Gallons of Blood - The Difficulties of Prabhupāda's Mission
The global success of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission is often celebrated as a miracle, but it was a miracle fueled by unprecedented struggle and sacrifice. He often remarked that the task of "respiritualizing" the world was fraught with obstacles, requiring a preacher to spend "gallons of blood" to turn even one person toward Kṛṣṇa. This article documents the immense difficulties he faced and the unwavering determination that allowed him to overcome them.
Solitary Struggles in a Foreign Land
At the age of seventy, Śrīla Prabhupāda arrived in America with no money, no friends, and no place to stay. For a full year, he experienced great hardships, including theft and isolation, while maintaining himself by selling his books. Despite these conditions, he remained enthusiastic, focused solely on fulfilling the order of his spiritual master.
- Even at the old age of 70, I started for America. There, for a full one year I had to experience great difficulties in my single handed mission on this account.
- Good things do not come so easily; you know the difficulties that I encountered in my first year in your country. Sometimes I did not even know where I was to live, neither when I came did I have any friends.
- I was maintaining myself by selling these books for one year. There was no friend, and I was living in apartment with great difficulty. Still, the whole, I mean to say, stock, and my typewriter, my tape recorder - everything was stolen.
Toll of Constant Preaching
Even as he grew older and faced serious health challenges, including heart trouble, Śrīla Prabhupāda continued to travel the world to encourage his young disciples. He viewed his inconveniences as secondary to his duty, explaining that he remained in the West not for personal comfort, but because he was ordered by his spiritual master to distribute transcendental knowledge.
- You have to spend or waste gallons of blood before you can convert a person to Krsna consciousness. It is so difficult task.
- I am ordered by superior, my spiritual master, that "Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge." So in spite of all my difficulties, all my inconveniences, I am here because I am in duty.
- Regarding preaching tour, it has become a little difficult for me because I have got the same heart trouble as you have, and still I am moving just to encourage these young boys who are working on my behalf.
Facing Internal and External Opposition
Śrīla Prabhupāda faced difficulties not only from a godless civilization but also from within religious circles. Whether dealing with the quarrels of neophytes who could not appreciate his exalted service or facing opposition from his own Godbrothers in India, he remained fixed in his duty, vowing never to become discouraged or walk away from his mission.
- Pushing on this movement, I had to face so many difficulties throughout since I left my home.
- Such neophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the advanced devotee, try to bring the maha-bhagavata to their platform. We experience such difficulty in propagating this Krsna consciousness all over the world.
- Even there is some difficulty or hardship, or even my godbrothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is my weakness.
Conclusion
The difficulties Śrīla Prabhupāda encountered serve as a testament to the depth of his compassion for the conditioned souls. He proved that no material obstacle—be it old age, illness, or theft—can stop the progress of a mission sanctioned by the Supreme Lord. By understanding and addressing these concerns, his followers can ensure that the sacred mission he established continues to stand strong for generations to come.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Difficulties (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.