Name:

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Religion: Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism. Personal Information: Born: Abhay Charan De 1St September 1896. Calcutta. Died: 14th November 1977 (aged 81) Vrindavan, India. Resting Place: Prabhupadas Samadhi, Vrindavan

Senior Positioning: Based in: Title: Vrindavan, India. Founder- Acharaya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Period in Office:
Predecessors: Successor: Religious Career: Initiation:

1966-1977. Bhaktisiddanta SarasvatiThakura. The Governing Body Commission.

Diksa-1932, Sannayasa-1959.

Post: Website:

Guru, Sannayasi, Achayara. ISKCON Worldwide.

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank the publisher and author of the book for publishing Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta As It is and helping us to have a deeper insight of our Guru Srila Prabhupada. I would also like to thank the other gurus who are mentioned in the book (and has been stated below) who have helped the author in clearing the blasphemy which was against Srila Prabhupada. Thank you Sulocana Prabhu (as stated by the Author of the book) for sacrificing his life to reveal Srila Prabhupadas previously hidden letters to everyone, along with his own wonderful realizations in his book Guru Business. Chapter seven of the book exposes the pseudo Iskcon leaders offensive biography of Srila Prabhupadas life, which is an essential service for the future of the mission. .It has helped in uprooting the most poisonous weed and has planted the seed for Srila Prabhupadas authentic life story, with the following words He left us his own autobiography, as it is. Srila Prabhupada LiamrtaAs It Is helps in fulfilling the authors first purpose in revealing to the world exactly who Srila Prabhupada is and how he has nothing whatsoever to do with the corruption going on amongst ISKCONs leaders today. Thanks to George Harrison Prabhu (as stated by the author of the book) for humbly assisting Srila Prabhupada in spreading the Hare Krishna Mantra throughout the world and for bringing so many souls to His Divine Graces shelter. In his passing from this world he has profoundly awakened Krishna Consciousness in the innocent public and purified the whole atmosphere which had become so polluted due to sinful activity, particularly the blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada. Thanks to Sanat Prabhu (as stated by the author in the book) for risking his life, exposing the demons crime of poisoning Srila Prabhupada and for striving for several years to wake up the false reform, so called Prabhupada followers, (Pada, Nityananda das et al) that Srila Prabhupada himself had clearly indicated he was being tortured and poisoned unto death. Moreover I would also like to thank Mr. Krishnakant for writing The Final Order which proves Srila Prabhupadas as Initiating Guru which has been foreword by Dr. Kim Knott (Professor of Religious studies, Leeds University, U.K). In this book he has tried to solve ISKCONs leadership and initiation difficulties (IRM v/s GBC). He has been able to commend what is as a serious attempt to argue the case that Srila Prabhupada established a system of ritvik gurus whom he intended would initiate disciples on his behalf.

Prologue:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is considered the foremost contemporary (1896-1977) authority on bhakti-yoga, devotional service to Krishna (God) as taught by the ancient Vedic writings of India. Srila Prabhupada (as he's known to his followers) translated and commented on over eighty volumes of sacred bhakti texts, such as the BhagavadGita and the multi-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada boarded a steamship bound from India to New York City in 1965. At age sixtynine, with forty rupees and a trunk of his Bhagavatam commentaries the first ever in English his aim was to introduce "India's message of peace and goodwill" to the western world. He represented a lineage of spiritual masters extending back to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the divine avatar who spread Krishna bhakti all over India in the sixteenth century. During the last twelve years of his life, Srila Prabhupada would inspire thousands of Westerners and Indians to devote their lives to Krishna consciousness, launching one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements in the history of the world. He considered his translations and commentaries to be divinely inspired, practical guidebooks for the spiritual and material benefit of human society. Many scholars and professors who met Srila Prabhupada and became familiar with his work continue to use his books as standard university texts, and regard him as a genuine, realized, and scholarly teacher of bhakti. With the help of his students, he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). ISKCON became popularly known as the "Hare Krishna" movement, due to its members' widespread practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in public. Srila Prabhupada intended ISKCON to facilitate the association and education of bhakti-yoga practitioners, and his followers continue to spread his mission.

Brief Introduction: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founderacharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement". His mission was to propagate Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a form of Hinduism that had been taught to him by his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, throughout the world Born Abhay Charan De in Kolkata, he was educated at the prestigious local Scottish Church College. Before adopting the life of a pious renouncing (vanaprastha) in 1950, he was married with children and owned a small pharmaceutical business. In 1959 he took a vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and started writing commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures. In his later years, as a traveling Vaishnava monk, he became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in 1966. As the founder of ISKCON, he "emerged as a major figure of the Western counterculture, initiating thousands of young Americans." Despite attacks from anti-cult groups, he received a favorable welcome from many religious scholars, such as J. Stillson Judah, Harvey Cox, Larry Shinn and Thomas Hopkins, who praised Prabhupada's translations and defended the group against distorted media images and misinterpretations. In respect to his achievements, religious leaders from other Gaudiya Vaishnava movements have also given him credit. He has been described as a charismatic leader, in the sense used by the sociologist Max Weber, as he was successful in acquiring followers in the United States, Europe, India and elsewhere. After his death in 1977, ISKCON, the society he founded based on a type of Hindu Krishnaism using the Bhagavata Purana as a central scripture, continued to grow and is respected in India, though there have been disputes about leadership among his followers.

BIOGRAPHY: Born on September 1, 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important Vaishnava holidays, in a humble house in the Tollygunge suburb of Kolkata, he was named Abhay Charan, "one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's feet." Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava ("the celebration of Nanda," Krishna's father, a traditional festival in honor of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulal. His parents, Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu). In accordance with Bengali tradition, his mother had gone to the home of her parents for the delivery, and only a few days later Abhay returned with parents to his home at 151 Harrison Road in Kolkata, where he was brought up and educated. He received a European led education in the Scottish Church College, Kolkata. This school was well reputed among Bengalis; many Vaishnava families sent their sons there. The professors, most of whom were Europeans, were known as sober, moral men, and it is believed that the students received a good education. The college was located in north Kolkata, not far from Harrison Road where Abhay's family lived. During his years in the college, Prabhupada was a member of the English Society as well as that of the Sanskrit Society, and it has been suggested that his education provided him a foundation for his future leadership. He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics. However he refused to accept his diploma, being a devout follower of Gandhi at the time. His refusal to accept the diploma he had earned was in protest of the British. He also wore the homespun cotton cloth the followers of Gandhi wore in protest of British clothes. Srila Prabhupadas Childhood: Srila Prabhupada was born by the banks of the Ganges river in Calcutta on September 1st, 1896, the day after Sri Krishna Janmastami. It was the time of British Raj in India. His mother and father were both devoted to Lord Krishna, especially in His form as Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupadas father earned a humble but adequate living as a cloth merchant As told by him, "Actually his real business was worshipping Krishna, but for livelihood he did some business. We would be sleeping and father would be worshipping the Lord. Ding, ding, ding - we would hear the bell and wake up to see him bowing down before Krishna." According to the custom, on the occasion of his birth, an astrologer was called. He calculated the birth-chart and predicted to the joy of all present that when Srila Prabhupada would reach the age of seventy he would cross the ocean, become a great exponent of religion and open 108 temples

Srila Prabhupadas father always treated him with great affection as a most special child and saw to it that his son learned the practice of Krishna consciousness from his very birth. He gave his son, Sri Radha-Krishna Deities for his childhood play. He arranged mridanga and harmonium music lessons and Srila Prabhupada became accomplished in devotional music. He also made sure his son learned Sanskrit, the language of the Vedic scriptures he would later translate for all the world to understand. Later, when there was talk of Srila Prabhupada studying law in England, his father objected: "He will learn drinking and woman-hunting do not want his money!" In these ways, Srila Prabhupada was always supported by his affectionate father on the spiritual path. When Srila Prabhupada was five years old, he desired to hold a Ratha Yatra festival like the one held annually in Jagannatha Puri, attended by millions. When he heard his father could not afford a new wooden ratha, he began to cry. This attracted the attention of passing Bengali women who kindly let him buy her old ratha. Srila Prabhupada enlisted the help of the neighborhood children and their mothers in an elaborate eight-day spiritual festival that he continued annually during his boyhood. This same festival would eventually be established by Srila Prabhupada on five continents. 1918, Prabhupada married and soon started a family.

As far as Srila Prabhupadas own children go, naturally because Srila Prabhupada was a serious devotee, as was his sister Bhavatarini, his children were fully familiar with Vaishnava philosophy and practice. However, they were all kanistha adhikaris, meaning they were not motivated to neither preach nor really strictly practice. But they appreciated and counted themselves as followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, at least as a religion. Some of his children did not do too well in their adult life. His oldest son Prayag Raj became mentally disturbed and died on the streets of Calcutta around the age of 30 yrs. Next was his daughter Sulaxmana. She lived an ordinary life, got married had some children and remained in Calcutta. She is now dead. Next was Mathura Mohan De. He was described by Srila Prabhupada as being very intelligent, and a beautiful child who was liked by all the members of the Gaudiya Matha, and he also met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur in Radha Kunda. He was small then, just a few years old and he would lie down flat and touch SBSSTs feet. Later on though he became spoiled by bad association and became a radical in his late teens. He also resented very deeply that Srila Prabhupada took sannyasa, because as the eldest son he had to take responsibility for the rest of the family. He took an inimical stance towards Srila Prabhupada after the formation of ISKCON yet despite his bitterness Srila Prabhupada still tried to engage him in some service to Krishna. He never married, and immediately after Srila Prabhupadas disappearance he sued ISKCON to try and take control of the whole of ISKCON

as his family inheritance. That case dragged on for many years and was eventually settled in 1993 in ISKCONs favor. MM De died a few years back. Next was Bhaktilata De, the second daughter. She never married and apparently felt some resentment towards her father for taking sannyasa before getting her married. She is still alive, and lives with the youngest of the five children, Vrindavan Candra De and his family. Vrindavan Candra was in his early teens when Srila Prabhupada took sannyasa. He is a simple man and has always been very respectful and appreciative of his father and the ISKCON society. He and his wife and son live in a flat that Srila Prabhupada provided for the family in Calcutta. VC had a small book trading company called Vrinda Books. Srila Prabhupada tried to engage him in some devotional service by giving him the rights to distribute his books in Bengal but he was never very good at business and could not make it successful. VCs daughter was married to one of our devotees, Sujitendriya dasa, in Mayapur but she drowned in a tragic boat accident three years ago, along with one of her daughters. Srila Prabhupadas former wife Radharani De goes, she died around 1984. At the end she also took up chanting japa. Srila Prabhupada had said that she was a devotee but she was not interested in helping him with his preaching. She would go in another room whenever Srila Prabhupada had guests or devotees visiting his house. When MM De sued ISKCON he managed to persuade his siblings, with the exception of Vrindavan Candra, to join with him in the case. Radharani De signed an affidavit denouncing her sons attack on ISKCON.

He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvame, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent religious scholar and the founder of sixty-four Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge. Srila Prabhupada became his student and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad he became his formally initiated disciple. At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, and in 1944started Back to Godhead, an English fortnightly magazine. Maintaining the publication was a struggle. Single handedly, Srila Prabhupada edited it, typed the manuscripts, checked the galley proofs, and even distributed the individual copies. Once begun, the magazine never stopped; it is now being continued by his disciples in the Westland is published in over thirty languages.

Recognizing Prabhupadas philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society honored him in 1947 with the title Bhaktivedanta. His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada began translating and writing Vedic literature in the English language to bring the message of Lord Krishna to the Western countries. In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, adopting the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing. Srila Prabhupada traveled to the holy city of Vrindavana, where he lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara. There he engaged for several years in deep study and writing. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959. At Radha-Damodara, Srila Prabhupada began work on his lifes masterpiece: a multivolume annotated translation of the eighteen-thousand-verse He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets. After publishing three volumes of the Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada journeyed to the United States, arriving in September of 1965 to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master. With him he brought no foreign exchange, but he did bring sets of his books. After almost a year of difficulty he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in July of 1966. Subsequently, His Divine Grace went on to write more than sixty volumes of authoritative, annotated translations and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India. Before passing away on November 14, 1977, Srila Prabhupada guided his Society to a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities. In 1968 Srila Prabhupada created New Vrindavan, an experimental Vedic community in the hills of West Virginia, which became a thriving rural community of more than two thousand acres. Several similar communities were established in the United States and in other countries. In 1972 His Divine Grace introduced the Vedic system of primary and secondary education in the West by founding the Gurukul School in Dallas, Texas. Since then, his disciples have established schools throughout the United States and the rest of the world, with the principal educational centers located in Vrindavan and Mayapur, India. On the level of higher education, Srila Prabhupada formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute, a center for advanced study and research into the nature of consciousness and the self. The Institute is comprised of a body of scientists and scholars who have recognized the unique value of the teachings brought to the West by His Divine Grace. Srila Prabhupada also oversaw the construction of several large international cultural centers in India. The center at Shridhama Mayapur in West Bengal is the site for a future spiritual city. In Vrindavan are the magnificent Krishna-Balrama Temple and International Guesthouse and the Srila Prabhupada Memorial and Museum. There is also a major cultural and educational center in Bombay.

Srila Prabhupada most significant contributions, however, are his books. Highly respected by the academic community for their authority, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into over fifty languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 to present the works of His Divine Grace, has become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. In just twelve years, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents, where he daily enlightened audiences with classes and discussions on the Vedic literature. Over two thousand of these lectures are available on recordings. Initiating over ten thousand disciples and enlisting further tens of thousands of Life Member supporters, he guided his followers and enquirers with valuable instructions and counseling both personally and through some seven thousand letters. In spite of such a vigorous regimen, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His works constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.

