Homages from ISKCON Centers
Homages from ISKCON Centers
Homages from ISKCON Centers
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<strong>Homages</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>ISKCON</strong> <strong>Centers</strong><br />
an advantage in a particular field. I immediately thought of Your Divine Grace and the ingenious way you<br />
introduced the philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness into the Western world, along with the simple method<br />
for realizing it—chanting Hare Kåñëa. You are a perfect example of “a late bloomer”! The article went on<br />
to give little biographies of late bloomers in the fields of acting, art, business, dance, sports, mathematics,<br />
music, film-making, and politics. And when I came to religion I was delighted to see your picture next<br />
to these words: “The great proponent of Gaudiya Vaishnavisim A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada<br />
founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna movement, in 1966<br />
at the age of 70. Within the final twenty years of his life Prabhupäda translated over sixty volumes of<br />
classic Vedic scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana) into the English language.”<br />
Your Divine Grace Çréla Prabhupäda-ké jaya! I was overjoyed to see this acknowledgment of your work,<br />
though it was of course extremely incomplete and inadequate.<br />
Actually, what you did was nothing short of a miracle. Of course, you saw it as Kåñëa’s miracle, and<br />
certainly it was. But in your purport to Çrémad-Bhägavatam 4.29.46 you give further insight into why<br />
Kåñëa might perform such a miracle:<br />
A pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always thinking of how the fallen,<br />
conditioned souls can be delivered. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, influenced by the<br />
merciful devotee’s attempt to deliver the fallen souls, enlightens the people in general <strong>from</strong><br />
within by His causeless mercy.<br />
In light of this statement, you deserve credit for the success of the Kåñëa consciousness movement.<br />
It’s only due to your incredible sincerity and inconceivable determination that this movement even exists.<br />
You have created our good fortune in the manner described above. And you are continuing to create<br />
good fortune for countless others through the media of your books, temples, and genuine followers, all<br />
of which are expansions of your mercy.<br />
Hopefully the day is not far off when the entire world will appreciate what a true benefactor you<br />
are, that what you’ve given this world—Kåñëa consciousness—is its only hope. You once said that “in<br />
the future historians will study this period of world history and see how this movement has changed<br />
the world.” We feel confident that this is true, and we pray that you use us as your instruments to bring<br />
about the fulfillment of this prediction. Please help us become your qualified servants. Thank you for<br />
giving us this rare, incredible opportunity.<br />
Your exceedingly grateful sons, daughters, and grandchildren in New Dvärakä, the <strong>ISKCON</strong> temple in<br />
Los Angeles, California, USA.<br />
Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br />
Please accept our humble obeisances.<br />
New Gokula<br />
nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale<br />
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine<br />
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe<br />
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe<br />
183<br />
3_<strong>ISKCON</strong> <strong>Centers</strong>_06June2012.indd 183 6/6/12 10:40 AM
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