Hare Krishna, thank you for your gracious welcome, I am feeling especially blessed today on my

arrival in the United Kingdom. First program is with the leaders of Prabhupada society in London. I
do not deserve to be here but I am here anyway, so I will speak something. In Krishna Consciousness
out eternal identity is servant. Naham vipro na ca narapatir napi vaisyo na sudro... Lord Chaitanya,
Krishna who teaches us by His example how to be a devotee, he is in the highest position in every
sense, He was Brahman the highest of the Varnas, He was sanyas the highest of the Ashramas, and
He was Nimai Pandita, the greatest of the scholars. Now today’s world the fame and prestige is given
to the people who are great in the eyes of the world, yes? Politicians, Hollywood, Bollywood, what is
it in London? Londonwood..I don’t know? ....Han? ignorance to be entertainer, a great singer or a
great actor, actress or a great athlete, in India the cricketers are such, whatever they do millions of
people will do. Yad yad aacharati sreshthas, so the leaders of society are the people who have lot of
influence over others, Chaitanya Maha Prabhu was Brahman, He was sannyasi, He was also the
greatest scholar on the planet, He defeated the Keshava Kashmiri, He defeated Sarvabhauma
Bhattacharya, He defeated Prakashananda Saraswathi and in those days in India people didn’t care
about the singers and dancers or television stars or entertainers, they didn’t care even about Athletes.
If you put all those things together at that time you were great if you are a scholar, if you defeat
others in debate, we are everything, power, prestige, high birth, incredible physical beauty. But yet
he identified Himself as servant of the servant of the servant. So leadership in Krishna Consciousness
means one who is most dedicated to service of others. In the material sense leaders are all often
people who exploit others who are dictators who are powerful, exploiting wealth, giving directions,
massive egos there is absolutely nothing to do with spiritual life. Trinadapi sunicena... spiritual life is
about submitting oneself before God, submitting oneself as a servant of every living being. When we
take that role we are actual, proper leaders. And it is great responsibility, Prabhupada was great
example, on Jaladuta he declared himself to be an insignificant beggar, he declared himself to have
no devotion, no knowledge, he was simply submitting himself to Krishna, we can open some
windows because it is hard enough sitting through my lecture, what to speak of without air..........
Hari, Hari. When Prabhupada was a person who took such responsibility in his service, the weight,
the responsibility of his Guru maharaja’s order, he felt the weight of expectation of our whole
Parampara and in fulfilling the prophesy of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda that the Holy name
of Krishna is chanted in every town and village throughout this planet. Yes, when Prabhupada was
just a young man in his only twenties Srila Bhakti Sidhanta Saraswati Takore gave him this order, he
was just married, he just had first child, now those who are in Grihasta Ashram, you know what its
like at that time of life, when you are just married, when you just have your first child, so many
expectations, so many solutions to solve, creating stability and security for the future, but he was
given the order, take this message of Lord Chaitanya Maha Prabhu and throughout the world teach it
in English language. Now Prabhupada had great faith, but it was injustice faith, because so many of
his God brothers, so many other Gaudiya Vaishnavas also understood that order and they had faith,
but Prabhupada also he showed his devotion by taking serious personal responsibility to execute the
order even at the cost of inconvenience or death, he made his priorities and Srila Prabhupada told us
that you make spiritual advancement according to the responsibilities you take on behalf of Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada gave his disciples such an immense responsibilities, he is taking new men and
women who have just been chanting and there wasn’t even books, just last week I was with our
Shyamasundar Prabhu, God brother, we were together for about two weeks in California preaching
in the southern parts together, just imagine he never even heard the name Krishna before, never even
heard the name of Krishna, to know anything about Bhakti, taking drugs, having girl friend and a dog
named Ralf(9:33) , he met Prabhupada and at that time there were no books except Prabhupada’s the
original Srimad Bhagavatam Volumes that he brought on Jalduta with him. And they were hard to
get, there were no Back to Godhead, there were no temples, only a couple of devotees and it was
them, there were no senior devotees except Prabhupada, think of what we have and what they had,
till yet there were just devotees two or three weeks, Prabhupada has given them responsibilities once
in a couple of months there were starting Ratha Yatra festivals they were building chariots, carving
deities, they were preaching, setting up programs, Prasad distribution, they were not even devotees
for a year, many of you are Indians who basically were born and raised with some conception on
Krishna, they didn’t have any, their first conception of Krishna was just months before and they were
sent to London, (11:14) I know what it was like in those days because in 1970 I tried to come to
London without money, and I was practically tortured emotionally, emotionally tortured for about 4
hours at the immigration, they were threatening to beat me, they were threatening to change the
whole style of the way I looked, they were threatening to export me after this, they were threatening
to put me in prison, I went across the English Channel from I think hook of Holland to Dober, not
friendly and I wasn’t even a devotee, I was just an ordinary type of person just didn’t have much
money and they were coming as the devotees without anything, how did they do that? Sleeping
cardboard boxes with new born babies in the basement of warehouses going to different peoples’
houses, no income, they didn’t know what tomorrow would bring and they are family people they are
all married and they were only devotees for few months, but Prabhupada gave them not only faith
but he gave them the sense of responsibility that we can’t wait for other people to do the will of God,
but Srila Prabhupada saw an urgency, an urgency to take the responsibility to give this message to
others, just look at the world even in the name of religion hatred, terrorism, war, hypocrisy,
Prabhupada came to expose to eliminate that from peoples’ hearts but as devotees who are just as to
prone toward anyone else unless we really really hear what Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya and
