Prabhupāda's Extensive Travelling
In this article, Śrīla Prabhupāda shares the personal and profound reasons behind his constant global journeys. He reveals his heart as a spiritual father who travels not for himself, but to protect his disciples, to spread the mercy of Lord Caitanya to every soul, and to ensure that the flame of kṛṣṇa-bhakti stays bright in every corner of the world.
The Compassionate Heart on a Global Journey
Śrīla Prabhupāda's travels were a direct expression of his compassion. He did not see himself as an old man needing rest, but as a messenger of the truth who was prepared to go anywhere, even in feeble health, just to see if at least one man could understand the message of Kṛṣṇa.
- I am traveling all over the world to see that at least one man may understand. They have spoiled the whole situation by misinterpreting, by malinterpreting, and by bringing some rascal and pose as leader. The whole world is spoiled.
- Because I want to deliver the real thing, therefore in my feeble health I am prepared to go. If one man can understand, that I want to see. I am traveling all over the world to see that at least one man may understand.
- I am an old man. My visits should remain independent. As far as possible I am travelling, but nowadays I am feeling a little inconvenience.
- In the old age I am traveling all over the world. People think that I have taken some hardship. But for Krsna's sake, even it is hardship... Actually, there is no hardship. But even it is hardship, we should take it.
A Father’s Anxiety for His Children
The deep love Śrīla Prabhupāda felt for his disciples was the fuel for his world tours. He traveled to see that his students were doing well, to encourage them, and to personally ensure that the movement he started would not be vanquished in his absence.
- Just like I am traveling all over the world twice, thrice, in a year. My duty is to see that my disciples who have accepted me guru, they may not fall down. That is my anxiety.
- I am this old age, I cannot move. Still I am traveling all over the world. I am simply interested that whatever I have done, it may not be vanquished in my absence. Let me go and encourage them.
- I have established so many centers. So I have to go from one center to another just to encourage them. Otherwise I am old enough. I am eighty years. So traveling is not very good job for me, but still I do it just to encourage them.
- I want to travel continually to see my centers. Now there is little impediment on account of my old body. Still I am trying and will continue to try to see you again and again.
The Vision of a World United in Saṅkīrtana
Śrīla Prabhupāda's ambition was to see the saṅkīrtana movement flourish everywhere. He dreamed of a strong party that would travel across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and he felt great pleasure whenever he saw his disciples cooperating to make this global preaching a reality.
- Actually my ambition is to form a strong Sankirtana party and travel all over Europe, and then in Africa, Asia, India, and Japan, etc. This is my thought. Please try to give it effect.
- Make a strong party of not less than 25 boys and girls. We wish to make a world tour with this Sankirtana Party, that is my ambition.
- By Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace, with the cooperation of the Western youths, this movement is going on. I have traveled all over the countries, as I reported, and everywhere I saw, I was very much pleased that sankirtana is going on.
- If Indian young men join me I am immediately ready for this travelling touring from village to village, town to town.
No Obstacle Too Great for Prabhupāda
Even at eighty years old, Śrīla Prabhupāda remained the most active and responsible worker in the movement. He refused to be stagnant, teaching us by his own example that one should use every facility—even jet planes and modern travel—to glorify Kṛṣṇa and push on the mission.
- I am old man of eighty years; still, I am busy. I am traveling all over the world, writing book at night, talking with visitors, and so many things. You can see. So where we are escaping? We are the most responsible worker.
- This ISKCON organization is there because I have been always travelling. I never sat down in my old age, no. So you follow my example and preach widely all over the world, that is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's version.
- To be stagnant is not good. Just like I am an old man, but I am always travelling.
- If somebody criticizes, "Oh, Caitanya Mahaprabhu walked on leg and you are travelling in the jet plane?" Shall I have to take that ideal? These are rascaldom. When you have to work, you have to work with the greatest facility.
A Global Home for Every Soul
From Moscow to Mauritius, and from New York to Nairobi, Śrīla Prabhupāda visited countless cities to plant the seeds of devotion. He felt a special affection for the places where his work began and was always eager to meet the new boys and girls who were taking an interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- I am now on world tour. I left Bombay on Jan. 24th, 1975 and traveled to Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Caracas, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, London, and now I am at our Tehran center.
- From Moscow I went to Paris. Paris is a very nice city, better than London. All historical buildings are here and they are very gorgeous and panoramic. So we have got a very nice center there.
- I am very happy to hear of the so many new boys and girls taking a sincere interest in this philosophy, and I am also very eager to meet with them when I come there to San Francisco.
- I also want to stay there for a long time because I like New York more than all other cities. This is because my first attempt was begun there, so I have got some affection for your great city.
The Literary Mission on the Move
Perhaps the most miraculous part of Śrīla Prabhupāda's travel was that his translation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam never stopped. He turned his travel time into a mobile office, writing late into the night and training his assistants to help him produce the books that would guide us for generations.
- At the present moment I take with me three assistants, so my books writing is going on, so that is not stopped by my travelling. So now I can go on touring and my writing will go on. So if we have got our own bus that will be very nice.
- Now Kirtanananda has bought me one bus, so now I am taking with me wherever I go three assistants, so my translating work is not stopped even while traveling.
- Traveling is going on throughout the whole world and wherever I go, at night I write books.
- I should not travel so extensively any more if I am to finish my work on the Bhagavatam. So I am turning over all the management to the GBC and the presidents.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's life on the road was the ultimate sacrifice of a spiritual father. He gave up the peace of retirement and the comfort of a single home to build a house in which the whole world could live. Every mile he traveled was for us—to guide us, to save us, and to show us how to be truly happy in Kṛṣṇa's service. When we read of his travels, we don't just see a schedule; we see the heart of the world's greatest well-wisher. By following his example of active preaching and steady service, we can stay close to him, no matter where we are. Śrīla Prabhupāda's tour never really ended; he continues to travel through his books and through the hearts of those who carry on his mission.
Dive Deeper into Prabhupāda's Vāṇī
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Travelling (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.