What Would Prabhupada Do?

We often think, “What would Prabhupada do or say in a situation like this?”  And as the Bhaktivedanta Archives surprise us with all of Srila Prabhupada’s spoken and written words, we can push a computer button and bring up what he has said on “walks in the woods,” “when the body feels cold,”  “nail-biting” – almost anything.  But even Prabhupada’s instructions have to be applied (as they were by him) according to time, place and circumstance.  We must ponder on the meaning.  If Prabhupada said the woodland walks are all right provided you think of Krishna, then should we justify all our time walking in the woods?  If we find a statement by Prabhupada that woods-walking is useless, should we give it up for all time?  We have to think and feel what he meant – and what it means to us.

We want to surrender to his order.  That means being disciplined by him; don’t invent or interpret the parampara: kṛṣṇastu bhagavān svayam.  “If there’s no surrendering,” Prabhupada says, “then there’s no beginning even, what to speak of advancement.  Disciple means one who accepts discipline – as soon as the discipline is broken, then everything is lost.”

But surrender also means love.  You don’t deposit yourself like a “surrendered stone” at your guru’s lotus feet – you grow as a person and live for him and his mission.  You attain your maturity – you turn to Krishna within, you try your best – and it’s all offered to guru and Krishna.  Your offering should be thoughtful, painstaking – a garland of handpicked wildflowers, an artistically arranged plate of fruits, an innovative way to preach.  “Whatever you do, do it for Me.”  And as you work to make a thoughtful project on his behalf, you always stand ready to be told, “That’s wrong.  Do it over.”