Krishna are speaking, Srila Prabhupada gave one beautiful lecture where he explained that there are
so many religious institutions in this world they are doing their work, some are doing miserable
things and some are doing good things there are so many philanthropic agencies, some are just
egoistic and looking for profit and tax (14:09) and others are actually concerned helping people, he
said but the purpose of this movement is something which is not available in the whole world today
to teach the exclusive essence of life which is unmotivated unconditional loving service to the
supreme Lord. As Srimad Bhagavatam teaches crest jewel of all scriptures, as Sri Chaitanya Maha
Prabhu taught who is the very personification of the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam. When
Prabhupada came to America one reporter asked why have you come we have already have our own
religion, Prabhupada told I have not come to convert you, I have come for enlighten you, we are not
concern with this religion or that religion we are concern with the essence, Sanatana Dharma, Savai
punsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokshaje, Ahaituki apratihata yayatma suprasidati, the supreme
occupation for all humanity is not being a Christian or Muslim or a Hindu or a Jew or a Jurashtrian
or a Buddhist or any of that, the supreme occupation for all humanity is unconditional, unmotivated,
uninterrupted loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is what
Prabhupada came to teach, it is a necessity, when the Tsunami wave hit the shores of south India,
Indonesia, Thailand, and so many Srilanka and other places whole world came together in a very
amazing way to try to give relief for this tragedy which is necessary, but from the point of view of
God, Lord Krishna that Tsunami wave allusion a ignorance has crashed upon the soils of the whole
planet and people are drowning in miserly existence, their human lives are being wasted washed
away by the waves of lust and anger and envy and pride and drowning in the ocean of illusion,
horrible, so much suffering, emotional suffering, mental suffering, physical suffering, social
suffering, so much suffering in the name of God, people are murdering each other, yes Prabhupada
came as a rescue worker, the supreme rescue worker but it is not easy, you have to take responsibility
and he did that and he inspired these few little grihastas to take responsibility and understand the
necessity of this mission and he did whatever was needful with integrity and we see those six little
devotees began here is what all of us are benefitting and enjoying so much in our lives, so yes this is
the criteria of the future of any real institution is to the extent leaders take responsibility, social
responsibilities, moral responsibilities, ethical responsibilities, philosophical and spiritual
responsibilities. Srila Prabhupada said purity is the force, he wanted devotees to work hard to make
sacrifices for the welfare of others knowing there is no other greater way of receiving the blessings
of Krishna but to do this properly and to be a proper leader it has to be done in a spirit of servitude,
recently I was speaking to two wonderful devotees and I asked one was in the lime light how do we
not get affected by false pride, I was just thinking of that word just take up as it is lime light, lime is
a very bitter fruit, is it not? It is not sweet, it is not a mango light, so lime light,(20:22) it is light but
it is bitter, so austerity han? When you just eat raw lime sometimes you do it for your health but it is
an austerity, not too many people enjoy just eating limes, just eat one lime after another after another,
little juices just eat thin limes how many of you will enjoy it? Its bitter, we take the role being in the
light while we understand the bitter consequences if we become proud, it is an austerity we shouldn’t
enjoy it, so do it in the spirit of service, if we want to enjoy little sooner or later fall down. If we are
taking any leadership position in a spirit of service or responsibility we will prosper and we will be
empowered individually and collectively. Bhakti Sidhanta Saraswati Takore said the prestige of this
world even if it is the prestige of being an advanced devotee should be seen to have the value of the
stool of the bore. Hare Krishna, now we all know about hogs, hogs eat stool, so their stool is the stool
of regenerated stool, yes? Therefore it is considered very abominable form of stool. But amongst
hogs, the bore is an out cast, untouchable, living in the jungles hare Krishna, so the prestige the fame
the adoration of this world if we want to really make spiritual advancement we must see having no
more value than the excretion stool of bore. Hare Krishna we move on to the next subject. And how
we are in leadership position we get praised, sometimes of course in ISKCON today the more you
are in leadership position the more you get blamed not only for what you have done, what you
haven’t done, for everybody else has done and hasn’t done. So thankless task, but still whatever the
drops of adoration comes can delude us unless we are really we are in that spirit of just taking the
responsibility to serve on behalf of our superiors, on behalf of God and His devotees. And that sweet
spirit of servitude toward God if we only think that has any real value, because there is nothing else,
we are not doers, the powers of time life passes so fast, recently I was with HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami
maharaja, one of his legs were apitated, his colour bone was cracked, he is imitiated, he has multiple
tumours all of his entire body, couldn’t move, he needed two people to move even if he wanted to
move a couple of inches, he has no power to move by himself, moving him is such a painful deal but
he had to keeping moved, we know how independently active he was, he was a type of person who
wanted someone standing behind and doing things, he (25:18) to do things himself, dynamic, active,
powerful, such a young age of fifty five to be in that condition, (25:35) speak two three hours about
Krishna everyday and many things I can say but sometimes he would just cry in ecstasy and shake
his head say amazing, how wonderful, how wonderful life is, I would not trade my position for
anyone else in the world, how wonderful, how blessed Prabhupada is given us each other, he’s given
us the Holy Name, he’s given us Hari Katha, he’s given us the chance to live and to die for Krishna,
how wonderful. He understood the value, the value of the association of the devotees, the value of
the Holy Name of Krishna, the value of the chance to serve, he is hundreds and millions of times
greater than wealth, good health, or anything else that this temporary world can ever give us, did
everyone hear? Hari.

