(Click to enlarge photo of devotees greeting Srila Prabhupada)
"I always said that if I could get the American boys and girls to take up this movement the rest of the world would join. Now my theory is being proved. So now I am depending on you all to carry on this great mission in my absence; chant and hear, and Krishna will bless you."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 26, 1967)
"You are all intelligent boys, and you should be engaged in Krishna's service. Then He will give you all intelligence. So in every action we should always pray to Krishna for His help so that we may act it nicely. Lord Krishna advised Arjuna yudhyasva mam anusmara.* That should be our principle. We should use all our intellect as well as possible, and at the same time we should remember Krishna always."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 13, 1969)
*yudhyasva mam anusmara—Krishna says, "Think of Me and fight."
"You are all very intelligent boys and girls and I have full faith in you for pushing on this movement all over the world."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 5, 1971)
"I think this will be my last tour—now let me go on translating, that is my real work. I am so much encouraged by reports everywhere that our Movement is getting good results, especially that MacMillan Co. has agreed to print our Bhagavad Gita As It Is, so I think my work is now finished, let me write. I have built the skyscraper skeleton, now you all intelligent American and European boys and girls fill in the spaces nicely in good taste. Do not deviate from our high standard. That will mean great dishonor to me. Push on in your preaching work as I have shown you, remain pure, enthusiastic, and optimistic, and Krishna will favor you with all good results and benedictions."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 22, 1971)
"Human life begins when there is systematic education in the science of God consciousness. Just some days ago I was discussing with Professor Alister Hardy—Head of Religious Experimental research unit Oxford, it was his opinion that the problems of human life are over-population, environmental pollution etc.. But from Bhagavad-gita we understand that God is the father of all living beings, so the father must be competent to provide for all the children, and in the case of the Supreme Father this is actually so—we get it from Vedic Literature
'nitya nitya nam chaitanyus chaitanayanam (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13)— Amongst all the Eternals there is one chief Eternal Being and he is engaged in supplying and fulfilling the desires of all the others.'
Therefore our conclusion was that the real problem is not over-population or pollution, malnutrition etc., but the actual problem is Godlessness. So you are all intelligent boys and girls—therefore my request to you is that you study this science of Krishna Consciousness and solve all the problems of the world by systematic propaganda as far as you are able to do it."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 27, 1973)
"Now do it cooperatively. You are intelligent and experienced—all work together there for the glory of Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 1, 1974)
"All my disciples they are good boys, intelligent, and hard working. I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna's service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 1, 1974)
"Here in India we are now arranging for publishing Hindi books and other languages for profuse distribution in India. That is my immediate program. I blindly follow my guru maharaj. I do not know what is the result. So I am stressing on this point of book distribution. He told me this personally.
Book distribution is bhagwat marg and temple worship is pancaratriki viddhi. Both are important for cultivating Vaisnavism but comparatively speaking bhagwat marg is more important than pancaratriki viddhi. As far as possible both should go on in parallel lines but still bhagwat marg is more important than the other.
So you are all intelligent boys, so you should judge the desire of my guru maharaj and help me in that way. Regarding the temple management, one man can be left behind, while the others go out, to take care of the Deity. And, you can come home at night and take prasadam sumptuously. Once eating sumptuously is enough to maintain body and soul together. In the daytime you may not take, and at night you can take. As a matter of fact, a devotee may take only once in a day either in the day or night, and whenever you eat, you must first offer. But I do not mean you should neglect temple life. Do not misunderstand this. But, one man can remain, and so far the other devotees are concerned, they can eat once in the day or night, after having kirtan, then six hours of sound sleep, and this will maintain their health properly."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 6, 1974)
Prabhupāda: So, my dear boys and girls, about six years ago I came to your country single-handed, with these pair of cymbal. Now you are so many chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is my success. It was the prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu:
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra hoibe mora nāma
(CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126)
Lord Caitanya desired that, 'In all the towns, in as many towns and villages as they are on the surface of the globe, My name will be broadcast.' He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, svayaṁ kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa caitanya-nāmine, simply changing His name as Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. So His prediction will never go in vain. That's a fact.
So my plan was that, 'I shall go to America. America is the leading country of the world. If I can convince the younger generation of America, they will take up.' I am old man. I came here at the age of seventy years. Now I am seventy-six. So my warning is already there. In 1971, I had a severe heart attack. You know, all. So the mission of Caitanya Mahāprabhu is now in your hand. You are, American boys and girls, very intelligent and graced by Kṛṣṇa. You are not poverty-stricken. You have enough resources, prestige. Everything materially, you are all well-equipped. If you kindly take this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement seriously, your country will be saved, and the whole world will be saved."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, May 18, 1972)
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