RELIGIOUS CAREER:
In 1922, when Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was requested to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language. Later in 1932 Prabhupada became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta. In 1944, (from his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Kolkata), Prabhupada started the publication called Back to Godhead, for which he acted as designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor. He personally designed the logo, an effulgent figure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, with the motto: "Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness" greeting the readers. In his first magazine he wrote: Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but as none have discouraged me, I have now taken courage to take up the work. A.C.Bhakivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead magazine(Vol.1, 1-4, 1944)

In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognized Prabhupada's scholarship with the title Bhaktivedanta, (bhakti-vednta) meaning "one who has realized that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge" (with the words Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge). His later well known name, Prabhupada, is Sanskrit title, literally meaning "he who has taken the position of the Lord" where prabhu denotes "Lord and pada means "position." Also, "at whose feet masters sit". This name was used as a respectful form of address by his disciples from late 1967 early 1968 onwards. Previous to this, as with his early disciples, followers used to call him "Swamiji". From 1950 onwards, Prabhupada lived at the medieval Radha-Damodar mandir in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana. Of all notable Vrindavana's temples, the RadhaDamodara mandir had at the time the largest collection of various copies of the original writings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers - more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many of them three hundred, some even four hundred years old. His guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, had always encouraged Prabhupada that "If you ever get money, print books", referring to the need of literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.

RENUNCIATION: Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha was the place where Prabhupada used to live, he had written and studied in the library of this building, here he edited the Gauiya Patrika magazine and this is the place where he donated the murti of Lord Chaitanya who stands on the altar beside the Deities of Radha Krishna (named Sri Sri Radha Vinodavihariji). During his visit in September 1959 he entered the doors of this matha dressed in white, as Abhay Babu, but would be leaving dressed in saffron, a swami. In this matha, in Mathura Vrindavan, Prabhupada took Vaishnava renunciate vows,sannyasa, from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Maharaja, and following this he singlehandedly published the first three volumes covering seventeen chapters of the first book of Bhagavata Purana, filling three volumes of four hundred pages each with a detailed commentary. Introduction to the first volume was a biographical sketch of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He then left India, obtaining free passage on a freight ship called the Jaladuta, with the aim and a hope of fulfilling his spiritual master's instruction to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu around the world. In his possession were a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, about eight dollars worth of Indian currency, and several boxes of books. Depending fully on Lord Krishna's mercy, Srila Prabhupada began his life's literary work: an English translation, with commentaries of the Srimad Bhagavatam. He struggled alone, writing and collecting money to print the first three volumes. In 1965, the way was finally cleared for his now historic journey to the West. The Scindia Steamship Line gave him free passage aboard the freighter Jaladhuta; and in August, Srila Prabhupada left India with a crate of his SrimadBhagavatams, a pair of kartals (small hand cymbals) and seven dollars. The forty-day journey was arduous. A few days out at sea, the Jaladhuta passed through heavy storms, and Prabhupada suffered from seasickness and heart attacks. For two consecutive nights, the attacks came, and at age sixty-nine, Prabhupada knew that they could prove fatal. On the third night, he dreamt that Lord Krishna Himself was rowing the ship to America, urging him on, and offering him all protection. The next day, the storms and heart attacks subsided. When the ship finally docked in New York City, he wrote: "My dear Lord Krishna, 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. How will I make them understand the message of Krishna Consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and most fallen. Therefore, I am seeking your benediction so I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own." Then, with his books, his cymbals, and seven dollars, Prabhupada entered the anonymity of the world's largest metropolis. Throughout the winter of 1965-1966, he struggled for subsistence in cold Manhattan apartments, selling a few copies of Srimad Bhagavatam to curious strangers. Despite hardships, he continued writing. After his room was ransacked by thieves, he moved to Manhattan's Lower East Side, renting an apartment and a small storefront at 26 Second Avenue.

Word soon spread among young seekers of spiritual truth that an Indian swami had come with a "far -out yoga method": chanting Hare Krishna. In July 1966 he formed the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) with a few disciples. In the autumn, he took his following to the nearby Tompkins Square Park for the first public chanting of Hare Krishna in the Western world, and gained quick notice on the Lower East Side. Though he had only a few disciples - his strict regimen allowed no meat eating, illicit sex, intoxication, or gambling - Prabhupada was well on his way you realizing his mission. Within months, he opened centers in San Francisco, Montreal, Boston, Los Angeles, and Buffalo. In 1969 he visited New Vrindaban, where he stayed for two months in a simple wooden shack "Eventually you must construct seven temples on seven hills," he told his disciples. At the time, this seemed an impossible dream. Srila Prabhupada then went to Europe to visit the newly-opened centers in London and Hamburg. In the following years the Hare Krishna movement swept around the world, with centers in the entire major cities of the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Even though constantly travelling, he never stopped writing on the science of Krishna Consciousness. Over eighty volumes of his works have been published and over a hundred million distributed. These include Bhagavad-Gita as It Is (1968), Teachings of Lord Chaitanya (1968), Krishna The Supreme Personality of Godhead (1970), Nectar of Devotion (1970), Chaitanya-caritamrita (1970-1975, seventeen volumes), and thirty volumes of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada left this mortal world in 1977. Wherever Srila Prabhupada stayed, whether in a London manor, or a simple Indian hut, he translated the Vedic literatures into English during the early morning hours and nurtured his infant society by day. Srila Prabhupada accomplished these prodigious feats between the ages of seventy and eightytwo through great personal effort and unshakable faith in Krishna, the Supreme Lord. In this short space, only a few of his accomplishments are mentioned. He was certainly no ordinary person. He was a self-realized soul, chosen and empowered by Krishna to help the people of this world return to their original, spiritual home, the Kingdom of God. Hare Krishna.

Mission to the West Prabhupadas sailed to the USA in 1965. His trip to the United States was not sponsored by any religious organization, nor was he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers. As he neared his destination on the ship, the Indian freighter Jaladuta, the enormity of his intended task weighed on him. On September 13 he wrote in his diary, "Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna." On this occasion and on a number of others, Prabhupadas called on Krishna for help in his native Bengali. Examining these compositions, academics regard them as "intimate records of his prayerful preparation for what lay ahead" and a view on "how Bhaktivedanta Swami understood his own identity and mission." I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place? How will I make them understand this message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own. By journeying to America, he was attempting to fulfill the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of "his dear Lord Krishna. It is in July 1966 "global missionary Vaishnavism" was brought to the West by Prabhupada, "the soul agent", founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City. Prabhupada spent much of the last decade of his life setting up the institution of ISKCON. Since he was the Society's leader, his personality and management were responsible for much of ISKCON's growth and the reach of his mission. When it was suggested to Bhaktivedanta Swami at the time of founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966 that a broader term "God Consciousness" would be preferable to "Krishna Consciousness" in the title, he rejected this recommendation, suggesting that name Krishna includes all other forms and concepts of God. After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York another center was started in San Francisco in 1967. From here Prabhupada traveled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing the movement through street chanting (sankirtana), book distribution and public speeches. Once ISKCON was more established in America a small number of devotees from the San Francisco temple were sent to London, England. After a short time of being in London they came into contact with The Beatles, of whom George Harrison took the greatest interest, spending a significant time speaking with Prabhupada and producing a record with members of the later London Radha Krishna Temple. Over the following years Prabhupada's continuing leadership role took him around the world some several times setting up temples and communities in all of the major continents. By the time of his death in Vrindavan eleven years later in 1977, ISKCON became a widely known expression of Vaishnavism on an international basis.

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days he:

circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents Initiated many disciples, awarding sannyasa and babaji initiations. introduced Vedic gurukul education to a Western audience directed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which claims to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts founded the religious colony New Vrindavan in West Virginia, authored more than eighty books (with many available online ) on Vedantic philosophy, religion, literature and culture (including four published originally in Bengali) introduced international celebrations in the capitals of the world like that of Jagannatha processions watched ISKCON grow to a confederation of more than 108 temples, various institutes and farm communities

Through his mission, Prabhupada followed and communicated the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced bhakti yoga to an international audience. Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism this was viewed as the fulfillment of a long time mission to introduce Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings to the world. In his discussion with a historian Arnold J. Toynbee in London, Prabhupada is quoted as saying: "I have started this Krishna Conscious Movement among the Indians and Americans and for the next ten thousand years it will increase."

Srila Prabhupada the Powerful Preacher and Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada displayed great devotion to Lord Sri Krishna from a very early age. By the age of six Srila Prabhupada became captivated by the Ratha-yatras festivals of Lord Jagannatha, held yearly in Calcutta. In later life he was to transport this entire festival to many of the major cities of the world which had never before seen such a spectacle. Between the years 1965 and 1977, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, or Srila Prabhupada, as his followers affectionately came to know him, had spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness to every major city in the world and had formed an international society comprising thousands of dedicated members. He had established 108 temples, with magnificent estates spread across six continents, and had circled the globe twelve times to personally guide the membership of his broadening mission. As if this were not enough accomplishment for a person proceeding from his seventieth to his eighty-second year, Srila Prabhupada had also translated, written, and published fifty-one volumes of books in twenty-eight different languages, tens of millions of which had been distributed throughout the world. He had delivered thousands of lectures, written thousands of letters, and taken part in thousands of conversations with followers, admirers, and critics alike. And he had won the esteem of dozens of prominent scholars, social figures and politicians, who had genuine appreciation for Srila Prabhupadas contributions to religion, philosophy, and culture. Once settled in New York, Srila Prabhupada started giving lectures from a small narrow office without furniture or even a telephone, and later he acquired a small shop-front called Matchless Gifts in Manhattans Lower East Side. The message he was preaching was almost completely unfamiliar to his audience, his saffron dress was alien and exotic, and his singing and chanting like nothing New York had ever heard. He was the first person to ever come to America with the pure teachings of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Still, he gradually found young men and women willing to hear him. Srila Prabhupada gradually attracted more and more followers through his lecture programmes and by sitting with a drum and chanting in Manhattans Tompkins Square Park where many young Americans, mostly from the hippie movement, would dance around him in ecstasy. There is now a commemorative plaque in Tompkins Square Park, signed by the famous former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York that pays homage to Srila Prabhupadas preaching activities there. It was the swinging sixties, yet Srila Prabhupada never compromised his teachings simply to attract more followers. At a time of experimentation with free love and hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, he told his American hippie followers that they must give up illicit sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling and meat eating. Yet still the numbers attending his programmes grew. He was offering something more real than anything the hippie movement provided. A higher spiritual taste and a complete philosophy of life.

The following are extracts from a lecture, written and spoken by Srila Prabhupada as a concise synopsis of Vaisnava philosophy: The transcendental vibration established by the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the sublime method for reviving our transcendental consciousness As living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness is now adulterated by the material atmosphere. The material atmosphere, in which we are now living, is called maya, or illusion. Maya means that which is not. And what is this illusion? The illusion is that we are all trying to be lords of material nature, while actually we are under the grip of her stringent laws. When a servant artificially tries to imitate the all-powerful master, it is called illusion. We are trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities. Therefore, although we are engaged in a hard struggle to conquer nature, we are ever more dependent on her. This illusory struggle against material nature can be stopped at once by revival of our eternal Krishna consciousness. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare is the transcendental process for reviving this original pure consciousness. By chanting this transcendental vibration, we can cleanse away all misgivings within our hearts. The basic principle of all such misgivings is the false consciousness that I am the lord of all I survey. Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original natural energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. This simplest method of meditation is recommended for this age. () This chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousnessnamely sensual, mental and intellectual. () When it is chanted by a pure devotee of the Lord in love, it has the greatest efficacy on hearers, and as such this chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effects can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of non-devotees should be avoided. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects. The word Hare is the form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krishna and Rama mean the supreme

pleasure, and Hare is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, changed to Hare (Hah-ray) in the vocative. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord. () These three words, namely Hare, Krishna and Rama, are the transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra. The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His energy, to give protection to the conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of a child for its mothers presence. Mother Hare helps the devotee achieve the Lord Fathers grace and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee who chants this mantra sincerely. No other means of spiritual realization is as effective in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy as the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Wherever he travelled Srila Prabhupada was always eager to meet and discuss with scholars and academics, since he particularly wanted to influence the intelligent class of man. When visiting the former Soviet Union in 1971, Srila Prabhupada met with Professor Grigoriy Kotovsky, head of the India Department at the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and Chairman of the Indian Studies Department at the University of Moscow. As they sat informally in Dr. Kotovskys office, the spiritual leader and the communist scholar vigorously discussed topics of mutual concern, and Srila Prabhupada proposed a radical reformation within modern communism, and explained how the caste system in India was not following Lord Krishnas teachings: On another occasion Srila Prabhupada met with a member of MENSA, the organization for people with an exceptional IQ. Towards the end of the conversation the member from MENSA, clearly proud of his great intelligence, invited Srila Prabhupada to come and have his IQ tested. Srila Prabhupada had a better idea Whenever Srila Prabhupada met someone of the Christian faith he would invariably challenge them on the issue of animal slaughter, as he once pointed out in May of 1974 in Geneva to Mr. C. Hennis of the International Labor Organisation of the UN Srila Prabhupada established several Vedic schools (called gurukulas), where children were trained in Krishna Consciousness from a very early age. He set up cow protection programmes on several of his larger projects to care for cows and bulls even after their productive lives were over. He set up an academy of artists who painted fabulous devotional artwork for his books. He also established the Bhaktivedanta Institute comprising of disciples expert in science and mathematics whose mission it was to disprove various atheistic dogmas such as the Big Bang theory and evolution, and at the same time establish a world view based exclusively on Vedic knowledge. And in New York, where his western preaching started, his disciples acquired an impressive thirteen-storey temple.