We know the story of Dhruva maharaja. He was seeing his father in the royal domain of the
palace, little Dhruva four five years old he was effected by leadership, whatever position we have
where other people are subordinate to us, we have great responsibility become effected. His father’s
life full of opulence, full of power, full of prestige but Dhruva maharaja saw all of that and he
wanted it. Because what a parent does the children are deeply affected by that. Here when he was
insulted by his step mother and informed that he has no chance of sitting on the throne of his father
because he was not born of her womb, that little child heart was mortified, it was crippled with pain,
his lips were trembling, his eyes were weeping, he couldn’t speak, his mother can little help, I want a
kingdom greater than my father’s or even my grandfather’s. So we know the story his mother said
only God can give, and you can find the God in the forest. With the help of Narada Muni, he chanted
the names of Krishna, worshiped Krishna and performed tapasya and Vishnu came before him,
Vishnu came before him within his heart, he saw the Darshan of the Lord and that Darshan
manifested outside to be seen by his eyes, and Vishnu said you can come here I can give you
anything you like, you want the kingdom greater than your father of Grandfather I will give, Dhrva
said no, I see no value to any of that, I see you, I was looking for a broken piece of glass but by your
grace I have found greatest diamond, the most precious jewel of your Darshan of love for you,
Purushartha shiromani, the crest jewel of all (30:18) love of God, economic development, sense
gratification, liberation, religiosity, these are the goals practically everyone and every religion is
striving for. Dharma...(30:37), Srimad Bhagatam kicks them all out, there is only real goal, love of
God, Prema(30:47) Krishna Prema, who has that how much he valued it , it is true people in this
world they have succeeded materially but find little inner satisfaction, I will not mention the names
but recently I was with one of them with the child one of the most famous on the planet, so much
prestige, so much power, so much money, but all (31:42) any city they go tens and thousands of
people will stare their hard earned money to come and see them, but real friends, real satisfaction not
at all. It is sad, very sad, better you put your expectations that these things make me happy, you
become so addicted to that expectation you can’t give it up. But it just doesn’t work that jib ells that
passionate desires of all the senses, mind and the ego will get satisfied but they don’t last, they don’t
touch the heart. What does the world need? Alexander the great marched from Greece across the
middle east everywhere he went he conquered, Alexander the Great, why was he great? Because no
man or woman could stand before him without ultimately having submitted to him, anywhere he
went he would conquer that place, he would become the king, such power, such wealth, he came to
India and there is a story, he saw a Yogi, the yogi was just wearing a caupin, Alexander the Great is
wearing very royal robes and ornaments, that man is wearing a little caupin, he was just sitting on the
ground, surrounded by fires in the burning heat of the sun, in the summer time, at noon, in India, he
was just sitting there doing his meditation, chanting God’s names in the sun ferocious sun with fires
around, Alexander watched him throughout, what’s this man is incredible, this man is really
incredible personality, such tolerance, such commitment what he is doing, he was deeply moved by
this person, yogi, so Alexander the great stood right in front of him, here the king, king and here is
the poverty striken yogi who doesn’t have anything except the ground he is sitting on, and Alexander
said I am very impressed, I am very impressed by your life, I will give you anything you want, I am
the king you ask me I will give you anything you want I want to reward you for inspiring me by the
way you are, and the man just looked at him and he said you give me anything I want? Alexander
said anything you want I have the power to give you I will give you it is my word. But he said
anything, han anything, the yogi said alright give me this, he said move aside of you just, you are
blocking the sun, that’s all you want, han that is all I want, I have everything else. He was shading
him from the sun, so he moved aside, his austerity was his wealth, Alexander understood that this
man has something more valuable than any of us. And it is a fact, it is that inner experience of self
realization, God Consciousness. That is what Prabhupada has come to give all of us. And when we
ask Prabhupada what can we do to repay you, he didn’t ask anything for himself, his reply was
whatever I have given to you give to others. But in order to do that properly we must take
responsibility, very few people in this world are really willing to take responsibility for the ideals the
people live in, why? Because it is difficult, it takes integrity, perseverance, for one who is willing to
do that he is spiritual leader, Srila Prabhupada didn’t expect only sanyasis and initiating people to be
spiritual leaders, Prabhupada gave the order every single one of his followers men, women, and
children should be spiritual leaders leading by example, taking responsibility. And all of you in this
room today are devotees who have stood out because you have taken sincere responsibility to help
give this most precious gift to the world, to help give light in the age of darkness, many of you given
much your very hard earned money, many of you have given much of the very very precious time of
your life to help overcome problems to deal with crisises there is all not joyable to deal because you
have taken responsibility, I thank you, I honour all of you to that act of greatness, devotees never
satisfied that he or she has ever done enough because there is too much sorrow and confusion in this
world to be complaisant, we want to take more responsibility so that we all be individually and
collectively empowered to be greater instruments of God’s grace, in our lives responsibility that
accesses the divine grace of the Lord comes through our hard work and dedication but also for our
spiritual purity, our spiritual purity is the very foundation that everything we do in our life is
supported by, thus Sadhana is of such great importance, unless we take responsibility to purify our
own lives, hearts by sincere Sadhana, hearing the Glories of the Lord, reading the Scripures, chanting
the Holy Name of the Lord, participating in Japa, kirtan, Bhajan, the association of devotees, making
