Pleasing Srila Prabhupada By His Grace Rajendranandana Dasa Srila Prabhupada wanted everyone to become Krishna conscious, not just the monks or the fortunate devotees who serve full time in the temples. People who have taken up householder responsibilities should be given a chance to develop Krishna consciousness. In response to Lord Caitanya’s questions about the goal of life, Ramananda Raya quoted Lord Brahma from the Tenth Canto where he stated that one doesn’t have to change what he is doing, but simply hear from a devotee of the Lord. You can be Krishna conscious in any circumstance, inside the temple or outside the temple. It doesn’t matter. Krishna is everywhere. Krishna can be served anywhere if the person is trained by the devotee of Krishna on how to serve and please Him. One time in Honolulu, Hawaii, Srila Prabhupada was on his morning walk and a GBC member was complaining about some of the house- holder devotees. They were living outside of the temple and he thought they were too independent. He told Prabhupada these devotees said that one can live outside of the temple, chant sixteen rounds, follow the four regulative principles, and still go back to Godhead. Srila Prabhupada said, “So, what is your philosophy?” The devotee continued with his statements. Prabhupada replied, “In the morning and evening, with your family, one should chant Hare Krishna, offer food to the Lord, and hear the glorification of the Lord from the scriptures. If you do those three things everyday, then your family can be Krishna conscious.” Someone had mercy upon you and me, so we should have mercy on as many people as we can. My particular method is to try to be friends with every- one. We are all looking for friendship, but you can’t really find it in the material world. Everyone is self-motivated, and everyone is either cheating or being cheated. Everyone is exploiting each other. What kind of friendship can be had? The devotee is representing Krishna, who is the true friend of everyone. They are presenting Krishna consciousness to the best of their ability. You don’t have to be a big scholar. You just have to represent Krishna as He is. If you do that in an honest, respectful, and friendly way, people will be happy to embrace Krishna consciousness. The devotee is the only friend of a conditioned soul. In the prayer we say everyday while offering obeisances to each other, the devotee is said to be a desire tree. So, make friends with the conditioned souls by presenting Krishna consciousness in a palatable way, and they will appreciate. That will certainly please Srila Prabhupada.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 02:25:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015