by His Holiness Brahmānanda Svāmī

(Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself in the form of His own pure devotee, appeared 500 years ago in Bengal, India, to teach-by His own example-how one can become fully Krsna conscious. The teachings of Lord Caitanya were recorded and transmitted by many faithful disciples, but they were virtually unknown in the West until 1896, when Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great spiritual master in the disciplic line from Lord Caitanya, published a short book entitled Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-His Life and Precepts and sent copies to the Western world. Srila Bhaktivinoda foresaw a time when Easterners and Westerners would join in a universal method of spiritual realization by chanting the holy name of God. Moreover, he predicted, "A personality will soon appear to preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya and move unrestrictedly over the whole world with His message."

After the disappearance of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, a great scholar and pure devotee, continued to expand the mission of Lord Caitanya. He wrote many books and established printing presses and sixty-four temples dedicated to preaching the message of Krsna consciousness. The following is the third of three articles depicting the pioneering efforts of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, and those who have followed them in spreading the benediction of Krsna consciousness throughout the world.)

Instead of having his disciples retire to remote holy places, Bhaktisiddhanta sent them out to preach in the crowded cities, where the need was greatest. This required the introduction of some revolutionary practices, such as allowing his sannyasis, his disciples in the renounced order, to ride in automobiles. Until Bhaktisiddhanta's time, holy men were restricted to walking or riding in animal-drawn carts; automobiles were too extravagant. But if the preaching of Lord Caitanya's message could be furthered by using automobiles, why should they be rejected? Here was a practical application of Bhaktivinoda's philosophy of renunciation, in which nothing was to be used for sense gratification but everything could be employed for Krsna's service. Bhaktisiddhanta also allowed his sannyasis to wear sewn clothing. A sannyasi is discouraged from wearing sewn clothing, to prevent attachment to women, but this concession was made to enable his men to preach in respectable society in the big cities.

In 1933 Bhaktisiddhanta sent out several teams of preachers to London and Berlin. He even managed, with great difficulty, to send them money from India to finance their preaching. Bhaktisiddhanta was eager to fulfill Bhaktivinoda's prophecy that Westerners would embrace Lord Caitanya's movement. But he would not live to see it, for his disciples were unable to establish anything substantial in Europe. Even before leaving India on their mission, the sannyasis were doubtful about attracting Europeans to Krsna consciousness. After all, Europeans were inveterate meat-eaters, whereas they themselves were strict vegetarians. Yet Bhaktisiddhanta instructed that the mission of Lord Caitanya could be executed in all circumstances. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, therefore, was an actual acarya. An acarya is "one who teaches by his example." In this world there are many supposed teachers, but invariably their private lives are quite at variance with their teachings. Therefore a genuine acarya, or ideal teacher, cannot be adjudicated or selected. "Acarya" is not a material designation or title, like president, chairman or professor; an acarya must have spiritual qualifications. An actual acarya must be spiritually empowered by the previous acarya because of his total surrender to his spiritual master. This is illustrated in Bhagavad-gita: among many candidates, Arjuna alone received the ability to understand the mystery of God from Lord Sri Krsna-simply because he alone was Krsna's unalloyed devotee and friend.

In 1936, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura received a letter written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, inquiring how he could be of service. Bhaktisiddhanta's reply may be considered crucial to the mission of Lord Caitanya. Rather than suggest something new, Bhaktisiddhanta reiterated the order he had given to Bhaktivedanta Swami at their first meeting: "Preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya in English. You will be benefited, and everyone who hears you will be benefited." Obviously this instruction, given first in 1922 and again after fourteen years, was very important.

A fortnight later, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada departed from this earth. The stage had now been set for that great personage who would actually fulfill the prophecy of Bhaktivinoda Thakura by expanding the vigorous initial efforts of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and boldly preaching the teachings of Lord Caitanya all over the world.