I Could - Prabhupāda’s Choice of Sacrifice and Surrender
The phrase "I could" reveals the profound depth of Śrīla Prabhupāda's surrender and the conscious choices he made to save conditioned souls. As a pure devotee, he often reflected on the alternative paths his life could have taken. He could have remained peacefully translating texts in his sacred rooms in Vṛndāvana, or he could have even become a wealthy business magnate in his earlier years. Instead, he chose to sacrifice all personal comforts to travel across the globe in his old age, simply to execute the impossible order of his spiritual master. Even when faced with insurmountable odds, he never lost faith, trusting that if he could just present the pure message without cheap compromises, Kṛṣṇa would send sincere souls. By meditating on everything Śrīla Prabhupāda could have done for himself, we gain a devastatingly beautiful appreciation for what he actually chose to do for us.
Sacrificing Peace for the Preaching Mission
Śrīla Prabhupāda was fully qualified to live a quiet, peaceful life of retirement in India. Yet, because he understood that true Kṛṣṇa consciousness means actively serving the Lord, he consciously abandoned his comfort to take on the heavy burden of global preaching.
- We have no business to come so far. In Vrndavana I could live very peacefully; there is two room still, in Radha-Damodara Temple. But because there is Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness means serving the Lord.
- I am not exercising myself. I am an old man of seventy-two years. I was ill, I went back to India; but I want to work. Actually, I could retire from all these activities, but as far as I can, I want to work; I want to learn day and night.
- Without seeing him (His Divine Grace Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja) at that opportune moment, we could have become a very great business magnate, but never 1) would we have been able to walk the path of liberation.
- This is not my business to make intimate relation with woman and get money. I could do. There was chance. When attempt was failed, the man who introduced that woman to me, he one day said, "I have seen many swamis, but none like you."
Trusting the Order of His Guru
When Śrīla Prabhupāda was ordered to preach to the English-speaking world, he had no idea how it would practically manifest. He succeeded not through immense material resources, but through an absolute, unbreakable trust in the instructions of his spiritual master.
- When my Guru Maharaja ordered me to spread this movement to the English speaking countries, I did not know how I could do it, but I never lost faith nor did I ever forget this order.
- When he (my spiritual master) forced me, at that time I thought that, "What is this? I am committing some mistake, or what is that?" I was puzzled. But a little after, I could understand that it is the greatest favor shown to me.
- Perhaps if I would have joined from 1922, by the blessings of Guru Maharaja, I could do more preaching work. Anyway, it is better late than never.
- Don't slip down. That is my request. Whatever I could do, I have done. Now it is up to you to spread this movement all over the world. Don't go away.
The Power of Pure Preaching
Many mundane teachers use cheap magic or flatter their audiences to gain followers. Śrīla Prabhupāda rejected these tactics entirely, knowing that if he could just inject the pure philosophy into the hearts of the sincere Western youth, the movement would naturally conquer the world.
- I always said that if I could get the American boys and girls to take up this movement the rest of the world would join. Now my theory is being proved.
- I had some difficulty with language difficulty to preach, but still I could see how pious they were and eager to listen anyway. That is the only qualification, if someone is eager for spiritual improvement.
- Suppose if I could manufacture rasagullas by some mantra, Hare Krsna mantra, oh, thousands of people will come immediately.
- Why don't you manufacture something that men will not die? Then I could consider your merit. - But no; his merit is utilized for doing something sinful. That is called duskrtinah.
A Compassionate Desire for Pure Devotees
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not evaluate his success by counting the number of temples opened or the millions of dollars collected. His singular, compassionate desire was to see if he could transform even one conditioned soul into a pure devotee of the Lord.
- My position is that I want to see that at least one disciple has become pure devotee. Of course, I have got many sincere and pure devotees. That is my good luck. But I would have been satisfied if I could find out one only.
- If I could induce even one person to Krishna Consciousness through my publication, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, then I shall think my labor is successful.
- All the servants, they complained, "Sir, there is ghost." So I was chanting. He was living in several spots, especially on the gate side. So I could understand. But I would chant Hare Krsna, and I was saved. Everyone was saved.
- The Ayurvedic medicine which I could recommend is probably not available in London, but if there is any Ayurvedic shop let me know and I shall recommend some medicine. The best thing is to chant Hare Krishna loudly.
Conclusion
When we examine the sacrifices of Śrīla Prabhupāda, our own excuses for not practicing devotional service immediately fall away. He could have comfortably spent his final days in the sacred atmosphere of Vṛndāvana, but out of deep love for Kṛṣṇa and boundless compassion for us, he took on the greatest austerities imaginable. He faced language barriers, physical illness, and the darkest material elements, yet he never deviated from the order of his spiritual master. By remembering all the easier paths that Śrīla Prabhupāda could have chosen, we are filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. The only way we can properly repay him for abandoning his peace for our salvation is to strictly follow his instructions, cooperate with one another, and dedicate our own lives to pushing forward this glorious movement.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category I Could (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.