Along with teaching Vedic knowledge and spreading the chanting of the Lords holy names, Srila Prabhupada also insisted that ISKCON freely distribute spiritual food known as prasadam throughout the world. Literally millions of free plates of vegetarian foodstuffs have been distributed to needy people around the globe. Like the philosophy and the chanting, vegetarian food that has first been offered to the Lord purifies the heart and mind. Thus it assists in the process of gradually uncovering ones original awareness of God. From such humble beginnings Srila Prabhupada made Hare Krishna a household word by the 1970s. He established over one hundred temples including a thirteen storey building in the heart of the worlds most important city. He wrote scores of books, and initiated thousands of disciples. All this was achieved single-handedly without the financial support of any government department or institution. Thus it is clear that Srila Prabhupada alone fulfilled the prophecy of Lord Chaitanya. All over the world the words Hare Krishna, Hare Rama have permeated modern cultures with an indelible mark. Just as was predicted. It was Srila Prabhupada whose faith and devotion brought about this colossal feat, this miracle. Mankind owes him an enormous debt of gratitude since his pure Movement will act as a beacon of light for thousands of years to come. Of all his various contributions, Srila Prabhupada considered his books most important. In fact, he would often describe his work of translating and explaining the ancient Vedic texts as his very life and soul. It was in1970 that Srila Prabhupada founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, now the worlds largest publisher of books dealing with Indian philosophy and culture. Through its work over the last quarter of a century, tens of millions of people have read at least one of Srila Prabhupadas books and have felt their lives genuinely enriched. Here is a brief introduction to the spiritual knowledge you will find within those books. The Human Form of life. Srila Prabhupada would often pose the question: what is the difference between a live body and a dead one? He would point out that if we are nothing but chemicals, then these chemicals are also present in the dead body. What is it that distinguishes a living form from a non-living form? The answer, Srila Prabhupada taught, is consciousness, or awareness. All living forms display this symptom of consciousness to one degree or another. That is why we call them living rather than dead. Even the small microbial germ or the common houseplant shows signs of consciousness, whereas our dining table and chairs do not. Srila Prabhupada would stress that although different forms of life display different degrees and levels of consciousness, it is in the human form that we find the highest development of consciousness. He taught that since humans had the highest level of self-awareness it was a complete waste if he simply engaged in the same activities as the animals.

But what is it about our consciousness that makes it so different from that of the insect, the bird, the beast, or even the monkey? These creatures eat and we also eat; they sleep and we also sleep; they reproduce and we reproduce; they defend themselves and so do we. That we can perform these functions with greater sophistication may be one indicator that we possess higher consciousness, but it does not fully explain our excellence above all other forms of life. Srila Prabhupada explained that the real difference is found in our ability to question our existence, reflect upon ourselves, and inquire into our own nature and the nature of God. We can create languages, ponder the meaning of life, and puzzle in wonderment over the night sky. Such an endowment is not present in any other form of life. The Vedas therefore advise that in this human form of life we should be inquisitive to know who we are, what the universe is, what God is, and what the relationship is between ourselves, the universe, and God. We should inquire about the solution to the ultimate problems of life, namely birth, death, old age, and disease. Such questions cannot be asked by the cats and dogs, but they must arise in the heart of a real human being. You are not this Body: Without exception, all material phenomena have a beginning and an end. A prominent idea of modem culture is that consciousness is another such material phenomenon. Thus it is believed that consciousness (or the self) also ends with the death of the material body. This point of view, however, remains only an assumption. It has not been proven true by any scientific observation or experiment. Srila Prabhupada was highly critical of Western cultures strong identification of the self with the material body as he explains in the second canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam: The whole materialistic world, based on the conception of the material body as the self, is ignorant of the science of God. The materialist is always busy working for the welfare of the material body, not only his own but also those of his children, kinsmen, communitymen, countrymen, etc. The materialists have many branches of philanthropic and altruistic activities from a political, national and international angle of vision, but none of the field work can go beyond the jurisdiction of the misconception of identifying the material body with the spirit soul. Unless, therefore, one is saved from the wrong conception of the body and the soul, there is no knowledge of Godhead, and unless there is knowledge of God, all advancement of material civilization, however dazzling, should be considered a failure.

Nonetheless, the idea that the self ends with the body remains one of the great articles of faith of modern materialistic thought, and most of us have been educated from early childhood to think

of ourselves in terms of such beliefs. Few of us, however, have thought through the philosophical implications of this type of thinking, which draws us unconsciously toward voidistic and nihilistic styles of life. Srila Prabhupada demonstrated that the most basic of the Vedic teachings stands in direct opposition to the modern scientific view of consciousness and life. According to that teaching, individual consciousness is not at all dependent upon neurobiological functions but permanently exists as an independent reality. The presence within the material body of a conscious observer who remains ever present throughout changing bodily and mental states indicates the existence of two energiesthe spiritual energy (represented by the conscious self) and the material energy (represented by the temporary body). The Vedas explain that this spiritual energy, symptomized by consciousness, continues to exist even after the material body is finished. If each of us is an eternal soul covered only by different temporary bodily dresses, we can reasonably conclude that the highest welfare activity for all of human society is that which awakens us to our true spiritual identity and our dormant relationship with God. That activity is called Krishna consciousness. Just as there is neither glory nor profit in saving the dress of a drowning man, there is neither glory nor profit in humanitarian efforts aimed exclusively at improving conditions for the temporary, material body, which in the end is destined to grow old, become diseased, and die. As Srila Prabhupada notes in Srimad-Bhagavatam: The actual self is beyond the gross body and subtle mind. He is the potent, active principle of the body and mind. Without knowing the need of the dormant soul, one cannot be happy simply with the gratification of the body and mind. The spirit souls needs must be fulfilled. Simply by cleansing the cage of the bird, one does not satisfy the bird. There is dormant affection for God within everyone. Therefore we have to engage ourselves in activities that will evoke our divine, consciousness. This is possible only by hearing and chanting the divine activities of the Supreme Lord. Thus any occupational engagement which does not help one to achieve attachment for hearing and chanting the transcendental message of God is saidto be simply a waste of time.

Revealing the Perfect Knowledge of the Vedas If we can accept the importance of this type of inquiry, our next consideration will naturally be where to find authoritative answers to such questions. Clearly, if perfect knowledge concerning questions of the self, the universe, and God exists at all, it would have to be of a standard higher than just your opinion or my opinion, or for that matter Freuds or Einsteins or anyone elses opinion. Srila Prabhupada explained that since we all have imperfect senses and because we are all prone to make mistakes and even cheat, our relative opinions about matters beyond our experience can supply neither valid nor reliable information. Such speculation is indeed sterile and futile. Thus our attempt to approach such matters empirically will be fraught with various imperfections and ultimately fail. Therefore, so-called truths established exclusively on the basis of mental speculation cannot help us understand the Absolute Truth, which is beyond the reach of the imperfect senses and mind. The Vedas explain that if we want to know about things beyond the jurisdiction of our experience beyond the limitations of human perception and cognitionthe process is to hear from one who knows. As Srila Prabhupada taught This is the process for getting transcendental knowledge: to approach the proper person, the guru, and submissively hear from him. The transcendental knowledge of the Vedas was first uttered by the Supreme Lord Himself. The Lord, the supremely powerful being, cannot fall under the influence of any other force since He is the source of everything. As a logical consequence, His knowledge must be perfect. And anyone who transmits that knowledge without change gives the same perfect knowledge. We need only accept this proposition theoretically to progress in our understanding of Vedic thought. The perfect knowledge of the Vedas has been preserved over time by transmission through an unbroken chain of spiritual masters. Srila Prabhupada is the current link in one such chain or succession. That succession goes back thousands of years to Lord Krishna Himself. Thus the knowledge found within Srila Prabhupadas books is non- different from that which was originally imparted by the Supreme Lord Himself. Srila Prabhupada did not manufacture truths. He delivered the timeless teachings of the original Vedas without addition, deletion, or change. The writings of Srila Prabhupada are represented mainly by three Vedic textsthe Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Chaitanya-caritamrta. Together these works of

literature comprise more than 25 volumes of detailed information constituting the original Vedic science of God-realization, or bhagavata-dharma. Their translation into the English language, along with elaborate explanations, constitutes Srila Prabhupadas most significant contribution to the spiritual, intellectual, and cultural life of the world. However, there is a deeper and more esoteric level at which Srila Prabhupadas books deliver knowledge. We understand that since Srila Prabhupada fulfilled the prophesy of Gods most recent incarnation, he must be a fully liberated soul (technically known as saktyavesa-avatara) directly sent from the Absolute world to carry out this special service. Since Srila Prabhupada is a liberated person, existing on the Absolute platform, his books are non-different from himself. As Srila Prabhupada taught: If I depart there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and orders. I will always remain with you in that way. In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. By reading his books, and accepting Srila Prabhupada as ones eternal spiritual master, transcendental knowledge is revealed to us, and in this way we can come to know our unique and individual spiritual relationship with the Lord. So it is more than simply reading some words on a page, when included in a regime of chanting and worship, his books are the key to a mystical process by which one can factually realise ones original spiritual identity.

A Universal science of God Realization The Vedic teachings presented in Srila Prabhupadas books can be summarized under three general headings, known in Sanskrit as sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. Sambandha means our relationship with God, abhidheya means acting in that relationship, and prayojana means the ultimate goal or perfection. These three divisions of understanding represent universal principles common to all religious teachings of the world.

The knowledge described in Srila Prabhupadas books transcends religious, national, or cultural affiliations. The science of how to understand God, how to understand ones relationship with God, and how to develop love for God has nothing to do with sectarian designations like Christian, Hindu, or Jew. These are objectives no religion in the world could deny. They are, in other words, the essence of religionuniversal features by which all religions may be understood. Preferences regarding Gods holy name may differ from one religion to another, modes of worship may differ, and details of ritual and doctrine may differ as well. But the test is how much the practitioner actually develops knowledge of God and love for God. Real religion means to learn to love God. And how to love God is the sum and substance of the teachings found in Srila Prabhupadas books, as he himself explained: Just like we are chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. So according to Vedic literature, Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has got many names. Thousands and millions of names. This is the original name. So Chaitanya says not that you have to chant Krishna, but if you have got actually a name for God, you can chant that. We are not asking you that you chant Krishna. If you have got actually a name for God, then you can chant that. We are requesting that you chant Gods holy name. Scholars appreciate Srila Prabhupada teachings: Srila Prabhupada often pointed out that although modern colleges and universities had many departments of understanding, there was no department that taught scientific knowledge of the self and God. By presenting the original Vedic Science of God- realization through his books, Srila Prabhupada filled the gap and met this vital educational need. Over the years hundreds of scholars who either personally met Srila Prabhupada or read his books have expressed keen appreciation for both his personal qualities and the contribution his teachings have made to humanity. Indeed many neutral scholars have said that Srila Prabhupadas contribution is completely unparalleled in human history: I am impressed with how much the teaching of one man and the spiritual tradition he brought have impact themselves in to the lives of so many people. In my view Srila Prabhupadas contribution is a very important one and will be a lasting one At what almost anyone would consider a very advanced age, when most people would be resting on their laurels, he harkened to the mandate of his own spiritual teacher and set out on the difficult voyage to America. Srila Prabhupada is, of course, only one of thousands of teachers. But in another sense, he is one in a thousand, maybe one in a million. -Harvey Cox, professor of religion at Harvard University

Here for the first time since the days of the Roman Empire is a new Asian religion that is to say, an Asian religion new to the Western world being practised by people of Western race. It arose out of nothing in less than twenty years and has become known all over the Westand an important fact in the history of the Western world. - A.L Basham, a leading authority on Indian history and religion. Besides being a man of deep moral strength, humility, and holiness, he was genuinely renounced. Unlike many modern gurus, he was content to live as his disciples did. Even when his health failed and he returned to the blazing heat of Delhi for his recovery, he sought nothing better than a poorly furnished room, without air-conditioning, in a Hindu temple where he had resided before coming to America. Srila Prabhupadas life. . . is the epitome of his ideal, an ideal that he set forth for others to follow. In an age of pervasive hypocrisy and cynicism, it is this kind of rare model that we need. - Dr. J. Stillson Judah, Professor Emeritus, History of Religions and Director of Libraries, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. His books are significant contributions to the salvation of mankind.- Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Former Prime Minister of India. These texts are to be treasured. No one of whatever faith or philosophical persuasion who reads these books with an open mind can fail to be moved and impressed. - Garry Gelade, Professor at Oxford Universitys Department of Philosophy. Prabhupadas personal piety gave him real authority. He exhibited complete command of the scriptures, an unusual depth of realization, and an outstanding personal example, because he actually lived what he taught. - Dr. Larry Shinn, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bucknell University.

