I want to preach in India

11-05-2006, 05:11 AM

> Srila Prabhupada (apparently) said:
>
> "My spiritual master wanted me to preach in the Western countries. Now
> that I have done that, I want to preach in India."
>
> I remember this being quoted on 15 Nov 1977 in a speech in memory of Srila
> Prabhupada, by an ex-disciple who has since become highly envious of him.
>
> Does anyone have any more information about this quote, e.g. when it was
> said, to who, and in what context?

Tamal Krishna once told me about the sannyasi conspiracy in LA that
forced Srila Prabhupada to leave there and come back to India. He said that
just before leaving America for Japan and then India, Srila Prabhupada had
gone before Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarkadisha and prayed. He was crying, saying
that when he left India in 1965 he had no intention of coming back. He
thought he was meant to just preach in the west. But now Krsna was forcing
him to go back: 'I do not know why you want me to go back there."

But then once back in India Srila Prabhupada became completely
energized and concentrated most of his time and efforts on developing his
Mayapur, Vrindavana and Bombay centers. In 1976 Hridayananda Maharaja came
to visit as the GBC secretary for the month of February:

February 26, 1976 -- Mayapur

As Prabhupada relaxed on the balcony, Hridayananda Maharaja came out to see
him. This is his first extended visit to India. He's beginning to understand
the significance and magnitude of the projects Prabhupada has begun here.
He expressed his new-found enthusiasm and realization to Prabhupada. "Your
American disciples are beginning to appreciate the importance of India,
Srila Prabhupada. When we first arrived we could not understand why you were
so busy here, but now we can see that it is the most important place on the
planet!"
Prabhupada looked at him gravely, raised his eyebrows, and replied
decisively, "It is the most important place in the universe!"
[end]

So Srila Prabhupada did come to see that preaching in India was
extremely important for the future of ISKCON, although this does not
minimize the importance of his preaching in the west. In November 1976 Bali
Mardan turned up in Vrindavana, looking for a preaching assignment. Srila
Prabhupada suggested he go to Australia since he was the first one to preach
there. Bali took a day or two to think about it. Then he came to see Srila
Prabhupada in his garden during massage. It had also been suggested to him
that he could manage the new guest house in the Bombay temple. So he asked
Srila Prabhupada what was the most important--preaching in the west or
preaching in India? Srila Prabhupada replied without hesitation, "Preaching
in the west." That settled Bali's mind and he left for Australia a few days
later.

Your humble servant,
Hari-sauri dasa