our home a temple these acts of Sadhana are foundational to our spiritual lives, they access to the
spiritual power way where beyond ourselves, there is great responsibility, Sadhana purifies the
heart, Sadhana connects us to Krishna internally, when Prabhupada gave initiation to devotees, he
had done vows to chant the Holy Names, to follow regulative principles, why? Why take these vows,
most Gurus in the day and age they don’t bother devotees take vows, because we also take vows so
much easy to do breathing exercise, and (42:37) and tell them how could you feel and teach them
how to feel good, isn’t that easier, why? Why Prabhupada wanted us to take vows? Same we have
been discussing because when you take a vow, what does that mean? You have increased
responsibility, that’s really what it is about, increasing our responsibility, because as we take
responsibility, we make spiritual progress, taking the vows is no big thing, keeping the vows is a big
thing, right? Anybody can take a vow, who is that in this world who can take a vow, anyone, you can
take alcoholic in the street and ask him to vow to chant 16 rounds, follow four regulative principles
and I will give another bottle of wine, he may sit in front of the fire and take the vows, that doesn’t
mean much, only one purpose of taking vows, and that is for the purpose of keeping them. Which in
tells the responsibility, it gives a deeper sense of responsibility and we need that. So Sadhana is
really about taking responsibility for purifying our own hearts and we also have social
responsibilities because if we want actually reach out the people in a productive and effective way
we have to be united, we have to be united, there so much disunity in the United Kingdom, what to
speak of United States? Or in the past Soviet Union, everyone talks about the Union and the united
yes? Because people want that, you can’t really accomplish things without it, but how united is this
kingdom, today Gouri prabhu, (45:40) Madhava prabhu, how shocking it was to the British people
that British born citizens who are responsible for these tragic, senseless murders, killing their own
country men, getting sheltered from this nation, getting facilities from this nation, and they are trying
to destroy it, how united, scrupling, so then ISKCON Prabhupada was so strong in his emphasis of
being united and that unity on the superficial level means to not fight and criticize each other which
is hard enough to do, but we are on real unity to share our ideals and respect each other, respect
everyone who is willing to do what ever they can do according to their position to be a part of the
solution, that respect, that encouragement and everyone is trying to set a proper example creates real
unity, united we stand divided we fall, that was spoken by great politician and quoted by Srila
Prabhupada, united we stand divided we fall, the nature of ego is we want to individually
outstanding, mentioned this in the previous class here by one of the great basket ball players in
history in America, he was in again where he was about to score a point where we will give him the
world record for all time of scores in the single game, particular type of score and there were seconds
left in the game and he had the ball and he was a really easy shot for him and he threw it to one of his
team mates and team mate made a shot, people were really disappointed, he could have made world
record and never have a chance in his carrier to ever make that again, he could have done it, so he
was asked by interview, why did you leave it? You could have easily thrown into the basket, why did
you throw to your teammate? He said because where we are playing were not individuals, we are a
team, we have to give up our individual ambitions for the sake of purpose of the team and yes it was
an easy shot and easy for me to make but my team mate was in a better position to make that shot. I
would have likely made it, and he would have more likely made it. I don’t regret, now this person is
not a saint or a devotee, he is just a athlete, but the reason they are world champion team because
they put the purpose of their united efforts above all their individual ambitions. That is essential, so
responsibility to maintain unity and communication, responsibility for one’s own purity and
responsibility to do what has God has blessed us to do, in our intelligence, in our finances, in our
skills, just taking responsibility in all levels to do what we can do, just serve that is all, just for the
purpose of serving the servants of the servants of the Lord, that is the greatest, greatest aspiration and
greatest benediction, that is what is really meant by simple living and high thinking, to have these
high ideals and not concern ourselves with our own egoistic tendencies, I don’t know what I was
supposed to speak tonight, I may have been out of line but I pray to Prabhupada give me something
and some how this came out, I thank you because Great Britain is one of the most influential nations
on this planet and it has been for hundreds and hundreds of years and its still is, and if we can make
an impact on the people of this nation it will make our all individual lives so deeply meaningful,
beautiful, so we could also do what Lord Chaitanya told Paropakar, Bharata bhumile hoila janma sar,
janma sarthaka kari kara paropakar, the greatest welfare work for humanity, thank you very much, is
there any questions or comments, Gouri Prabhu….do you like to give a presidential comment…?
Yes prabhu…
Dev:
Mahraja: Did you all hear the question? Even I could hardly hear. Would you like to speak it in
microphone?..han? microphone is coming.
Dev: if we have to take responsibility what questions you should ask yourself, about your qualities,
about your qualification, take on the responsibility and when you take up the
responsibility by taking risks that you might let other people down if you feel, what level
of risk you can take to take on that responsibility?
Maharaja: Thank you very deep and thoughtful question. We should always have dignity in our lives
to take responsibility for anything we do. It is the responsibility of every human being we
follow the laws of our nation, yes? It is responsibility, we cant live without responsibility,
all we have a free will to take except to follow or not follow. So in spiritual life from the
moment we develop faith (56:21) from the moment we have little faith in the association
of devotees, to make progress we need to may take responsibilities, we may take
responsibilities one step at a time but we don’t make much progress unless we take those
