Bowing down Issue
Gargamuni asked the famous question, "If I don't feel like bowing down when the others bow down, should I still do it?" Prabhupada said, "Yes, you should. By bowing down you'll feel like doing it." After Kirtanananda came back from India, bowing down became more established and it made some boys rebellious: they didn't like it.
One person we interviewed for the Prabhupada Lilamrita said, "When that bowing down started, I knew I had to get out of there. I didn't want any part in a movement that was bowing down before the guru." Bowing down was a big change for us. At programs, outsiders would say, "Why is everyone bowing down to you?" Prabhupada would sometimes answer, "They are wondering why you are not bowing down." Or he might say, "Everyone has to bow down to someone." "Why? I don't bow down to anyone." "Oh, yes you do. You bow down to old age." "No, I don't." "Yes you do. Why not bow down to a guru, an advanced person?" But stubborn persons couldn't understand that if they bow down to the right person they would not have to bow down to repeated birth and death.
One person we interviewed for the Prabhupada Lilamrita said, "When that bowing down started, I knew I had to get out of there. I didn't want any part in a movement that was bowing down before the guru." Bowing down was a big change for us. At programs, outsiders would say, "Why is everyone bowing down to you?" Prabhupada would sometimes answer, "They are wondering why you are not bowing down." Or he might say, "Everyone has to bow down to someone." "Why? I don't bow down to anyone." "Oh, yes you do. You bow down to old age." "No, I don't." "Yes you do. Why not bow down to a guru, an advanced person?" But stubborn persons couldn't understand that if they bow down to the right person they would not have to bow down to repeated birth and death.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 4 by Siddhanta Dasa
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