Srila Prabhupadas Disappearance: by Gauridasa Pandita Dasa. The following stories about Srila Prabhupada's disappearance are taken from my website the Haribol Home Page, and will be part of an upcoming book about Srila Prabhupada called, "Memories Of A Pure Devotee". "Better To Die In Vrindavan!" (May 15th 1977 Hrishikesh India) Srila Prabhupada was staying in a nice two story house, donated by a life member, on the bank of the Holy Ganges in the Holy town of Hrishikesh, India. He had come there to try to regain his failing health on the advice of Mahadevia Kartikeya, one of the leading life members of Bombay. I had arrived in Hrishikesh a day after Srila Prabhupada. He was giving darshan. I was told to stand at the door and give the guests a piece of sweet prasadam when they left. Srila Prabhupada noticed someone waiting outside the screen door and told me to let him in. I opened the door and as he entered another guest went out. Srila Prabhupada asked me if I had given the guest prasadam. I replied that I hadn't and Srila Prabhupada turned to his secretary, Tamal Krishna Maharaja and said, "This boy is incompetent". Tamal .K.G. then sent me out saying that he would talk to me later. I was crushed. I had given my life to Srila Prabhupada and now I had displeased him. Heartbroken and embarrassed I left the room. I waded out into the Ganges River and thought of committing suicide. I thought of my first mentor Visnujana Swami. Tamal.K.G. came down a little later half laughing and told me not to take it so seriously. He told me to go up and clean Srila Prabhupada's room. I was surprised to get another chance. I pulled myself together and marched up to Srila Prabhupada's room. Upendra Prabhu handed me a broom and I began to sweep. I glanced shamefully over at His Divine Grace and to my surprise he smiled very nicely. All of my anxiety disappeared instantly like I entered Vaikuntha. Things were ecstatic in Hrishikesh until that stormy night when Srila Prabhupada sat up all night. At about 2:30am we were awoken by Upendra Prabhu who told us that Srila Prabhupada had said, "Tomorrow we will go to Vrindavan. Better to die in Vrindavan." We were shocked to hear this statement from Srila Prabhupada. It was the first time Srila Prabhupada said he was going to leave the planet. Pradyumna Prabhu and I headed out to make arrangements for the arrival of His Divine Grace in Vrindavan.

"Arrival in Vrindavan" (May 17, 1977) Pradyumna Prabhu and I arrived in Sri Vrindavan Dhama at about 4am. We informed the temple President, Akshayananda Maharaja, of Srila Prabhupada's upcoming arrival and statement that he was coming to Vrindavan to 'leave his body'. We were all shocked at the news. The Maharaja didn't tell the devotees right away why he was coming; just that he was coming soon and the devotees started ecstatically cleaning Srila Prabhupada's quarters during the morning program. The Holy dust of Vrindavan had blown about everywhere and there was a lot of mercy to deal with. Srila Prabhupada arrived at the temple at about 7am. At this point Srila Prabhupada's health had deteriorated so much that he could no longer walk on his own. The devotees in Vrindavan, and around the world, were unaware of this. We brought a rocking chair out to the car to carry Srila Prabhupada in. He asked, as usual, to see the Deities first. We carried him into the temple and placed him before Sri Sri Gaura - Nitai. Srila Prabhupada stood up offering his respectful obeisances. At this point someone took the chair away. Srila Prabhupada stood there gazing at Their Lordships for a few moments with tears decorating his face. Then he moved to sit in the chair that wasn't there. We had to catch him. The devotees looked at each other with wonder and concern. We brought the chair back and carried Srila Prabhupada over to Sri Sri Krishna and Balarama. Again Srila Prabhupada stood up with tears in his eyes. (This time the chair stayed!) We then moved over to Sri Sri Radha Symasundara and Sri Lalita and Sri Visaka's alter. Again Srila Prabhupada rose up and gazed lovingly at the Deities. After a few moments he turned to us and said that he wanted to see all of the devotees in his room.We carried Srila Prabhupada to his room and he took his seat at his desk. The devotees filled the room quickly and were crowded around the doors and windows trying to see and hear our divine master. When all the devotees settled in as much as possible Srila Prabhupada began to speak: "So I cannot speak. I am feeling weak. I was to go to other places like Chandigarh, but I canceled the program because the condition of my health is very deteriorating. So I preferred to come to Vrindavan. If death takes place, let it take here. So there is nothing new to be said. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn't matter. As Krishna is living eternally, similarly, the living being also lives eternally.But kirtiryasya sa jivah: 'One who has done service for the Lord lives forever.' So you have been taught to serve Krishna, and with Krishna we'll live eternally. Our life is eternal. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. A temporary disappearance of this body, it doesn't matter. Body is meant for disappearance. Tatha dehantara-praptih. So live forever by serving Krishna. Thank you very much." At this point most of the devotees were crying. To me it still hadn't sunk in that Srila Prabhupada was about to depart this world leaving us to grieve in his absence. Srila Prabhupada told us to discuss amongst ourselves and we talked about the future of ISKCON without Srila Prabhupada. It was unthinkable actually, but we were forced to think about it due to the time factor. Philosophically we understood that Srila Prabhupada would live with us in his books etc. but we would so miss his physical presence. The devotees began to wonder how the movement would

go on without Srila Prabhupada to personally direct it. How would the BBT operate? How would the GBC act? Would someone else become the next acharya? Srila Prabhupada answered all of these questions in the next few weeks and months. "Leaving Vrindavan" (July 1977) Serving Srila Prabhupada personally in Bombay, Hrishikesh and Vrindavan were the best days of my life. Those days were numbered and unfortunately ran out at the end of July of 1977. I had entered India on a three month tourist visa. I had received a three month extension already when I applied for another. It was denied. I considered just staying past my expiration date so I could remain with His Divine Grace who I knew was leaving soon. I decided it would be better to go back to America and get another visa and return. It was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make; leaving Srila Prabhupada's precious personal service. Srila Prabhupada always told us to follow the law; so I did. I had packed my belongings and had it loaded onto a horse drawn cart for my trip to the Mathura train station. I went to offer my obeisance's to Tamal Krishna Maharaja in his office before leaving. He told me I couldn't leave without telling Srila Prabhupada. I said Srila Prabhupada knows everything; I don't want to bother him. Tamal K.G. said to wait and he entered Srila Prabhupada's room. A moment later he stuck his head out of the door and told me to come in. Now I was really getting nervous. This would prove to be the last time I would see Srila Prabhupada before his divine departure for Goloka Vrindavan. Upon entering Srila Prabhupada's room I offered my full dandavats. Tamal K.G. said, "Here's Gauridasa Pandita, Srila Prabhupada; he has to go back to America now because his visa is expiring and the government wouldn't give him an extension." Srila Prabhupada said, "Just see. I just train him up and the rascal government takes him away!" He was sitting behind his desk and looked at me with compassionate eyes, melting my heart. Then he said, "Thank you very much for all of your service, you've been very sincere. You are welcome to be my personal servant anytime. So you go worship Radha Damodara and are happy." I was ecstatic at the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. Not only did he acknowledge me; but he said I could return to his personal service! I had renewed hope. I said, "Thank you, Srila Prabhupada" and offered my dandavats again and slowly backed out of his room. I paused at the door one last time and he gave me his final nod of his head. Then he continued to translate. I boarded the horse cart and sat facing back and headed out of Vrindavan. The one hour trip seemed to last for forever as I lamenting having to leave Srila Prabhupada. I became overwhelmed with emotion with memories of Srila Prabhupada. Upendra Prabhu who was always sharing the mercy with the devotees gave me a bunch of Srila Prabhupada's clothes as prasadam. They smelled like sandalwood and rose water. The whole trunk was stolen from the attic at Gita Nagari. Days later I arrived at Gita Nagari and became co-head pujari for Sri Sri Radha-Damodara with Sasthi Prabhu. We were a good team. When we got a letter from Upendra saying that we should

fast to help Srila Prabhupada get better we took it up. We fasted for three days straight, then took prasadam one day, then fasted again for three days, like that, until Srila Prabhupada left his body. When we got the news that Srila Prabhupada had decided to come to Gita- Nagari; to establish the Varna-ashrama system, we were all ecstatic. The devotees were morose before, knowing that Srila Prabhupada was sick and maybe going to leave his body. Now we had renewed hope! The devotees were happy again and very enthusiastically preparing for Srila Prabhupada's arrival. We painted his house and made all of the necessary arrangements. Seeing all of the renewed enthusiasm I wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada who was in London at the time. We got a response from his secretary, Tamal K.G., which Paramananda Prabhu, the temple president, read to all of the devotees since it was about Srila Prabhupada. The letter started out, "I read your letter to Srila Prabhupada as I found it very poetic and an excellent description of Gita-Nagari. When I told Srila Prabhupada you had written the letter; he remembered you very fondly." I was ecstatic to hear this. I was glad to hear that Srila Prabhupada even remembered me. Out of the whole four months I was allowed to serve him I only talked to him shortly a few times. This was because right in the beginning of my service in Bombay, Srila Prabhupada said that the proper etiquette for the servant was to not talk to the spiritual master unless the spiritual master spoke first. He complained about some of the Indian life members who were a bit too talkative and familiar with him at times. So from then on I didn't say much, but listened as much as possible. Later we got the unfortunate news that Srila Prabhupada had decided to return to Vrindavan and wouldn't be coming to Gita-Nagari. We were saddened again. I wrote Tamal K.G. and got his permission to return to resume my service to Srila Prabhupada. I had to train up a new pujari before leaving Gita-Nagari though. He turned out to be Radha Damodara Dasa! It took two weeks to train him up properly. The day he took over completely I chanted my japa outside the curtains circumambulating Tulasi Devi and the Vyasasana. During that time we got a call from India, that Srila Prabhupada may be leaving his body soon. Then we got a call a little later confirming that he had indeed made his divine departure for Krishna Loka. I sensed something special was going on during my japa, as it was. Actually I didn't want to see that particular pastime. I thank Krishna for saving me from that. I know that Srila Prabhupada is as present as ever, for me now, and everyone who takes shelter of him. He reasons ill who says that Vaisnavas die when thou art living still in sound The Vaisnava dies to live! And living tries

To spread the Holy Name around.

Srila Prabhupada Lives forever He lives forever by his divine instructions and the followers lives with him. As told by him, Please always try to remember me by my teachings and we shall always be together. Another feature of a devotee is that he lives forever because of his infallible devotion to the lord. Specifically one who is reputated as a devotee of Lord Undoublty lives forever. As questioned by the reporter in an interview as to what would happen if he would die. To this Srila Prabhupada said, that he would never die but would be alive through his books and people would be utilizing it. According to him the books would do everything. He did say to his devotes that in his absence they could read his books as to whatever he said or written and in this manner they could associate themselves with him through readings. If they would feel his absence around then they could keep his photo at his usual sitting place and this would become a source of inspiration. According to him Krishna would give them the physical strength which would make the physical life successful. His devotes which are helping out in his missionary activities he is always thinking of them as they are and that he calls as a real association. People should always associate by vibration and not by physical presence as it is a temporary conception.

Srila Prabhupadas Character and Qualities His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who successfully distributed the message of Lord Krishna throughout the world, was not an ordinary conditioned soul, governed by the harsh laws of material nature. Although he always felt himself to be most insignificant, it is evident through careful study of his life that Srila Prabhupada perfectly displayed the twentysix qualities of a pure devotee of Krishna, as given in Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita. The Vedic literature states that only one who is free from material bondage can possess these qualities in full. Such a great soul is rarely found within this material realm, and owing to his unparalleled purity and exalted status as an intimate associate of the Supreme Lord Krishna, he is worshipable by the entire world. Following are the sublime qualities of a pure devotee so eminently exemplified by Srila Prabhupada. Merciful: The ultimate expression of mercy is to freely afford everyone the opportunity to develop pure love of Godhead. This Srila Prabhupada did by opening over one hundred temples, printing millions of books and sending his disciples all over the world to teach the science of Krishna consciousness. His distribution of mercy manifested naturally as a result of his heartfelt compassion for the long-suffering conditioned souls. His mercy fell everywhere, like pleasing rain upon the burning hearts of this age. When Srila Prabhupada lectured during the early days of the Krishna consciousness movement in America, he would often tell his listeners, I have come to your country not to take anything, but simply to give. Those who were honest and sincere were able to sense Srila Prabhupadas unalloyed desire to bestow upon them the highest form of mercy, and directed by Krishna within their hearts, they voluntarily placed themselves under his guidance and protection. Although Srila Prabhupada is now gone from our material vision, his mercy is still available. A liberated soul is not bound by time and space, and neither is his mercy. One only has to open up ones heart to receive this benediction, which is being distributed freely to everyone. Truthful: During the 1960s, a generation of young men and women took part in a mass rebellion against the untruths that had been perpetrated upon them by governments, schools, media and big business. At that time Srila Prabhupada arrived on the scene, boldly preaching the message of Lord Krishna. He spoke truthfully, never altering the pure message in deference to the time and circumstance to attract followers, fame and money. In an atmosphere seething with the fumes of unrestricted sense gratification, Srila Prabhupada presented a process of spiritual life based on personal sacrifice and purification of the senses. In those days, with the peace movement in vogue, it was extremely unpopular to speak out on behalf of any form of military activity. But rather than cater to public opinion, Srila Prabhupada spoke the truth about the Bhagavad-Gita, explaining to his youthful audience that Arjuna attained spiritual perfection by fighting a war under the order of Lord Krishna. Because of Srila Prabhupadas own spiritual qualities and his straightforward presentation of Lord Krishnas