responsibilities, yes? We take responsibilities to start to come to the temple, as we
become a little more advanced or serious we take responsibility to start chanting , may be
one round a day, may be two rounds a day, may be four rounds a day, four, we take
responsibility for living by more of principles following the regulative principles,
knowing well if I don’t there will be karmic sinful reactions and if I do they are pleasing
Krishna, now I will make progress. And when we will take particular types of service it
may be little service, it may be bringing a bag of rice (57:36) to the temple but if we take
responsibility to do that we have so much more of powerful effect and as we become
more sincere we willing take more and more responsibility, so at every step whatever we
do we should be responsible doing it and doing it right. Yes? And really one of the signs
of our becoming more serious is to the extent we are willing to take more responsibility
and the fact is people have to do it. Otherwise religion will die in this world... real
religion. Our movement will not survive unless people are willing to take responsibility,
every year in Mayapur I sit with the GBC meetings, it is not... I don’t know if you have
heard so much, it is not that it is joyous occasion, many of the topics we have to deal
with, we have to struggle with, very few people want to be in that situation, but people
have to come forward to do it and they are willing to take responsibilities, there are Gurus
in this movement who don’t want to be Gurus, tremendous risk, tremendous hardship, it
is not that you are Guru means where ever you go people throw flowers on your head and
give you donations and Maha Prasad. Sometimes you get some flowers on your head,
sometimes you get some donations, but you are not allowed to keep it. And if you do no,
GBC’s on top of you, they have to give you send in your...what is it called your accounts.
But so many problems, yes? People may love you but also with their love comes
responsibility for their lives, and not even one is not a paramahamsa, so many people
have so many difficulties, so many problems and you take an emotional and spiritual and
social responsibility they have, it is massive burden. There are many people who don’t
want to do that, so much easier to chant Hare Krishna without any responsibility. So we
have to do it, people do have to do it. And we are doing it simply even taking those risks
for that purpose. I personally in my own life I never wanted to take sannyas, when my
authority went Mayapur and put my name up to the GBC and unanimously voted on me
and no one even asked me whether I wanted to do it. He was awarded, I was just happy as
a B’cari, preaching in the colleges, travelling around free, I was taking the responsibility
for the students and everything but I was happy, I came to New Vrindavan one day, and
everyone was offering obeisances to me which nobody ever did before. I really felt
miserable, I was offering obeisances to everybody, and they were saying you shouldn’t do
that Maharaja, what are you talking about Maharaja, he said GBC has voted you to take
 Sannyas, I said there is no way, there is no possibility I will not, absolutely and I started
studying scriptures just to get quotes and verses to support my not taking Sannyas, and I
studied well too because very motivated, I did not that responsibility and meanwhile the
leader was in India, he came back some weeks later, he brought me and it was the whole
assembly about twenty five or thirty, the leaders of the community and they were all
programmed before I came to convince me I must take Sannyas, so I have so many
scriptures, so many quotes, so many historical references, I was prepared, but there was a
problem nobody listen to me, but there was a bigger problem I wasn’t listen to them
either, it became a battle, big battle everyone is against me, but I was determined, it went
on for months, finally one day I was told by my GBC that whatever you are saying all has
scriptural, emotional, personal sense, but still you have to do it. I said I am not going to
do it, I am not going to take Sannyas, and then this person because I was a B’cari before
that I was a sadhu in Himalayas and Vrindavan, so I have a certain nature, he said alright,
then if you don’t take Sannyas, then you have to get married. I said I don’t want to get
married but (1:04) I will get married, then he said no you will not get married, it is out of
the question, you will take Sannyas, so his strategy didn’t work. So the battle continued, I
just thinking alone, I was saying just leave me alone, let me do it what I am doing, they
were not leaving me alone, finally one day GBC said that Prabhupada took so many risks
and made so many sacrifices to give you Krishna Consciousness, now he is speaking
through the unanimous voice of the GBC, and unanimous voice of all the leaders of the
community, Prabhupada is speaking to you, he is asking you to take risk and make
sacrifice to help him in his mission, what has he risked, and what sacrifice he has taken
for you, now he is asking you to reciprocate, how can you refuse? What would you say
for that? After he put it that way, I was wishing I was on the banks of Prayag, Hari bol!
But I wasn’t, so I said I can’t say no put it like that but I will tell you what ever I said in
the past is what I believe now, I don’t want to do this, I don’t want honour, I don’t want
prestige, I don’t want this responsibility, just let me go on what I am, that is what I want,
however you put it like this, I have no heart to say no. You decide, then he said then you
will take Sannyas, he said when? I said in ten years. He said no, this year, I said what is
the next farthest date, he said next Gaura Purnima, no I said, Prabhupada disappearance
day, no that is too late, so you decide, Nrisimhadev’s appearance day, that was the closest
festival. So in Krishna Consciousness if you really want to do something for humanity,
we have to take risks, it is just a matter of how much we want to do something. Look at
the risk Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati made, look at the risks that the Christian preachers
took, they were all murdered in the beginning days, even in the business, people who are
really powerful and great in business are the people who usually take risks and make
serious sacrifices, yes? We just have to do that. So if we are really concerned with the
welfare of the world which Krishna is then some of us have to step forward and take
certain risks and take responsibilities to do it properly. Is that answer to your question? I
gave some personal example, I am sorry about that. But...

