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no permanent effect because we have got little independence. There is nothing permanent because you can misuse your independence at any time."
Syamasundara - "And some come back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, otherwise there is no meaning of independence. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. "All right. Whatever you like."
Devotee - "Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "He has got independence, therefore there is always the possibility he can misuse his independence, he CAN fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is NOT to come back, but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again." (Talk on the philosophy of Henri Bergson)
Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
The Sun-disc and the sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities CANNOT exist without Krsna.
Each "jiva-soul" (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different from other personalities including Kṛṣṇas.
No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can EVER become God (Krsna), or Visnu (also a direct expansion of Krsna who has 93.75% of Krsna's qualities, which is possessing 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities).
Nor can the jiva-souls become the mysterious Lord Siva (possessing 85.938% of Krsna's qualities, which is 55 of Krsna's 64 attributes) Lord Siva is in a league of his own being neither Visnu-tattva or jiva-tattva (jiva-soul)
However, the jiva-souls CAN become a Brahma if they are qualified because he is also a jiva-soul who has 78.125% of Krsna's quantities, which is having 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes.
Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of reciprocation between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotional service to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the "free will" of each jiva-soul.
On the other hand, actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that does not allow personal voluntary contributions from the individual jiva-souls in a "two-way" exchange of feelings, is dangerous impersonalism.
Personalism means a "two-way" relationship that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will!" (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Srila Prabhupada - ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed by only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada - ''The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)
Devotee – “Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?”
Srila Prabhupada – “Yes, human form, God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."
Hari-sauri dasa – “How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?”
Srila Prabhupada – “[describing material form first]: Yes, they are more covered, just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."
Hari-sauri dasa - “They are covered in the spiritual world?”
Srila Prabhupada - “Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he ñcan change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 Text 1-4, Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)..^*^..
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