message, people gradually began to understand the message and received it with great delight. Such was the powerful effect of Srila Prabhupadas truthfulness. Magnanimous: Srila Prabhupadas gifts to the world were filled with tremendous spiritual value. He gave us a wonderful philosophy to live by, knowledge of our true spiritual identities, beautiful Deities of Krishna to worship, the all-auspicious holy name of Krishna and delicious krishna-prasadam. Srila Prabhupada also gave us the spiritually enlivening association of devotees and the chance to attain love of Krishna and return to a life of eternity, bliss and knowledge in the spiritual world. In return for all these blessings, Srila Prabhupada asked nothing for himself. He simply asked that we refrain from sinful activities, chant Hare Krishna and give Krishna consciousness to others. In this way, selflessly giving of himself at every step, Srila Prabhupada perfectly exhibited the magnanimous nature of a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Desireless: One is said to be desireless when his only interest lies in satisfying the transcendental senses of Lord Krishna. Desires are eternally flowing like a river from the heart of the living entity, and the process of Krishna consciousness can change the quality of those desires from material to spiritual. Although Srila Prabhupada began his preaching work very humbly, his mission became enormously successful, and Krishna blessed him with great opulence. When a person acquires great amounts of wealth and power, he usually becomes thoroughly attached and polluted due to the strong force of his material desires. Srila Prabhupada, however, remained aloof from this contamination because of his complete absorption in the desire to please Krishna. Indifferent to material acquisition: Because a pure devotee of Lord Krishna is desireless, he is naturally indifferent to material acquisition. Material facilities may come and go, but that does not concern him in the least. Srila Prabhupada once pointed out that if he had simply sat beneath a tree and preached, very few people would have come to listen. Therefore, to effectively deliver the message of Lord Krishna, he constructed beautifully ornate temples. At no time, however, was he desirous of settling in comfortably to enjoy these facilities, choosing instead to follow a rigorous schedule of traveling and preaching that even the youngest and healthiest of his disciples could not keep pace with. Without material Possession: A pure devotee of Lord Krishna is always diving and surfacing in the ocean of spiritual happiness. The Vedas explain that one drop of this happiness is millions of times greater than the paltry relish afforded by material sense gratification or even the pleasure derived from liberation from material existence. A pure devotee never depends on the accumulation of material possessions for his happiness. He accepts only what is necessary to perform devotional service and maintains full awareness that these facilities are actually the property of the Lord. During Srila Prabhupadas years spent in Vrindavana preparing for his eventual journey to the West, he lived very simply in a tiny room in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple. After

preaching vigorously in the West for a number of years, Srila Prabhupada had access to much opulence, yet he never claimed any of it as his own and used every penny in the service of Krishna. Fixed: When Srila Prabhupada was instructed by his spiritual master to preach Krishna consciousness in English, he took his order as his life and soul and fixed his determination upon carrying it out diligently. Founding the Back to Godhead magazine in 1944, Srila Prabhupada single-handedly attended to its publication and distribution for many years, never once deviating from his sincere effort to please his spiritual master. As a result of Srila Prabhupadas fixed determination, all of his preaching activities were crowned with glorious success, and even now, in his physical absence, his followers carry on his work all over the world. Without false prestigious: Srila Prabhupadas humility was inconceivably deep and heartfelt, and it inspired a generation of young men and women, who had based their lives on the rejection of authority, to willingly accept his authority. Srila Prabhupada never took credit for his many successes, always preferring to acknowledge his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and the assistance given to him by his disciples. During one lecture, Srila Prabhupada touched the hearts of his disciples when he stated that he considered them to be representatives of his spiritual master, sent to assist him in his preaching mission. By this expression of sincere gratitude, Srila Prabhupada displayed his mood of devout humility. Anyone pursuing the spiritual path should aspire to follow in his footsteps in this regard. Grave: Srila Prabhupada once explained to a group of his disciples that a devotee of Lord Krishna is always grave. Upon hearing this, one devotee, a very colorful and effusive person, decided to tone down his disposition and became straight-faced in an attempt to please his spiritual master. After a few days of this behavior by his disciple, Srila Prabhupada looked at him quizzically and asked what the matter was. The disciple replied that he was trying to be grave. At that, Srila Prabhupada laughed and explained to him that being grave means to be serious about Krishna consciousness. It has nothing to do with artificially repressing ones individuality. Srila Prabhupada himself was a most vibrant personality. His life abounded with laughter and spiritual enjoyment, yet he was always serious about Krishna consciousness. He never forgot Lord Krishna, not even for a moment, and in this way displayed perfect gravity. Not Defiant: When Srila Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was a supporter of Mahatma Gandhis effort to free India from the clutches of British rule. During that meeting, the two engaged in a discussion, during which Srila Prabhupada expressed his view that to be spiritually potent India first needed to be politically free. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta responded by using sound logic and scriptural evidence to prove that Krishna

consciousness alone could rid India, as well as the rest of the world, from all forms of material suffering. Because Srila Prabhupada was not defiant, being endowed with all humility and respect, he graciously surrendered to Srila Bhaktisiddhantas infallible conclusion and accepted him as his spiritual guide. From this transcendentally instructive pastime we can see how a pure devotee of Lord Krishna is never defiant, and also how we must conduct ourselves in the presence of genuinely advanced Vaishnavas, if we wish to rise to the platform of spiritual consciousness. Although Srila Prabhupada was a personal associate of Lord Krishna, capable of giving spiritual guidance to the entire world, he was always surrendered to the lotus feet of his spiritual master and never evinced even a hint of defiance in his character. Respectful: Srila Prabhupada was respectful to all living beings because he saw them as parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord Krishna, with whom he was fully in love. During his extensive preaching tours, he was usually greeted at temples by adoring throngs of devotees and guests. On one such visit to the New York City temple in 1976, as he strode gracefully down the center aisle amid a multitude of beaming devotees assembled in the front lobby, they all paid obeisances to him, as is the custom when receiving a worshipable guest. At that time a young gurukula boy, who had innocently bowed down too far into the aisle, was eased backwards by the devotee next to him, so as not to obstruct the path. When Srila Prabhupada reached the boy, he stopped, placed his hand on his head and looked at him with affection, as if to make sure that his feelings had not been hurt. In this instance, and in all of his personal dealings, Srila Prabhupada treated everyone he met with the utmost respect, thus softening their hearts and rekindling their spiritual sentiments. Equal to every one: A pure devotee of Krishna sees the spiritual nature of all beings, regardless of their temporary material forms. He observes that all souls, in their pure state, are qualitatively equal, though their individual spiritual identities are unique. In addition, he is always trying to uplift them and sees and treats everyone in that spirit. Srila Prabhupada perfectly exhibited this sublime quality and was thus the ideal representative of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, who desired to flood the entire world with love of Krishna. He was constantly immersed in distributing Their mercy to everyone, and he humbly requested his disciples to assist him in this effort. One evening in July 1966, while Srila Prabhupada was lecturing at 26 Second Avenue in New York City, an old derelict staggered into the storefront, put two rolls of toilet tissue in the bathroom, set some paper towels atop the sink, turned and staggered out. Being equal to everyone, Srila Prabhupada was undisturbed by the mans odd behavior and appreciated the spark of devotion shining through. Just see, said Prabhupada, he is not in order, but he thought that, Here is something. Let me give some service. Just see how automatically it comes. This is natural.

Clean: Srila Prabhupada exhibited summit cleanliness, both internally and externally. His heart and mind were constantly submerged in the purifying waters of love of Godhead, and his shining body was always engaged in Lord Krishnas pure devotional service. Srila Prabhupadas cleanliness was so profound and far-reaching that not only was he himself impeccable, but he also purified the lives of thousands of young men and women who had previously possessed no proper concept of spiritual or bodily cleanliness. Peaceful: Srila Prabhupada once described the mind of a pure devotee as being very peaceful, like a country pond filled with crystal-clear water, beautiful lotus flowers and swans gliding happily across it. This much desired state of mind is a natural quality of one who is situated in transcendence, at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, far beyond the turbulent material world and senses. Srila Prabhupada was very peaceful due to his own pure Krishna consciousness. Shouldering the immense pressure and responsibility of a worldwide spiritual family, with its concomitant problems, Srila Prabhupada gracefully meted out love, guidance and practical instructions with full composure, never once losing touch with his peaceful Lord Krishna. Mild: Srila Prabhupadas mild demeanor was another very attractive feature of his divine personality. In the material world, when a person attains a position of high authority, he often becomes influenced by false pride and loses the quality of gentleness in his behavior. Thus he becomes a source of anxiety for his subordinates. Srila Prabhupada, although the worlds greatest spiritual authority, never displayed even a drop of false pride and always maintained a mildness around which everyone felt at ease. The beautiful photograph on the cover of this book, in which Srila Prabhupada appears as the most humble Vaishnava, does far more to depict his mild nature than this insignificant writer can hope to express. Poetic: Srila Prabhupada was poetic, not only in the literary sense, as evidenced by his beautiful poems glorifying his spiritual master and Lord Krishna, but in every aspect of his personality as well. His gesturing, walking, talking, singing, smiling, dancing and worship were all done with a natural poetic grace, as befitting a swanlike pure devotee of the Lord. For those sensitive souls who had embarked on a pilgrims progress, in search of ultimate truth and beauty, attaining Srila Prabhupadas sublime association marked their journeys end, and they happily gave up all mundane pursuits to engage in his service. Such was the attractive power of Srila Prabhupadas poetic nature, which manifested wonderfully due to his superexcellent level of Krishna consciousness.

Sane: The living entity in the material world has become mad due to the influence of maya. In reality, he is an eternal spiritual spark, part and parcel of Krishna, but in illusion, he sees himself as a material body, forgets his intimate relationship with the Lord and fails to see how everything around him is emanating from the Absolute Truth. Srila Prabhupada was never under such misconceptions, however, as evidenced by his pure devotional service. Out of natural humility, he never promoted his own elevated status, but once, when pressed by his disciples for information concerning his position, he modestly replied, Never was there a moment when I have not thought of Krishna in this life. Srila Prabhupadas unwavering remembrance of Krishna provided the perfectly effulgent example of spiritual sanity, and by faithfully serving his lotus feet we will soon become free from our material illusion. Faultless: Due to his being situated in the internal, spiritual energy of Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada was faultless, free from the four material defects, namely, the tendency to commit mistakes, to be in illusion, to cheat others and to possess imperfect senses. Because Srila Prabhupada performed his devotional activities in a mood of full surrender to Lord Krishna, he was guided by the personal hand of the Lord and was consequently mistake-free. His freedom from illusion was shown by the fact that, through his preaching work, millions of souls were enlightened with spiritual knowledge. By sacrificing his own bodily comforts for the service of mankind, he demonstrated his complete freedom from the tendency to cheat others. And finally, his eyes, being smeared with the ointment of love of God, were fully spiritual, as were the rest of his senses, which were ever engaged in the transcendental loving service of Sri Krishna. Surrendered to Krishna: Srila Prabhupadas complete surrender to Lord Krishna was shown by his constant engagement in devotional service with mind, body and words. Another symptom of a soul fully surrendered to Krishna is absolute detachment from the bodily concept of life. At the advanced age of seventy, despite several heart attacks and many other ordeals, Srila Prabhupada single-handedly penetrated Mayas formidable stronghold and planted the seed of devotional service in the hearts of thousands of fallen souls. He was able to do this because he was completely free from material attachment, owing to his full surrender to Krishna. Eats only as much as required: Although Srila Prabhupada received the most opulent prasadam, presented to him in grand amounts by loving disciples, he never indulged in luxury, taking only modest portions and distributing the remainder to the devotees. As a rule, one in the renounced order of life is forbidden to eat delicious food, as this may drag him by the tongue into a whirlpool of material desires and thus ruin his spiritual advancement. Srila Prabhupada, however, was never victimized by these culinary delights. He always maintained full spiritual potency and complete dedication to satisfying the transcendental senses of Lord Krishna.

Completely controls the 6 Bad Qualities: An aspiring devotee of Lord Krishna, who is serious about spiritual life, strives to control the six bad qualities, namely, lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy, which act like deadly poison upon his consciousness if not subdued. His practical method for accomplishing this is to actively engage his body, mind and words in the Lords devotional service, which has the potency to neutralize these vices, as a serpent is robbed of its capacity to inject poison when its fangs are removed. Srila Prabhupada did not need to control these vices, however, as they were completely absent from his nature. He was like a vaidurya gem, manifesting many beautiful, transcendental qualities at every moment, as he moved about in the brilliant light of pure devotional service. Since we are still susceptible to the onslaught of the six bad qualities, we should place our heads, in all humility, at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, engage enthusiastically in his glorification and try to please him by serving his mission to the best of our abilities. In this way, we are sure to become completely free from material contamination and develop pure love of Krishna. Performs Welfare work for everyone: It is stated in the Krishna book story of Sudama Brahmana that when loving service is rendered to Lord Krishna, the entire creation benefits. Thus, a pure devotee of the Lord, who always engages in devotional service, performs welfare work for everyone. This welfare work is nothing like mundane philanthropy, which provides unfortunate persons with material facilities to temporarily offset their suffering condition; rather, it is meant to completely extricate them from material existence and award them an eternal blissful life in the spiritual realm. Srila Prabhupada served Lord Krishna wholeheartedly and without deviation during his lila among us. In this way he benefited the entire world, indirectly, by his own pure devotional service, and directly, by offering a potent spiritual program, capable of eradicating the material existence of anyone who takes to it seriously. His welfare work did not stop with his physical disappearance; however, as the preaching force he set in motion will continue to spiritually uplift the inhabitants of this planet for the next ten thousand years, far exceeding the meager philanthropy performed by those absorbed in the bodily concept of life. Expert: When Srila Prabhupada arrived in America in 1965, he faced the tremendous challenge of attracting gross materialists to the sublime spiritual process of Krishna consciousness. Although such a feat seemed impossible, Srila Prabhupada miraculously ignited a spiritual explosion, whose vibrations are still resonating throughout the world. He demonstrated unprecedented preaching skill by presenting Krishna consciousness perfectly according to time and circumstance, offering such an attractive and palatable spiritual program that any sincere soul could easily follow. Today, at Ratha-yatra festivals all over the world, millions of people chant, dance, wave and cheer in a universal expression of appreciation, as Lord Jagannathas colorful chariots float through the city streets. From this it is clear that Srila Prabhupada was so expert that, even in his physical absence, Krishna consciousness is being spread far and wide by the faithful application of his instructions.

