Memories of Prabhupada

When we remember Prabhupada as he was in the past, we go back to a previous existence.  By definition, a memory is a reminiscence.  It is a little unreal.  One journeys back through time, visits with Prabhupada, then returns to the present.

Memories of Prabhupada are nectar.  Without them, there would be no substance to Prabhupada consciousness.  If there were no memories of Prabhupada, then he would become only a legend.  For example, although I don’t have any direct experience of Lord Caitanya’s appearance in the world, many persons who were with Lord Caitanya recorded His pastimes in diaries and books.  Therefore, I can know who He actually was.  Similarly, the followers of Prabhupada write memoirs and encourage Prabhupada’s disciples to compile their accounts before they pass away, so that everyone now and in the future can know what it was like to be with Prabhupada.

But there is a lot more to Prabhupada consciousness than memories of him.  We may enter that “unreal” world of the past, but eventually, we must return to the present and surrender now.  By meditating on the memories and practicing internal, minute-to-minute surrender, we will be Prabhupada conscious.  This internal cultivation is very important.  Prabhupada recall doesn’t mean only remembering what he did in the past, it means recalling our need to serve him now.

It’s exciting that there are so many facets to recalling Srila Prabhupada.  It is not a matter of thinning out or extracting the same memories again and again until they get so thinned and refined that it’s not really Prabhupada any more.  That can become a kind of mayavada meditation.  No, Prabhupada consciousness is personal.  It has to do with very basic things, like reading his books on a daily basis and understanding when we chant Hare Krishna that Prabhupada gave us the maha mantra.  It also means referring to him in a basic way as our teacher – our beloved teacher who compassionately instructs us in Krishna consciousness.  Prabhupada is with us at all times through his vani.  He shapes our lives to fulfill his purpose.  Also included in this many faceted way of meditating on Prabhupada is the nectarean activity of recalling what he did when he was here.