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Srila Prabhupada instruction to Achyutananda Dasa

Pushkar : There was a time in Calcutta when it wasn't easy to see Srila Prabhupada. There were some heavy sannyasis that used to guard him. More or less, you were just a prop or an extra in a movie and they were the stars. But one time, in September of 1974, all the powers that be were not in the Calcutta temple. I was sitting, minding my own business, on the veranda of the Calcutta temple, outside Prabhupada's room.
 
There was no door on his room, only a curtain. Suddenly, Srutakirti appeared on our side of the curtain and said, "Hey, Prabhupada's sitting there if anybody wants to come in." First I thought, "Whoa. I can't go in alone."
 
But then I realized that Achyutananda was there, so we went in together. Around that time Hamsadutta was collecting money by selling Achyutananda's record and keeping the money. Gargamuni and Achyutananda had been complaining about this to Prabhupada. Practically they were badgering Prabhupada, but he was tolerant. He didn't say anything.
 
So as soon as Achyutananda and I came into his room, the first thing Achyutananda said was, "Prabhupada, the Japanese and Germans lost World War II, but now it seems like they're taking over ISKCON." I was thinking, "Why is he talking to Prabhupada about this?" Prabhupada looked quizzical, as if to say, "What are you talking about?"
 
Achyutananda said, "Well, Hamsadutta, he's a German, Bali Mardan's wife is Japanese, and they're destroying the Movement." Prabhupada said, "Why are you so concerned with what this man does, that man does? Your relation is with the guru. It doesn't matter what this man does or that man does. If you have faith in the guru, then everything will be revealed to you: Faith in me, the Vedas, and the sadhus." That was very instructive, and it's something I can't forget.
 
We hear so many excuses, how "This man did this to me and that man did that." But Prabhupada wouldn't take that. It didn't stand up. Prabhupada wouldn't acknowledge that. There is friction, it's true, you can't ignore it, but ultimately it's up to us, and our relation is with the guru. There may be so many failures, even caused by God-brothers. But these are temporary setbacks that really don't have anything to do with our Krishna consciousness.


Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2 by Siddhanta Dasa





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