Silent: According to Vaishnava philosophy, being silent means to engage the tongue in speaking only about topics related to Lord Krishna. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to encourage silence in his disciples, telling them, Nonsense talk breeds nonsense thought, breeds nonsense action, breeds birth, death, old age and disease. Srila Prabhupada, being the foremost disciple of his spiritual master, was the chief exponent of this adage in the modern age, single-handedly spreading krishna-katha all over the world through his lectures, discussions and translating work. His words are a river of nectar flowing mercifully into the hearts of the devotees, and in due course of time this mighty river will silence the nonsense of all souls suffering in this world. Compassionate: A pure devotee of Krishna is always compassionate upon the fallen souls, who are suffering greatly in the blazing fire of material life. He is ever busy making arrangements to relieve their distress and is pleased when he sees them advancing on the path of spiritual happiness. Srila Prabhupada, compassion personified, dedicated his every breath to spreading Krishna consciousness, resting only a few hours every night to keep body and soul together. As his body dwindled during his last days with us, many doctors visited Srila Prabhupada to offer their advice and treatment, but with little or no result. Finally one day, a physician suggested that his condition arose from his grave anxiety over the tribulations that would beset his disciples after his physical disappearance. At that, Srila Prabhupada looked up and told the man, Yes, you have diagnosed my condition correctly. With these words, Srila Prabhupada demonstrated his utter selflessness and his extraordinarily profound compassionate nature. A Friend: In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna states that He is the friend of all living beings. As the Lords intimate associate, Srila Prabhupada also displayed friendship to all by dint of his constant engagement in spiritual welfare activities. In the material world friendships are formed on the basis of mutual sense gratification, and when sense gratification is disturbed, the relationship is either damaged or discontinued. Srila Prabhupada was a true friend to all, however, because he formed relationships with others motivated by his unalloyed desire to assist everyone in achieving the highest goal of life. He never desired to exploit anyone, and if there was ever an offense committed against him or some difficulty caused by others, he never took it seriously. Because Srila Prabhupada accepted the karma of five thousand disciples, he had to undergo what appeared to be suffering. In spite of this, he never withdrew his mercy and friendship. Significantly, he always closed his letters to his disciples with the words, Your ever wellwisher. The spiritual friendship of a pure devotee like Srila Prabhupada is the rarest of gems, and intelligent persons will certainly appreciate, revere and guard it as lifes dearest treasure.

Some of Srila Prabhupada's Unparalleled Achievements: In 1965, at seventy years of age, he ventured outside India for the first time to fulfill the order of his spiritual master. During his voyage at sea, he suffered two severe heart attacks. He reached the shores of America with the equivalent of seven dollars to his name He founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness with a small group of disciples, after a year of struggling alone in New York City. This marked the only time in history that a Krishna devotee successfully trained non-Indians in the strict disciplines of Vaisnavism. Amazingly, this was achieved during the blossoming of America's hedonistic counterculture movement. He sent his followers, chanting the names of God, into the streets of cities and towns everywhere and Hare Krishna became famous in every corner of the earth. He sent his disciples to London, where they recorded the single, "Hare Krishna Mantra", with George Harrison, in 1969. It became the fastest selling of all the Apple Corporation's releases, including those of the Beatles. The record reached #3 in Czechoslovakia, #9 in Britain, and made the top ten in Germany, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Yugoslavia, and many other Countries. He formally initiated approximately five thousand disciples. These initiates represented a sweeping diversity of nationalities, races, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds. He established 108 Krishna temples on six continents, installed the deity of Krishna in each center and trained his disciples in the process of deity worship. Thirty-two new temples (almost three a month) were opened in a single year, between 1970 and 1971. He inaugurated the Ratha-yatra Festival of Lord Jaganatha in major cities around the globe, in effect, bringing the temple to the people. He instituted the brahmacharini ashram, something previously unheard of in Vedic culture, to give shelter to single women wishing to practice Krishna consciousness. He instructed his disciples in 1967 to start an incense business to provide financial support for the temples. Within four years the business, Spiritual Sky Incense, generated annual revenue of one million dollars (equivalent to $4,600,000 in 2004). He introduced the "Sunday Love Feast" and other prasadam (sanctified food) distribution programs that provided millions of free meals to the public. He created the world's first chain of vegetarian restaurants. He spoke daily on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, delivering thousands of formal lectures. Over 2,200 were recorded and archived. He conducted many hundreds of informal conversations on the science of Krishna consciousness with disciples, guests and friends. Over 1,300 were recorded and archived. He had scores of interviews and philosophical discussions with news reporters, scientists, religious leaders and politicians, as well as meetings with world-renowned dignitaries and celebrities like Indira Gandhi, Allen Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane, John Lennon and George Harrison. He recorded more than twenty albums of devotional music. He published the monthly magazine, Back to Godhead, which he called the backbone of his movement. At the height of its circulation in the mid seventies, over a million copies per issue were sold.

He launched the ISKCON Life Membership Program that enrolled tens of thousands of members. He built major temples in Bombay and Vrindavana, and founded a spiritual city at Mayapur. All became international sites of pilgrimage. He established primary schools to provide education in the principles of devotional service. He founded the Bhaktivedanta Institute to advance Krishna consciousness within the scientific community, engaging serious academics in the consideration of the science of selfrealization. He formed the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust to unearth and renovate the holy places of Lord Chaitanya's pastimes. He set up farm communities to teach "simple living and high thinking", emphasizing cow protection and dependence on God and nature. He commissioned his artist disciples to produce hundreds of illustrations of Krishnas pastimes based on his meticulous instructions and the descriptions in his books. He directed some of his followers to learn the Indian art of "doll making" to present Vedic philosophy through dioramas. This project became the FATE Museums. He counseled his disciples on complex managerial, philosophical and personal issues in more than 6,000 archived letters. He was the subject of more than 30,000 archival photos and more than seventy hours of documentary film footage. He wrote approximately seventy books on the science of Krishna consciousness, sleeping only a few hours per day. Dozens of prominent scholars and educators from leading universities praised his work. The Encyclopedia Britannica proclaimed that his voluminous translations from the original Sanskrit and his lucid commentaries "have astounded literary and academic communities worldwide." This feat is even more astonishing considering the translations and commentaries were in English, which was a second language to the author. He founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) in 1972, to produce his books. By 1976, over 55,000,000 literatures had been published in twenty-five languages and distributed in almost every country, making the BBT the world's largest publisher of Indian religious and philosophical texts. One printing alone of Bhagavad-Gita as It Is required seventy-six train cars to ship the paper needed to print it. He completed the entire Chaitanya-caritamrta manuscript (seventeen volumes) in eighteen months. He ordered and supervised the BBT in publishing seventeen volumes of his books in only two months time, in 1974. Srila Prabhupada increased the standard of Deity worship in all the temples in Vrindavana, India when he installed the Deities in the Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama Mandir in the Vrindavana. Before this many of the Deities in the temples there were dressed in sheets, poor clothes, and even had bugs crawling on them, and were often only offered tulasi water and no food offerings. Now everything has changed because of Srila Prabhupada, and numerous temples have beautiful worship for the Deities. Even the shop owners who cater to the needs of the growing number of devotees, many of whom are Western, have become rich because of Srila Prabhupada. Many also have his portrait hanging in their shops.

Prabhupada also circled the globe fourteen times, visiting twenty-four countries, preaching, inspiring his followers and making countless public appearances before multitudes of people. He skillfully managed his international society simply through letters and personal meetings, virtually without the use of a telephone.

Books written Srila Prabhupada: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada was uniquely qualified to translate and teach Vedic knowledge. He was the representative of a well-documented disciple succession of Vedic authorities. By providing guidelines for the practical implementation of the sublime Vedic teachings, Srila Prabhupada has for the first time successfully implanted genuine Vedic culture in the West. The books of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are highly respected by students, scholars and laymen alike. His works are now widely used in college courses and seminars in diverse subjects, including philosophy, religion, world literature, history, and the social sciences. The following is a list of the books he wrote: Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Srimad-Bhagavatam Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Teachings of Lord Caitanya Nectar of Devotion, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu Nectar of Instruction, Upadesamrta Easy Journey to Other Planets Civilization and Transcendence Krishna Consciousness The Topmost Yoga System KRISHNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti Teachings of Queen Kunti Krishna, the Reservoir of Pleasure Science of Self Realization Path of Perfection Life Comes from Life The Perfection of Yoga Beyond Birth and Death On the Way to Krishna Renunciation Through Wisdom Raja-Vidya: The King of Knowledge Elevation to Krishna Consciousness Krishna Consciousness, The Matchless Gift

Message of Godhead Light of the Bhagavata Sri Isopanisad Journey of Self-Discovery Laws of Nature: An Infallible Justice Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja A Second Chance: The Story of a Near - Death Experience Mukunda-mala-stotra Narada-bhakti-sutra Dharma: The Way of Transcendence Quest for Enlightenment Beyond Illusion & Doubt Gitar Gan (Bengali)

ISKCON Revival Movement: THE FINAL ORDER

Proves Srila Prabhupada Is ISKCONs Initiating Guru

What is the IRM? The IRM is a body composed of ISKCON devotees from all over the world who want to see the Society put back on track, in line with the directives of its Founder, Srila Prabhupada. Why does the IRM exist? The spiritual purity and general prestige of ISKCON has undergone a massive deterioration since the physical departure of its Founder on November 14th 1977. Srila Prabhupada single-handedly established ISKCON in 1966 as a great gift to the world, and when he left it was an expanding dynamic force, a beacon of light for humanity. Sadly today it is disintegrating, a fact admitted in a memo sent in May 2000 by the then GBC Chairman Ravindra Svarupa das: Therefore the question remains: What, then, will we do? How will we deal with our polarized and disintegrating Society? This decline can be traced back to various deviations from the instructions and standards given by Srila Prabhupada, the chief of which being his displacement as the sole diksa guru for ISKCON. The ISKCON Revival Movement seeks to restore ISKCON to its former glory, purity and philosophical chastity through The re-institution of all the instructions and standards that Srila Prabhupada gave, beginning with his role as the sole authority and diksa guru for ISKCON. Is the aim of the IRM to form a new movement? It is to re-establish the original ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada left. Once this is achieved the IRM shall be dissolved. How can the IRM be so sure its position is correct, and the GBCs is not? The IRM consider their position correct since it is based on signed, legal documents that were directed to the whole Movement. On the other hand, the GBC have presented at least three completely contradictory official positions (none of which are supported by legal documents) and thus do not technically have a position, not to speak of a correct one. We should point out that not only do these various accounts contradict each other, but on occasion contradict themselves too. For example, if we just take the simple question of when Srila Prabhupada was meant to have authorized his replacement as diksa guru for ISKCON, we get the following answer from the following three official GBC papers. A) On My Order Understood (GBC, 1995): Srila Prabhupada gave the order for gurus at the same time as the order for devotees to act on his behalf, and this occurred on July 7th, 1977 (p. 28 in Gurus and Initiation in ISKCON, GBC 1995) b) Disciple Of My Disciple (H.H.Umapati Swami, 1997): Eleven diksa gurus were all set up and ready on May 28th, 1977 since ritvik means officiating acharya which means diksa guru.

c) Prabhupadas Order (Badrinarayan das, 1998): On July 9th, 1977 the eleven were fully functioning as gurus but simply observing the etiquette in Srila Prabhupadas presence Above we see the GBC have given three different dates for when Srila Prabhupada allegedly sanctioned his replacement. a) refers to a garden conversation, b)refers to a meeting between Srila Prabhupada and some of his senior disciples, whilst c) refers to the signed directive on initiation after which this booklet is named. Thus each GBC position paper tells a very different tale. To make matters worse: In March 2004, at their annual meeting in Mayapur, the GBC officially withdrew the paper On My Order Understood, privately admitting it contained lies and stretched the truth. It was this very paper that The Final Order set out originally to challenge (please see Introduction) and the fact it has now been withdrawn so ignominiously can only further vindicate the IRMs position. Quite clearly the GBC are confused over when successor diksa Gurus were authorized. The IRM argues that this is inevitable since Srila Prabhupada never created any replacement diksa Gurus, only ritviks; and it was this ritvik system he left running with no order for it to be stopped. On this basis we argue that the GBC must first decide on a position, and only then will we be able to judge its efficacy. The sad thing is that, even to this day, anyone who questions the GBCs miasma of discordant testimony is ruthlessly hounded from the Society. The Evidence: Anyone who knew Srila Prabhupada would often note his meticulous nature. His fastidious attention to every detail of his devotional service was one of Srila Prabhupadas most distinguishing characteristics; and for those who served him closely, was profound evidence of his deep love and devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. His whole life was dedicated to carrying out the order of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and in that duty he was uncannily vigilant. He left nothing to chance, always correcting, guiding and chastising his disciples in his effort to establish ISKCON. His mission was his life and soul. It would certainly have been entirely out of character for Srila Prabhupada to leave an important issue, such as the future of initiation in his cherished Society, up in the air, ambiguous, or in any way open to debate or speculation. This is particularly so in light of what happened to his own spiritual masters mission, which, as he would often point out, was destroyed largely through the operation of an unauthorized guru system. Bearing this in mind, let us begin with facts that no one disputes: On July 9th 1977, four months before his physical departure, Srila Prabhupada set up a system of initiations employing the use of ritviks, or representatives of the acharya. Srila Prabhupada instructed that this officiating acharya system was to be instituted immediately, and run from that time onwards, or Henceforward. This management directive, which was sent to all Governing Body Commissioners and Temple Presidents of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, instructed that from that time on new disciples would be given spiritual names and has their beads and gayatri mantras from the 11 named ritviks. The ritviks were to act on

