“Happy Days”

Prabhupada never made a big autobiographical presentation about coming to America.  Some swamis wrote books, “My Year in England” or “My Year in America.”  Srila Prabhupada was not interested in telling about his adventures.  He spent his time telling us about Krishna’s adventures in the spiritual world and how Krishna brings that spiritual world into our world.  He was interested in writing more and more books about Krishna’s teachings and translating the Vedic literature.

Prabhupada recalled his earliest days in America as “happy days.”  One reason was because he depended entirely on Krishna.  Until he came, he was not certain whether Westerners could actually become practicing devotees.  Prabhupada’s gradual discovery of this on behalf of Lord Caitanya produced his happiness.  He was such a realistic missionary though, he did not bask in that happiness and exaggerate it with praises of his own accomplishments.  He immediately took the good news that Westerners could take to Krishna consciousness and went further and further with it.

Prabhupada did not run back to India, but assessed the situation realistically.  He thought, “I am here, but how much more can I do?”  According to Vaisnava philosophy, everyone is a spirit soul and it’s possible for everyone to become Krishna conscious.  Lord Caitanya’s name should be known in every town and village.  In a practical way, Prabhupada was determined to do this as much as he could.  He saw that it was not going to be easy.  He was happy at the prospect of rescuing a few, but unhappy that so many would remain stubbornly detached from Krsna consciousness.  Srila Prabhupada never lost his intelligent, cool-headed way of looking at things.  He was thrilled on behalf of the parampara, but remained grave and angry (a devotee has a right, just as Hanuman was angry) that people were in such ignorance and yet puffed up with their pretenses and excuses for not accepting Krishna consciousness.