The Legion of Pure Devotees

Bhaktivinoda's philosophy of using material things in the loving service of God has been fully implemented by Srila Prabhupada. He purposely came to America because America has more at its disposal than any other country in the world. Instead of wasting time and money going to the moon to collect rocks, that same organizing talent can be used to send souls back home, back to Godhead. Whereas Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati first used automobiles and printing presses, his foremost disciple has enlisted Americans to use their boundless wealth and technology to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya, thus fulfilling the 89-year-old prophecy of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Now, for the first time, the world is so eager for the teachings of Lord Caitanya that Srila Prabhupada's foreign students are building a memorial to Lord Caitanya at His birth site. The effect on native Indians has been a revival of interest in their own Vedic culture. India will only be respected by the rest of the world if it spreads this spiritual culture. If India neglects this responsibility and tries only to mimic Western materialism, India will be an inveterate beggar nation. Thus, Srila Prabhupada should be recognized as his country's foremost ambassador.

Srila Prabhupada is the successor in the disciplic line from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura because he has dedicated his entire life to fulfilling his spiritual master's command. He has raised the most unqualified candidates to a position higher than those born in the families of brahmanas. To be able to follow and learn from such a rare transcendental personality is an invaluable opportunity. Disciples from all over the world, therefore, repeatedly offer their obeisances to His Divine Grace as follows:

"I offer my humble obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is the most dear to Lord Krsna on this earth because he has taken complete shelter at the Lord's lotus feet."

Then they offer their obeisances with another, even more telling verse.

"I offer my humble obeisances to you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism. "

The opportunity is now presented to everyone, whether an ordinary karmi or a learned sannyasi, a brahmana or a sūdra, American or Indian, to stand up and be counted in the Lord's legion of pure devotees, with Srila Prabhupada as the commander-in-chief. Let us give up all hesitation, discard impure sectarian designations and surrender ourselves at the lotus feet of the Lord's pure representative. As the great sages of Naimisaranya prayed to their spiritual master, Sukadeva Gosvami, let us also pray: "We think that we have met Your Grace by the will of providence, and thus we accept you as the captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali [the modern age of materialism], which destroys all the good qualities of a human being." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.1.22) Who among us is so foolish as to hesitate needlessly and thus risk missing the boat of transcendental perfection, Krsna consciousness?