Srila Prabhupadas behalf, new initiates all becoming disciples of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada thus handed over to the ritviks total power of attorney over who could receive initiation; he made it clear that from that time onwards he was no longer to be consulted (for details of ritviks duties. Immediately after Srila Prabhupadas physical departure on November 14th 1977, the GBC suspended this ritvik system. By Gaura Purnima 1978, the 11 ritviks had assumed the roles of zonal acharya diksa gurus, initiating disciples on their own behalf. Their mandate for doing so was an alleged order from Srila Prabhupada that they alone were to succeed him as initiating acharyas. Some years later this zonal acarya system was itself challenged and replaced, not by the restoration of the ritvik system, but by the addition of dozens more gurus, along with an elaborate system of checks and balances to deal with those that deviated; the rationale for this change being that the order to become guru was not, as we had first been told, only applicable to the 11, but was a general instruction for anyone who strictly followed, and received a two-thirds majority vote from the GBC body. The above account is not a political opinion; it is historical fact, accepted by everyone, including the GBC. As mentioned above, the July 9th letter was sent to all GBCs and Temple Presidents, and remains to this day the only signed instruction on the future of initiation Srila Prabhupada ever issued to the whole Society. Commenting on the July 9th order, HH Jayadvaita Swami recently wrote: Its authority is beyond question [...] clearly, this letter establishes a Ritvik-guru system. The source of the controversy arises from two modifications which were subsequently superimposed over this otherwise clear and authoritative directive: Modification a): That the appointment of representatives or ritviks was only temporary, specifically to be terminated on the departure of Srila Prabhupada. Modification b): Having ceased their representational function, the ritviks would automatically become diksa gurus, initiating persons as their own disciples, not Srila Prabhupadas. The reforms to the zonal acarya system, which took place around 1987, kept intact these two assumptions. The same assumptions, in fact, that underpinned the very system it replaced. The GBCs paper, GII (Gurus and Initiation in ISKCON), clearly upholds the abovementioned modifications: When Srila Prabhupada was asked who would initiate after his physical departure he stated he would recommend and give his order to some of his disciples who would initiate on his behalf during his lifetime and afterwards as regular gurus, whose disciples would be Srila Prabhupadas grand-disciples. (GII, p.14)

Over the years increasing numbers of devotees have begun questioning the legitimacy of these basic assumptions. For many, they have never been properly substantiated, and hence an uneasy sense of doubt and mistrust has grown both within and outside the Society. The order itself: As previously mentioned, the July 9th order states that the ritvik system should be followed Henceforward. The specific word used, henceforward, only has one meaning, viz. from now onwards. This is both according to Srila Prabhupadas own previous usage of the word and the meaning ascribed to it by the English language. Unlike other words, the word henceforward is unambiguous since it only possesses one dictionary definition. On the other 86 occasions that we find on Folio where Srila Prabhupada has used the word henceforward, nobody raised even the possibility that the word could mean anything other than from now onwards. From now onwards does not mean from now onwards until I depart. It simply means from now onwards. There is no mention in the letter that the system should stop on Srila Prabhupadas departure; neither does it state that the system was to only be operational during his presence. Furthermore, the argument that the whole ritvik system hangs on one word henceforward is untenable, since even if we take the word out of the letter, nothing has changed. One still has a system set up by Srila Prabhupada four months before his departure with no subsequent instruction to terminate it. Without such a counter instruction this letter must be seen as Srila Prabhupadas final instruction on initiation, and should therefore be followed. Supporting instructions There were other statements made by Srila Prabhupada, and his secretary, in the days following the July 9th letter, which clearly indicate that the ritvik system was intended to continue without cessation: ...the process for initiation to be followed in the future. (July 11th, 1977) ...continue to become ritvik and act on my charge. (July 19th, 1977) ...continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf. (July 31st, 1977) In these documents we find words such as continue and future which along with the word henceforward all point to the permanency of the ritvik system. There is no statement from Srila Prabhupada that even hints that this system was to terminate on his departure. Subsequent instructions Once the ritvik system was up and running, Srila Prabhupada never issued a subsequent order to stop it, nor did he ever state that it should be disbanded on his departure. Perhaps aware that such a thing may mistakenly or otherwise occur, he put in the beginning of his final Will that the system of management in place within ISKCON must continue and could not be changed - an instruction left intact by a codicil added just nine days before his departure . Surely this would have been the perfect opportunity to disband the ritvik system had that been his intention. That the use of ritviks to give initiates names was a system of management can be illustrated by the following: In 1975 one of the preliminary GBC resolutions sanctioned that the GBC would have sole responsibility for managerial affairs. Below are some of the managerial issues the GBC dealt with that year:

In order to receive first initiation, one must have been a full time member for six months. For second initiation there should be at least another one year after the first initiation. (GBC Resolution No. 9, March 25th, 1975)
Method of initiating Sannyasis.

(GBC Resolution No. 2, March 27th, 1975) These resolutions were personally approved by Srila Prabhupada. They demonstrate conclusively that the methodology for conducting initiations was deemed a system of management. If the whole methodology for conducting initiations is considered a system of management by Srila Prabhupada, then one element of initiation, viz. the use of ritviks to give spiritual names, has to fall under the same terms of reference. Thus changing the ritvik system of initiation was in direct violation of Srila Prabhupadas final Will. Another instruction in Srila Prabhupadas Will, which indicates the intended longevity of the ritvik system, is where it states that the executive directors for his permanent properties in India could only be selected from amongst Srila Prabhupadas initiated disciples: ...a successor director or directors may be appointed by the remaining directors, provided the new director is my initiated disciple... (Srila Prabhupadas Declaration of Will, June 4th, 1977) This is something that could only occur if a ritvik system of initiation remained in place after Srila Prabhupadas departure, since otherwise the pool of potential directors would eventually dry up. Furthermore, every time Srila Prabhupada spoke of initiations after July 9th he simply reconfirmed the ritvik system. He never gave any hint that the system should stop on his departure or that there were gurus, waiting in the sidelines, ready to take on the role of diksa. Thus, at least as far as direct evidence is concerned, there appears to be nothing to support assumptions a) and b) referred to previously. As stated, these assumptions - that the ritvik system should have stopped at departure and that the ritviks must then become diksa gurus form the very basis of ISKCONs current guru system. If they prove to be invalid then there will certainly need to be a radical re-think by the GBC. The above sets the scene. The instruction itself, supporting instructions and subsequent instructions only support the continuation of the ritvik system. It is admitted by all concerned that Srila Prabhupada did not give any order to terminate the ritvik system on his physical departure. It is further accepted by all concerned that Srila Prabhupada did set up the ritvik system to operate from July 9th onwards. Thus we have a situation whereby the acarya: 1) Has given a clear instruction to follow a ritvik system; 2) Has not given an instruction to stop following the ritvik system upon his physical departure. Consequently, for a disciple to stop following this order, with any degree of legitimacy, demands he provide some solid grounds for doing so. The only thing that Srila Prabhupada actually told us to do was to follow the ritvik system. He never told us to stop following it, or that one could only

follow it in his physical presence. The onus of proof will naturally fall on those who wish to terminate any system put in place by our acharya, and left to run henceforward. A disciple does not need to justify continuing to follow a direct order from the guru, especially when he has been told to continue following it. That is axiomatic - this is what the word disciple means: When one becomes disciple, he cannot disobey the order of the spiritual master. (Srila Prabhupada Bg. Lecture, 11/2/75, Mexico) Since there is no direct evidence stating that the ritviks system should have been abandoned on Srila Prabhupadas physical departure, the case for abandoning it could therefore only be based on indirect evidence. Indirect evidence may arise out of special circumstances surrounding the literal direct instruction. These extenuating circumstances, should they exist, may be used to provide grounds for interpreting the literal instruction. Objections relating directly to the form and circumstances of Srila Prabhupadas final order 1. The July 9th letter clearly implies that it was only set up for whilst Srila Prabhupada was physically present. There is nothing in the letter that says the instruction was only meant for whilst Srila Prabhupada was physically present. In fact, the only information given supports the continuation of the ritviks system after Srila Prabhupadas departure. It is significant to note that within the July 9th letter it is stated three times that those initiated would become Srila Prabhupadas disciples. The GBC in presenting evidence for the current guru system have argued vigorously that Srila Prabhupada had already made it clear that, as far as he was concerned, it was an inviolable law that no one could initiate in his presence. Thus the necessity to state Srila Prabhupadas ownership of future disciples must indicate that the instruction was intended to operate during a time period when the ownership could even have been an issue, namely after his departure. For some years Srila Prabhupada had been using representatives to chant on beads, perform the fire yajna, give gayatri mantra etc. No one had ever questioned who such new initiates belonged to. Right at the beginning of the July 9th letter it is emphatically stated that those appointed are representatives of Srila Prabhupada. The only innovation this letter contained then was the formalization of the role of the representatives; hardly something which could be confused with a direct order for them to become fully-fledged diksa gurus. Srila Prabhupadas emphasis on disciple ownership would therefore have been completely redundant were the system to operate only in his presence, especially since as long as he was present he could personally ensure that no one claimed false ownership of the disciples. As mentioned above, this point is hammered home three times in a letter which itself was quite short and to the point. The July 9th letter states that the names of newly initiated disciples were to be sent to Srila Prabhupada. Could this indicate that the system was only to run while Srila Prabhupada was physically present? Some devotees have argued that since we can no longer send these names to Srila Prabhupada, the ritvik system must therefore be invalid.

The first point to note is the stated purpose behind the names being sent to Srila Prabhupada, i.e. so they could be included in his Initiated Disciples book. Srila Prabhupada had nothing to do with entering the new names into this book; it was done by his secretary. Further evidence that the names should be sent for inclusion in the book, and not specifically to Srila Prabhupada, is given in the letter written to Hamsadutta, the very next day, where Tamala Krishna Goswami explains his new ritvik duties to him: ... you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupadas Initiated Disciples book. (Letter to Hamsadutta from Tamala Krishna Goswami, 10/7/77) There is no mention made here of needing to send the names to Srila Prabhupada. This procedure could easily have continued after Srila Prabhupadas physical departure. Nowhere in the final order does it state that if the Initiated Disciples book becomes physically separated from Srila Prabhupada all initiations must be suspended. The next point is that the procedure of sending the names of newly initiated disciples to Srila Prabhupada in any case relates to a post-initiation activity. The names could only be sent after the disciples had already been initiated. Thus an instruction concerning what is to be done after initiation cannot be used to amend or in any way interrupt pre-initiation, or indeed initiation procedures (the ritviks role being already fulfilled well before the actual initiation ceremony takes place). Whether or not names can be sent to Srila Prabhupada has no bearing on the system for initiation, since at the point where new names are ready to be sent, the initiation has already occurred. The last point is that if sending the names to Srila Prabhupada were a vital part of the ceremony, then even before Srila Prabhupadas departure, the system would have been invalid, or at least run the constant risk of being so. It was generally understood that Srila Prabhupada was ready to leave at any time, thus the danger of not having anywhere to send the names was present from day one of the order being issued. In other words, taking the possible scenario that Srila Prabhupada leaves the planet the day after a disciple has been initiated through the ritvik system, according to the above proposition the disciple would not actually have been initiated simply because of the speed by which mail is delivered. We find no mention in Srila Prabhupadas books that the transcendental process of diksa, which may take many lifetimes to complete, can be obstructed by the vicissitudes of the postal service. Certainly there would be nothing preventing the names of new initiates being entered into His Divine Graces Initiated Disciples book even now. This book could then be offered to Srila Prabhupada at a fitting time.

2. The letter does not specifically say this system will continue after Srila Prabhupadas departure; therefore, it was right to stop the ritvik system at Srila Prabhupadas departure. Please consider the following points: 1. The July 9th letter also does not specifically state: The ritvik system should end on Srila Prabhupadas departure. Yet it was terminated immediately on his departure. 2. The letter also does not state: The ritvik system should run while Srila Prabhupada is still present. Yet it was run while he was still present. 3. The letter also does not state: The ritvik system should only run until the departure of Srila Prabhupada. Yet it was only allowed to run till his departure. 4. The letter also does not state: The ritvik system must stop. Yet it was stopped. In summary, the GBC insists on the following: The ritvik system must stop. The ritvik system must stop on Srila Prabhupadas departure. Neither of the above stipulations appears in the July 9th letter, nor any other signed order; yet they form the very foundation of both the zonal acharya system and the current Multiple Acharya Successor System, or M.A.S.S. as we shall refer to it. To argue that since the letter is not specific about the time period in which it is to run, it must therefore stop on departure, is completely illogical. The letter does not specify that the ritvik system should be followed on July 9th either, so according to this logic it should never have been followed at all. Even accepting that henceforward can at least stretch to the end of the first day of the order being issued, it does not say it should be followed on July 10th, so perhaps it should have stopped then. The demand for the ritvik system to only operate within a pre-specified time period is contradicted by accepting its operation for 126 separate 24 hour time periods (i.e. four months), since none of these 126 separate time periods is specified in the letter, yet everyone seems quite happy that the system ran during this time frame. Unless we take the word henceforward literally to mean indefinitely, we could stop the system at any time after July 9th. There is no example, neither in Srila Prabhupadas 86 recorded uses, nor in the entire history of the English language, where the actual word henceforward has ever meant: Every time period until the departure of a person who issued the order. Yet according to current thinking this is what the word must have meant when it was used in the July 9th letter. The letter simply states that the ritvik system is to be followed henceforward