Dev: You step forward to take leadership or do you wait for people you know senior to you to ask
you to take the responsibility, to take the leadership?

Maharaja: it is the Vaishnava mentality to step forward to take leadership in our enthusiasm and in
our willingness to serve. We shouldn’t step forward to take political leadership that
should be awarded by the Vaishnava community, it is not that we should be ambitious for
authority, we should be ambitious for service, we should be ambitious, enthusiastic for
that service and do the best possible service we should step forward, when devotees
 recognise that our service is best carried out if we have position then take the austerity of
having that position for the sake of serving the Vaishnavas in performing our service. So
yes we should step forward for service but position is something that should be received
with humility as a service to the Vaishnavas. Is there any other questions, or any
presidential comments? Yes Jai Nitai Prabhu...

Jai Nitai Prabhu: Hare Krishna! You mentioned experience of taking responsibility we have to make
decisions and we take responsibility for future people’s lives spiritually, sometimes we
may make mistakes, or we may make decisions that have serious impact on others’, may
be you can give advice how we can continue even when we have to make such decisions?

Maharaja: We should be very careful as far as we really cultivate our own bhakti so that we have a
pure Consciousness, pure mind and pure heart to make such decisions, because in
spiritual circles decisions we make are not simply managerial because they are deeply
effecting the hearts of people, even management in Krishna Consciousness is only really
expert, one is empowered by the grace of God and that empowerment comes from the
purity of our heart, the purity of our purpose, if you are in a responsible position where
other people’s hearts and lives are being effected by us then how we should take shelter
of the Holy Name for their sake even if we have given up the possibility that we can go
back to Godhead in this life we should take shelter of the Holy Name and take shelter of
the Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, the Caitanya Caritamrita and taking shelter of
serving Vaishnavas, just so that we can do justice to our service to these devotees. Yes.
That’s one of the great things about being a leader in the sense everyone should be a
leader even a new bhakta should be a leader by leading by example. being leader doesn’t
mean authority over others, as we have said that the assembled Vaishnavas want us to
have authority over others. Then we will do it as a service not as an authority but just a
servant. Now if you are given a position like that it is tremendously beneficial for spiritual
progress because we have such a heavy sense of responsibility to say the right thing to do
the right thing and we have such a heavy sense of responsibility to purify our hearts so
that actually uplift and not discourage the devotees, yes? And Prabhupada has put people
in those positions because he knew if we are serious to take the proper sense of
responsibility in that position we will grow like we would have never grown before, yes?
Because there is a need to, but also there is a risk of making offenses and falling down, so
we have to be very very careful to purify our hearts to be very tolerant to be very
forgiving to really take inventory of our own motivations and also should always be
seeking blessings and guidance of senior devotees and willing to accept that receive that
and act on that. Therefore always humble seeking blessings we will always be protected.
Is that answer to your question? Is there any other questions? Sruti Dharma Prabhu would
you like to speak something?

Sruti Dharma Prabhu: we would like thank you from the bottom of the hearts.

Maharaja: But your heart doesn’t have a bottom(laughter). Your heart is unlimited.
Sriti Dharma Prabhu: There is so much anxiety involved in those who have taken the responsibility
are pulling out their hairs, so just not much to pull...anxiety sometimes...

