I Have Come to Your Country - Prabhupāda Carrying His Guru’s Order
When Śrīla Prabhupāda spoke the words, "I have come to your country," he was not just recounting a historical fact; he was extending a deeply personal invitation to our hearts. He traveled across the world, enduring immense physical hardship in his advanced age, simply to bring us the highest spiritual treasure of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He left behind the spiritual comforts of Vṛndāvana to enter the most materially entangled nations on earth, armed with nothing but the divine instruction of his Guru Mahārāja. Śrīla Prabhupāda viewed us not as strangers in a foreign land, but as his spiritual sons and daughters, uniquely positioned to help him change the course of human history. By meditating on why he came to our countries, we can clearly hear his personal call for our love, our cooperation, and our dedication to expanding this glorious mission.
The Driving Force of Love and Compassion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's journey to the West was a supreme act of causeless mercy. He frequently clarified that he had no material business in foreign lands and was not there to exploit or earn money. His sole motivation was a profound, unalloyed love for Kṛṣṇa, which naturally translated into love and compassion for all living entities wandering in the darkness of material illusion.
- Because I love Krsna, therefore I have come to your country.
- Just like because I love Krsna, therefore I have come to your country. I had no business to come to your country naturally. But we are preaching this Krsna consciousness movement means we love everyone.
- I have come to your country to give you something sublime, not to take from you, not to exploit you.
- Why I have come to your country? Because to make you Krsna conscious.
Carrying the Order of His Spiritual Master
Śrīla Prabhupāda always deflected personal praise, attributing all his success and determination to his Guru Mahārāja. He presented himself merely as a faithful servant carrying out an order. This absolute, surrendered mood inspires us to similarly take up the order of Śrīla Prabhupāda, recognizing that our true strength lies in faithfully executing the desires of the pure devotee.
- Don't be satisfied that you have understood. No. This should be distributed. In my old age I have come to your country carrying the order of my spiritual master to distribute it. You are all young boys and girls; take this message and distribute it.
- Just like in my old age I have come to your country carrying the order of my spiritual master to distribute it. You are all young boys and girls; take this message and distribute it. The whole suffering humanity will be happy.
- On the Disappearance Day of my Guru Maharaja, you may hold meeting to discuss His activities and offer respect to His Memory. Practically, this movement is His because it is under His order that I have come to your country.
- Whatever charge given from Krishna through the medium of Spiritual Master you should be carrying out very faithfully. I have come to your country in this old age with this interest.
A Special Mission for Global Change
Śrīla Prabhupāda possessed a brilliant, strategic spiritual vision. He knew that the Western countries, particularly America, set the standard for global trends. He specifically traveled to these leading nations with the hope that if the intelligent youth there took up the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the entire world's consciousness would be dramatically uplifted and spiritualized.
- I have come to your country with a special purpose, with a special mission, that if the American boys and girls take this Krsna consciousness movement very seriously, then that will be followed by other countries, and the face of the world will change.
- I have especially come to your country to deliver you this good message, because if you accept this, if you can understand this science of Krsna consciousness, other part of the world will also follow, and the face of the world will be changed.
- Take this Krsna consciousness movement. Your country will be perfect, actual leader of the whole world. I have come to your country with this purpose.
- With this mission, I have come to your country with the hope that if the American people take it very seriously, then it will be the greatest contribution to the world.
Inviting Our Earnest Cooperation
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not want to execute this massive global mission alone. He affectionately appealed to the younger generation, entrusting them with the highest spiritual responsibility. Whenever he saw sincere souls stepping forward to help distribute books, build temples, and preach, he felt great hope. His words are an eternal, personal invitation for us to cooperate with him.
- I have come to your country for preaching this Krishna Consciousness movement, and the younger generation especially is now cooperating with me. Similarly your cooperation will be very welcome.
- I think timely I have come to your country, and if the younger generation like you will cooperate with me, I am certain this movement will give the western youngsters a transcendental gift which will be recorded in the progress of history.
- When I first came to your country I had no idea how much the American people would cooperate with my Krsna Consciousness .But now good boys like yourself and all my other spiritual sons and daughters all around the world have been giving me great hope.
- Since I have come to your country, I have entrusted the matter to my beloved American boys and girls, and I wish to see that this magazine is published and distributed in the American way.
Conclusion
When Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly reminded us, "I have come to your country," he was graciously pulling us into his transcendental family. He crossed the ocean not as a stranger, but as a loving spiritual father searching for his lost children. He carried with him the perfect medicine of the holy names and the immaculate teachings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, intent on saving us from the fires of material existence. He endured every hardship simply to fulfill the order of his Guru Mahārāja, and in doing so, he showed us the ultimate standard of devotion. We are forever indebted to him. The most perfect way we can repay this inconceivable debt is to accept his personal invitation, fully cooperate with his movement, and distribute this divine gift to others, ensuring that the world he came to save is truly transformed.
Dive Deeper into Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives eternally within his instructions. This article is a loving summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category I Have Come to Your Country (Prabhupada). We enthusiastically invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation, immerse yourself in his mercy, and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.