3. Certain instructions obviously cannot continue after Srila Prabhupadas departure, and thus it is understood that they could only have been intended to operate in Srila Prabhupadas presence; e.g. someone may have been appointed henceforward to give Srila Prabhupada his regular massage. Maybe the ritvik order is of that type? If an instruction is impossible to perform, for example giving Srila Prabhupada his daily massage after his physical departure, then obviously there can be no question of doing it. The duty of a disciple is simply to follow an order until it is impossible to follow any longer, or until the spiritual master changes the order. The question then is whether it is feasible to follow a ritvik system without the physical presence of the person who set it up. In fact, the ritvik system was set up specifically to be operational without any physical involvement from Srila Prabhupada whatsoever. Had the ritvik system continued after his departure, it would be identical in every respect to how it was practiced whilst Srila Prabhupada was present. After July 9th, Srila Prabhupadas involvement became non-existent, and so even at that stage it was operating as though he had already left. This being the case, we cannot classify the ritvik system dysfunctional, or inoperable, on the grounds of Srila Prabhupadas departure, since his departure does not in any way affect the running of the system. In other words, since the system was specifically set up to operate as if Srila Prabhupada was not on the planet, his leaving the planet can not in itself render the system invalid. 4. The fact that the order was only issued in a letter, and not in a book, gives us a license to interpret it indirectly. This letters v books argument does not apply in this case since this was no ordinary letter. Generally, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter in response to a specific query from an individual disciple, or to offer individualized guidance or chastisement. Naturally, in these cases the devotees original query, situation or deviation may give grounds for interpretation. Not everything in Srila Prabhupadas letters can be applied universally (for example in one letter he advised a devotee, who was not good with spices, to just cook with a little salt and turmeric; clearly this advice was not meant for the entire Movement). However, the final order on initiation is not open to any such interpretation since it was not written in response to a specific query from a particular individual, or to address a disciples individual situation or behavior. The July 9th letter was a procedural instruction, or management policy document, which was sent to every leader in the Movement. The letter follows the format of any important instruction that Srila Prabhupada issued and wanted followed without interpretation - he had it put in writing; he approved it, and then sent it to his leaders. For example, he had one sent on April 22nd, 1972, addressed to ALL TEMPLE PRESIDENTS: The zonal secretarys duty is to see that the spiritual principles are being upheld very nicely in all the Temples of his zone. Otherwise each Temple shall be independent and selfsupporting. (SP Letter to All Temple Presidents, 22/4/72)

Srila Prabhupada did not publish a new book each time he issued an important instruction, regardless of whether the instruction was to continue past his departure. Thus, the form in which the instruction was issued does not make it prey for indirect interpretations, nor in any way diminishes its validity. 5. Maybe there was some special background surrounding the issuing of the order that precludes its application after Srila Prabhupadas departure? If such circumstances did exist, Srila Prabhupada would have stated them in the letter, or in an accompanying document. Srila Prabhupada always gave enough information to enable the correct application of his instructions. He certainly did not operate on the assumption that his Temple Presidents were all mystic mind readers, and that he therefore only needed to issue fragmented and incomplete directives which would later be made sense of telepathically. For example, had Srila Prabhupada intended the ritvik system to stop on his departure he would have added the following seven words to the July 9th letter - This system will terminate on my departure. A quick look at the letter tells us he wanted it to continue henceforward Sometimes it is argued that the ritvik system was only set up because Srila Prabhupada was sick. Devotees may or may not have been aware of the extent of Srila Prabhupadas illness; but how could they possibly be expected to deduce from a letter that says nothing about his health, that this was the only reason it was issued? When did Srila Prabhupada say that any instruction he issued must always be interpreted in conjunction with his latest medical report? Why should the recipients of the final order on initiation not have assumed the letter was a general instruction to be followed, without interpretation? Srila Prabhupada had already announced that he had come to Vrindavan to leave his body. Being tri-kala-jna (cognizant of past, present and future) he was most likely aware of his departure in four months time. He had set in motion the final instructions for the continuation of his Movement. He had already drawn up his Will and other documents relating to the BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) and GBC, specifically to provide guidance for after his imminent departure. The one matter that had not yet been settled was how initiations would operate when he left. At this point, there was still uncertainty as to how things were to run. The July 9th order clarified for everyone precisely how initiations were to proceed in his absence. In summary, you cannot modify an instruction with information that those to whom the instruction was given did not have access. Why would Srila Prabhupada purposely issue an instruction that he knew in advance no one could follow correctly, since he had not given them the relevant information within the instruction? If the ritvik system was only set up because he was ill, Srila Prabhupada would have said so in the letter or in some accompanying document. There is no record of Srila Prabhupada ever behaving in such a purposely ambiguous and uninformative manner, especially when instructing the entire Movement. Srila Prabhupada never signed anything in a cavalier fashion, and when one considers the magnitude of the instruction in question, it is inconceivable that he would have left out any vital information.

6. Does not the Appointment Tape contain relevant information that clearly frames the July 9th order as being only applicable whilst Srila Prabhupada was physically present on the planet? In the GBCs handbook GII, the sole evidence offered in support of modifications is extracted from a conversation which took place on May 28th, 1977. The paper appears to concede that there is no other instructional evidence which directly relates to the function of ritviks after Srila Prabhupadas departure: Since it is the sole evidence, there is a section exclusively dedicated to the May 28th conversation. Suffice to say it was not referred to in the July 9th letter, nor did Srila Prabhupada demand that a copy of the taped conversation be sent out with the final order. From this we can deduce with absolute confidence that it cannot contain a scrap of modifying information vital to the understanding of the final order. As a point of fact, the May 28th conversation was not released till several years after Srila Prabhupadas departure. Thus once more we are expected to modify a clear written instruction with information which was not accessible to the very people who were issued the instruction. As will be seen later, the May conversation has nothing in into contradicts the final order. 7. Srila Prabhupada stated many times that all his disciples must become gurus. Surely this proves that Srila Prabhupada did not intend the ritvik system to be permanent? Srila Prabhupada never appointed or instructed anyone to be diksa guru for after his departure. Evidence for this claim has never been produced; indeed many senior leaders within ISKCON have conceded the point: Srila Prabhupada unequivocally stated that the diksa guru must be a mahabhagavata (most advanced stage of God-realization) and be specifically authorized by his own spiritual master. He had always strongly condemned the assumption of guruship by those who were not suitably qualified and authorized. Aside from the qualification, Srila Prabhupada also taught that specific authorization from the predecessor acharya was also essential before anyone could act as a diksa guru Thus, according to Srila Prabhupada, one can only become a diksa guru when both the qualification and authorization are in place. Srila Prabhupada had not authorized any such gurus, nor had he stated that any of his disciples were qualified to initiate. Rather, just prior to July 9th, he agreed that they were still conditioned souls, and that vigilance was essential lest persons pose themselves as guru. 8. Maybe there is some sastric principle in Srila Prabhupadas books that forbid the granting of diksa when the guru is not on the same planet as the disciple? There is no such statement in Srila Prabhupadas books, and since Srila Prabhupadas books contain all essential sastric principles, such a restriction simply cannot exist in our philosophy. The use of a ritvik system after Srila Prabhupadas departure would actually be in line with Srila Prabhupadas many instructions stating the immateriality of physical association in the guru-

disciple relationship. After reading these quotes one can see how some members of the GBC have presented a somewhat different picture over the years: Srila Prabhupada has taught us that the disciplic succession is a living affair [...] the law of disciplic succession is that one approaches a living spiritual master - living in the sense of being physically present. (Sivarama Swami, ISKCON Journal, p.31, GBC 1990) Of course, we must have a guru who is external, since in the conditioned stage pure reliance on the Supersoul is not possible, but nowhere does Srila Prabhupada teach that this physical guru must also be physically present Srila Prabhupada practically demonstrated this principle by initiating large numbers of his disciples without ever meeting them physically at all. This fact in itself proves that diksa can be obtained without any physical involvement from the guru. There is nothing in sastra, or from Srila Prabhupada, linking diksa with physical presence. Therefore, the continuation of the ritvik system is perfectly consistent with both sastra and the example our acharya set whilst he was physically present. In one of the main sections on diksa in Srila Prabhupadas books, it is stated that the only requirement for receiving it is the agreement of the guru. This agreement was totally delegated to the ritviks There is nothing in this definition of diksa that in any way implies that the guru needs to be on the same planet as the disciple in order for it to work properly. Conversely, Srila Prabhupadas instructions and personal example prove categorically that the elements that constitute diksa can be utilized without the need for the gurus physical involvement In summary, it can be shown conclusively that there is no sastric principle mentioned in any of Srila Prabhupadas books that precludes the granting of diksa once the guru leaves the earth planet. Although historical precedent is sometimes cited as an objection, historical precedent is not a sastric principle. Though historical precedent may serve as evidence of the application of a sastric principle, the lack of an historical precedent does not necessarily prove that a sastric principle has been violated. Thus, our philosophy is based on following sastric injunctions, not historical tradition. This is the very thing that distinguishes ISKCON from virtually every other Gaudiya Vaishnava group. There are many influential smarta brahmanas in India who strongly criticize the lack of adherence to tradition exhibited by Srila Prabhupada. Sastric statements, along with the practical example of Srila Prabhupada himself, fully support the principle that diksa is not dependent in any way on the gurus physical presence.

9. Since this instruction would lead to the setting up of a system that is unprecedented, and has no historical basis, it should be rejected. This cannot be a reason to reject the July 9th order since Srila Prabhupada set many precedents reducing the number of required rounds of japa from sixty-four to sixteen, performing marriages, allowing women to live in the temples, giving gayatri mantra by tape, etc. Indeed, it is a distinguishing feature of acharyas in our line that, practically without exception, they set their own historical precedents. As acharyas, it is their prerogative to do this; albeit in accordance with sastric principles. As already stated, the use of ritviks without the gurus physical presence on the planet does not violate any sastric principle. Srila Prabhupadas books contain all essential sastric principles, and since there is no mention in his books of the guru needing to be on the planet at the time of initiation, it cannot be a principle. Thus the historical precedent of continuing to use ritviks after his departure can only be a change in detail, not in principle. Srila Prabhupada did many things, particularly connected with initiation, which were unprecedented, yet we do not reject them. It may be argued that he explained some of these changes in his books. This is true, but there were many he did not explain in his books. Besides, there was no need to give detailed explanations of the ritvik system in his books since he had practically demonstrated prototypes of it for many years, with the final touches of how it was to continue fully elucidated in the July 9th order. Srila Prabhupada never taught us to just blindly follow tradition 10. Since there is no specific mention of the ritvik system prior to July 9th, 1977, it could not possibly have been intended to continue past Srila Prabhupadas disappearance. This objection rests on the premise that Srila Prabhupada would never spring anything new on the Movement. Taken literally, this objection is absurd, for it means that any order from the guru can be rejected if it is new, or even just a bit different from ones issued previously. It infers that in his final months Srila Prabhupada should not have delivered far-reaching instructions regarding his Society, unless everyone was already familiar with them. As we have explained, the ritvik system was not new anyway. Prior to the July 9th letter, the experience of diksa initiation in the Movement would have predominantly been through the use of representatives. Srila Prabhupada was the diksa guru in ISKCON, and most initiation ceremonies, particularly in the later years, were performed by a Temple President or some other representative or priest. The most notable difference after July 9th, 1977 was that the acceptance of new disciples would now be done by representatives without recourse to Srila Prabhupada. The letter which was sent out to new initiates would no longer be signed by Srila Prabhupada, and the selection of all the initiates names would be done by the ritviks. Also the procedure was now linked with the relatively unfamiliar word ritvik.

To get connected to the bona fide acharya through the use of representatives was the experience of initiation familiar to thousands of disciples. The July 9th letter defines the word ritvik as meaning representative of the acharya. Clearly the system of being initiated by Srila Prabhupada through the use of representatives was nothing new at all. It was merely the continuation of what Srila Prabhupada had taught and put in practice as soon as his Movement reached a state of rapid growth. Although unfamiliar to many, the word ritvik was not new either. The word and its derivatives had already been defined 31 times by Srila Prabhupada in his books. What was new was that the system which had already been in existence for many years was now put in writing with the necessary adjustments for the future. Hardly surprising, since Srila Prabhupada was at this time issuing many documents in writing regarding the future of his Movement. This arrangement was actually a re-endorsement of a system that everyone had already come to consider as standard practice. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that there is no direct evidence supporting the termination of the ritvik system on Srila Prabhupadas departure, nor the subsequent transformation of the ritviks into diksa gurus. Even if there was extremely strong indirect evidence supporting, it would still be debatable whether it could actually supplant the direct evidence, since this usually takes precedence. However, as just demonstrated, there is not even a shred of indirect evidence supporting the discarding of the ritvik system on Srila Prabhupadas departure. Thus: 1. An instruction was issued to the whole Movement to be followed Direct evidence. 2. An examination of the instruction itself, as well as other supporting and subsequent instructions, only supports the continuation of the ritvik system - Direct evidence. 3. There is no direct evidence of Srila Prabhupada specifically ordering the termination of the ritvik system upon his departure 4. There is also no indirect evidence on the basis of the instruction, sastra, other instructions, special circumstances, the background, the nature and the context of the instruction, nor anything else we can conceive of, that gives valid grounds for stopping the ritvik system at the time of Srila Prabhupadas departure. Interestingly, in examining these other factors we find only further indirect evidence supporting the continued application of the order. In view of the above analysis, we humbly submit that the revoking of Srila Prabhupadas final instruction regarding initiation on November 14th, 1977, was at best an arbitrary and unauthorized act. We can find no evidence to support assumptions which, as we have said form the very foundation of ISKCONs current guru policy. To re-comply with Srila Prabhupadas original order is our only option as disciples, followers and servants of Srila Prabhupada.