What He Wanted - The Vision of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

A faithful servant does not invent his own program; he executes the will of his master. Throughout his life, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly referred to the specific desires of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura as the compass for his movement. In these quotes, we find the "marching orders" that define the mission of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.

The Western Front

While most Indian sadhus were content to remain in the holy land of India, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta had a global vision. He specifically wanted the message to cross the ocean.

• I am deputed by my Guru Maharaja to spread this Krsna consciousness movement in the Western world. That is his grace. He wanted that Western people, who are intelligent, they should learn what is Krsna consciousness.
• There are many sincere souls like you in the western world and my Guru Maharaja wanted me to come here and to pick up as many of you as is possible.

He saw that the Western mind was fertile ground for philosophy, if only it could be reached.

Books, Books, Books

If there was one thing Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta wanted more than temples, it was literature.

• Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this connection.
• My Guru Maharaja wanted that some books should be published. So I tried my best, and he's giving success more than expectation.

He famously told his disciples that even if no one reads the books, they should still be printed, because they are the bṛhat-mṛdaṅga (the great drum).

The "Gosthyanandi" Spirit

Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that his Guru was not a bhajanānandī (one who enjoys solitary worship) but a goṣṭhy-ānandī (one who enjoys expanding the number of devotees).

• My Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was gosthyanandi. He wanted to increase the number of devotees. And the more you increase the number of devotees, the more you become very much recognized by Krsna.

This desire to increase the family of Kṛṣṇa is the DNA of the preaching movement.

Conclusion

The entire ISKCON movement is simply an offering to satisfy these specific desires.

• This movement was started only for the satisfaction of my spiritual master. He wanted. So I thought, "Let me try in this old age".

Dive Deeper into Srila Prabhupada's Vani

Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Guru Maharaja Wanted... (Bhaktisiddhanta). We invite you to click this link to study the complete compilation and experience Srila Prabhupada's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.