Maharaja: You shave your head no would ever know.

Sriti Dharma Prabhu: It seems that there is lot of anxiety management in taking up any leadership
even if looking after one person, anxiety seems to, individual looks for the principle that
perhaps looking for a peaceful life.

Maharaja: Sriti Dharma Prabhu any one knows as you. Prana Bandhu Prabhu, Sriti Dharma Prabhu
what have they gone through taking responsibility for all of you over these years. It is
unbelievable; it is very difficult to calculate. They could have easily just peacefully
chanted their rounds and just stand on the sides watching everything go by. Over the
years since they have been here the amount of crisis and tragedies, even leaders falling
down and disappointing people and people go away, they don’t want to be a part of being
leadership in situations like that is painful and government court cases, legal battles by
natural crisis and who wants step forward in a situation like that, they are not living in
palaces in getting great financial benefits, nobody is throwing flowers on their heads,
sorry bricks on your heads, why?... because taking responsibility is an expression of love
and accepting anxieties for higher purposes is an expression of love, in taking anxieties as
an expression of love is a deeper gratification than om shanti shanti om, they are higher
principle than peace, is love, in SB do we read about mother Yashoda being in peace, she
was always in anxiety, yes? Why does a mother want to have a child? Getting children is
so much anxiety, isn’t it? Isn’t it easier to not have children? We don’t have to get
pregnant, body gets a shape and creature living inside of you, I can’t imagine that feels
like and whole labour of having the child, it is very painful isn’t it mothers? I don’t know
but I heard. From what ladies tell me is rather having a child mothers almost always say I
never ever ever do this again. But then they do it. Because after having the child there is
so much anxiety, small baby, right, helpless thing, totally dependent on you and when the
baby is sick then your anxiety, gets all diseases and your anxiety about the diseases, and
when they are crying your anxiety that they are crying, when they sleep, when they want
to milk, sometimes you are not able to give milk and you are in anxiety and the child
starts crawling and you are in anxiety that he may get hurt, yes? Mother Yashoda was
always in anxiety will Krishna get scratched by the monkeys or bitten by the dogs, crawl
on the thorns. So how many of you here are the mothers? Raise your hands. I am not
speaking to you theoretically but then babyhood, childhood so many anxieties what to
speak of they can become teenagers, how many of you experience anxiety when your
children became teenagers? No is your anxieties decreasing or increasing as your children
grow? Haan? Sounds like a kirtan. Everyone say it is increasing. So everybody knows
before they have a child that there is going to be ever increasing anxieties, so why parents
want to have children? What is the answer? Rasa? Speaking like a true B’cari. You can
strike that from the records. Because it is way of expressing love and there is a deeper
inner experience in expressing love even though its full of anxieties. Is it clear? So when
we are in our Guru’s movement, Krishna’s movement yes taking responsibility is anxiety,
being a parent is a responsibility for anxiety but it is a way of showing love and necessary
 way of showing love and because of that anxieties and expression of love its actually an
ecstasy to the heart and it gives ecstasy to Krishna, our anxieties give ecstasy to Krishna
when it is done as an expression of love. Devotees’ goal in life is to give ecstasies to
Krishna. In CC Srimati Radharani was saying that whatever gives pleasure to Krishna is
my only happiness. If my suffering gives pleasure to Krishna that is my greatest
happiness, if Krishna wants to be with another lady even if it breaks my heart into
millions of pieces I will go and I will serve that lady as a menial servant to convince her
to bring her to Krishna if that is what gives Krishna happiness, that selfless devotion,
Takore Bhakti Vinod the spirit of Radhika has said that the anxieties and the disturbances
and sufferings I endure in serving Krishna are my greatest happiness. Because it gives
Krishna happiness. If water the root of the tree we are satisfied, our souls are satisfied. So
yes to do anything great in this world is the best way in a spiritual movement anxieties are
there, but if you take it as an expression of love, it is the most wonderful thing. Those
anxieties should not be seen as a burden, those anxieties should be seen as a blessing, as
an honour to be willing to assume anxieties for Krishna’s mission is an honour, it is
causelessly bestowed on us and we don’t deserve, and we should be grateful. Is that
answer for your question? Gouri Prabhu anything?

Gouri Prabhu: I think it is important to sincerely work with the devotees those devotees who have
confidence in us to perform responsible tasks and they are keenly interested in what we
do that, to serve them the capacity, their blessing upon us we will just grow and grow, I
think we all feel lack of confidence in keepable of being responsible but, I think if we
have faith in the judgement of elder devotees then it is very proper way to live our lives. I
think the term Vaishnavanu gatya which (1:26)

