Some thoughts on Srila Prabhupada the Acharya

Posted by Hansadutta das on August 13, 2009

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Srila Prabhupada, the Sampradaya Acharya, my spiritual master.

Please accept my most humble obeisances.  Srila Prabhupada, the greatest Acharya since Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, an inspiration came to my heart about your  rarity, mercy and greatness.

Like a great expansive mango tree, you produced hundreds and thousands of delicious  mango fruit-like DISCIPLES. They fell to the ground all over the world – such a large tree – you covered the whole world with your branches, casting a cooling shade all over this planet earth  for many years, and you produced the best mango fruit-like DISCIPLES ever seen in the world.

Some of the mango fruit-like DISCIPLES remained where they  fell, eaten up by insects and worms. Some mango fruit-like DISCIPLES were spoiIed by the pecking of hungry birds before they fell to the ground, while many mango fruit-like DISCIPLES  were gathered up by casual villagers and taken home to offer to Krishna as prasadam.

Most of the mango fruit-like DISCIPLES were harvested by the owner of the tree and sold in the market to satisfy shoppers who were attracted to the exotic shape, smell and taste of the mango fruit-like DISCIPLES. In this way the mango fruit-like DISCIPLES were consumed by the public worldwide. Everyone was happy with your mango fruit-like DISCIPLES.

Although each and every mango fruit-like DISCIPLE has within himself the potential SEED for producing another full-grown mango fruit-like DISCIPLE TREE as yourself, to this day that has not happened. No great mango-producing TREE as yourself has grown from one of the hundreds and thousands of mango fruit-like DISCIPLES  that you produced and scattered so generously all over the world.

From this analogy I can understand  how munificent and generous you are, and at the same time how insignificant and trifling I continue to be, even after so much love, mercy and potency has been given to me by you, Srila Prabhupada, the Universal Acharya for the modern age.

Your humble servant,
Hansadutta das

P.S. I do not think of going back to Godhead, nor do I think  of my rasa with Krishna or the gopis, or  being liberated in some capacity. I only think of you, and think my only business is to assist and associate with you wherever you go to carry on the Krishna consciousness preaching.

Why should I  think  of  anything more than your service and association? Wherever you go, I am convinced, that is where I will also go (in some capacity), wherever that may be.  Just as we met in this life – and you picked me up –  I am convinced I will meet you again in the next life, and again in the next, and again, and again for all time (like Krishna and Arjuna). I am nothing but your insignificant servant for all time.