Kṛṣṇa Sent You to Assist Me - Building Prabhupāda's Vision Together
When we look at the global reach of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, Śrīla Prabhupāda points to a secret that warmed his heart: the sincerity of his assistants. He did not see himself as a solitary hero, but as a servant who was kindly provided with good souls to help push on the mission of Lord Caitanya. For Śrīla Prabhupāda, every hand stretched out to help was a gift from Kṛṣṇa Himself.
Kṛṣṇa’s Kind Arrangement of Help
Śrīla Prabhupāda often expressed that he felt feeble and unworthy on his own, and that his disciples were sent by his Guru Mahārāja to support him. He viewed each assistant as a representative of the disciplic succession, sent to ensure the movement’s success.
- My Spiritual Master knew it that alone I could not do this great work. Therefore He has very kindly sent you all to help me in this task. I accept you therefore as representatives of my Guru Maharaja playing as my affectionate disciples.
- I accept you all as assistants or representatives of my Guru Maharaja Who is still helping me because I am so feeble and unworthy.
- Personally, I am nonentity; I have come here on the order of my Spiritual Master, and He has kindly sent all you boys to assist me.
- By the grace of Krsna this mission of spreading Krishna Consciousness is being enthusiastically pushed on for the benefit of the whole world by the assistance of all my disciples, good souls like your self and your good wife.
Relieving My Anxiety through Management
As his movement grew, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s greatest desire was to focus on his lasting contribution—his translations. He pleaded with his leaders and GBC members to handle the management expertly, as this would relieve his great anxiety and allow him the peace to write his books.
- Please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam which will be our lasting contribution to the world.
- If the GBC which I have appointed for this task will kindly now assist me in this way, by handling very expertly and with all good consideration all matters of managing, I shall devote my full time to giving you further nice books.
- When I was alone I was taking so much trouble, but now there are so many assistants. But now you have to manage things very carefully and relieve me from the management so I can translate my books.
- If I cannot rely on you to assist me in the GBC position, who can I rely on? So I beg you to reassure me that you will continue to help me in this way, and do not become withdrawn from your active role. Kindly relieve me of this great anxiety.
Filling in the Skyscraper Framework
Śrīla Prabhupāda used the beautiful metaphor of a skyscraper to describe his movement. While he provided the foundational framework, he relied on his disciples' energy and creativity to fill it in and make the vision a reality for the whole world to see.
- Because by Krishna's Grace I have got good assistants like yourself, therefore I am successful. Now I have built the skyscraper framework, you fill it in nicely.
- Let us do something which will bring a peaceful revolution to the whole human society. I am sure I have good assistants like you and if you all cooperate with me I am sure of success.
- This task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants, the GBC, temple presidents, and sannyasis.
- I am always thinking about you, along with your good husband Gaurasundara, because you have been of such good assistance to me for pushing on this Krishna Consciousness movement in your country and other places around the world.
The Vital Work of Translating and Training
Śrīla Prabhupāda sought out specific assistants to help him with the technical and scholarly aspects of his work. Whether it was editing, Sanskrit research, or painting, he wanted to train his students to sit by his side and ensure that transcendental knowledge reached every language.
- I want to sit down tightly with some assistants, and spend the rest of my time translating Srimad-Bhagavatam, and other books. And train students to do preaching work on the outside.
- My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment (the production and distribution of our Krishna Conscious literature). Please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
- I am getting older and older, so actually if I get a peaceful place as described by you, the rest of my life will be continued in translating Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Goswami literature, assisted by some of my disciples like you.
- Immediately I want some good assistants to work with me; they must be educated and able to talk in English as also read Sanskrit nicely.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s life shows us that spiritual success is a collaborative journey of love. He invited us not just to follow him, but to stand beside him and assist him in his most sacred duties. By taking up the tools of service—whether in management, preaching, or translation—we become the good souls who relieve his anxiety and help him finish the great task given to him by his own Spiritual Master.
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 Assisting Me (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.