Maharaja: Most perfectly eloquent in your explanation, thank you. That is the essence. To be
balanced. One extreme is I don’t want to be in anxiety, I see what happens to people who
take responsibility and I am just going to be on the sidelines and saying Hari Bol! That is
one extreme. The other extreme is I want to be in-charge, nobody can do as good as I
could. So by hook or crook by any means I will take power, I will take position, if people
don’t want me to be in the position, so I will fight to the nail to the end of time, Hare
Krishna. Now if we have to take responsibilities we have to be eager to serve, we have to
be eager to be a society of being with one another, helping one another and working
together to serve compassionately to serve the mission of Prabhupada and Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. And if devotees want me to be in a position of an authority and giving their
blessings it is an austerity, I don’t want position or authority but if that is how devotees
want me to serve I will do it with responsibility and integrity and if the devotees don’t
want me in that position anymore I am not the slightest bit of attached I am just attached
to serving, devotees should not be attached to position but serving. That is what Gauri
Das prabhu has taught us today, thank you. That is what it is all about Krishna
Consciousness, being a humble servant of the servant. Who are we to speak? I mean in
my own case I only one semester of a junior college, what education do I have. I just left
the college and went to the Himalyas, I was always so quiet, so shy, I never spoke, only
my close friends I would speak otherwise I was very quiet in fact Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja
was telling me when he was young he was so quiet and he was so shy, he has speech
defect, so he was afraid to speak. What was the will of others in doing so, so here I am, I
don’t have any money, I don’t have anything I have no education, I have no karizma I
have a horrible voice and in Bombay speaking to Ph.d’s and professors and wealthy
people and all and they asked me to speak, I am shameless, you ask me I will tell you
what I know, I am your servant, what else can I do? What is our qualification? How could
we think we are qualified? To repeat Krishna’s message even if you have ten Ph.d’s you
don’t have qualification to speak Krishna’s message, so high, so holy to lead a kirtan, it is
such a high and holy position we take it for granted, but to lead kirtan to actually be
leading other people inspiring other people actually leading the way other people to
people to perform the Yuga Dharma, it is such an incredibly exaulted position, we take it
lightly, if we exactly think about it, we are practically shameless to do it, to speak
bhagavatam what Viswanath Chakravarthi considered that he was not qualified to speak
on it, what Rupa Goswami considered that he was not qualified to speak on, what Lord
Chaitanya Maha Prabhu considered he was not qualified to speak on, we are speaking
Srimad Bhagavatam classes, so what is happening? No, we are not qualified. What is our
qualification? It is the order of our Guru to lead kirtan, to speak Bhagavatam, it is the will
of the Vaishnavas, so we do it. To be a Pujari, to be personally dressing Radha Rani and
Krishna, think about, isn’t that an exalted position. In Goloka Vrindavan, who dresses
Radha and Krishna together, even Yashoda doesn’t do that, right? To dress Radha and
Krishna together something the intimate Sakhis do. To be bathing them together, to be
dressing them together, to be feeding them together what is our qualification for doing
that. Cooking for Krishna, Radha Rani is Krishna’s cook, Yashoda is Krishna’s cook, not
anybody cooks for Krishna, we are cooking for Krishna and Radha Rani, what is our
qualification? I am sorry to tell you this. We have absolutely no qualifications to do
anything in this movement. Everything we do leading a kirtan, giving a class, washing
Krishna’s pots, these are certainly such exalted positions that the most liberated people in
the spiritual world, exclusively they have these services. For serving Prasada in Maha
Prabhu’s lila Svaroop Damodar Goswami, Jagadananda Pandita, Damodara Pandita these
were the people who were serving the Prasada, these are the most intimate gopis from
Vraj, Lalita Sakhi serving what is our qualification? Even we have a thousand Ph.d’s we
don’t have qualification to do this. Our only qualification is the blessings of the Guru and
the Vaishnavas, they are asking us to do it, so we should be enthusiastic to do it and to do
it right. And because we are doing with the blessings of Guru and Krishna and Vishnavas,
that is our only qualification and there is no others, so how can we become proud if we
understand in this context? Is that makes sense? That is why devotional service is about
what Gauri prabhu has said just try to work together to serve Guru and the Vaishnavas
and whatever the role that devotees want us to take, Guru and Vaishnavas want us to take
we are willing to take it, simply to serve and it is their blessing that is what our
qualification. If the devotees want Madhava Prabhu to lead kirtan then he is absolutely
qualified to lead kirtan because of the blessings of the devotees, he may think whom am I,
there are so many exalted people here, there are Sannyasis here, there are GBC’s here, I
am just a little guy from the mountains (1:36) who am I to lead the Yugadharma in front
of hundreds of people, when there are people so much more exalted and advanced than
me here, he may be thinking that way, what is his qualification? He is absolutely fully
qualified because he is honouring, respecting and serving the will of the Vaishnavas and
that blessing empowers us. Without that blessing it is just our own ego is doing work,
when we have that blessings and when we expect that blessings with humility, then the
power of Supreme Personality of Godhead can manifest and make us little puppets in His
hands. Thank you very much.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Sri Radha Landonishwar ki Jai!

Sri Radha Gokulanand ki Jai!

Ananta koti Vaishnava Vrinda ki Jai!

Gour Premanande Hari Hari Bol!

Thank you very much. His Holiness Radhanath Maharaja ki Jai!