Prabhupada Taught Us ABCD

In his classes at 26 Second Avenue Swamiji constantly referred to the Bhagavad-gita as “ABCD”—the beginning principles of spiritual life.  “Srimad-Bhagavatam,” he would say, “is a more advanced subject.”  And as his fledgling ISKCON Society expanded around the globe, Prabhupada would repeatedly stress the vital importance at the heart of the Gita’s ABCD: We are not the body.  Srila Prabhupada’s expertise was in removing us from the bodily platform by a full program of activities in Krishna consciousness. 

We are not the mind either.  The mind seems to be more a friend of the body when it’s under the sway of the senses.  The body sends frantic messages to the mind and intelligence, “Woof!  Woof!  Please take care of me with all your intelligence and all your devotion.  Please give me something to drink.  Give me something to eat.  I crave.  I hurt.  I feel pleasure.”  Like a child.  Kids disturb us with their unabashed, frank attachment to their immediate feelings.  Any little inconvenience or restriction can cause their uncontrolled minds and senses to leap into action.

The ABCD first step in spiritual life was to seriously approach a spiritual master who would teach us to control the body and the mind and to uncover the soul.  With his kindergarten ABCD approach, Prabhupada rescued us from our childlike state of bodily consciousness and reawakened our natural awareness of Krishna.