Harikesa Svāmi, BBT trustee

Harikesa Svami, BBT trustee
Some people preach but do not act very nicely, while others act very nicely but do not preach. The wonder of the pure devotee (known as the acarya) is that he both acts nicely and preaches. We have practically seen that you, Srila Prabhupada, both act in wonderful ways and preach perfectly according to time, place, and circumstances.
You have conquered over the urge to speak, the urges of the mind, the force of anger and the forces of the tongue, belly, and genital. You have no desire for sense gratification and are free from all varieties of bodily conceptions. Therefore you are the perfect gosvami. Although now your body has grown "old and weak," you are pushing it on through the force of your spiritual potency in order to spread this movement all over the world.. This is simply amazing. (By this example we are forced to understand that dead matter is forced to work by the energy of the spirit soul.) any other man would have lain down and died long ago, but you are expanding your service all the time. Although the demons are becoming more and more troublesome and place all kinds of obstacles in our path, you never become discouraged; rather, you inspire us more by your strong words and superhuman feats.
You are never disturbed at any moment because you are fixed in the Supreme, despite all difficulties which may arise due to the body, the demigods or other living beings. Because you are always united with the supreme will of the Lord, your activities are perfect in every way. We cannot understand how you constantly think of saving the fallen souls even when we disciples are ready to kill them for their being so foolish and demoniac and causing the devotees so much trouble. Therefore you are the acarya. Prahlada Maharaja said:
naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas
tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ
soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-
maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimūḍhan
(SB 7.9.43)
"O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them."
Once I asked you when you were reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh Canto, "Prabhupada, I think you are always enwrapped in the mood of Prahlada Maharaja." You said, "Yes-I am always thinking of how to save all these fools and rascals." You are always thinking how they might be relieved from their miserable conditions of existence and engaged in the service of the Lord. Although Prahlada could have felt so much personal discomfort, extreme anxiety and pain by the persecutions of the demons, he was free from all difficulties because he simply merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. You are always fully merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss by chanting and constantly meditating on how these fools and rascals can come to the highest perfection.
You have fully surrendered your life on the order of your spiritual master to spread Krsna consciousness to the Western world, and you are doing that wonderfully through your books. You are so kindly giving us all that which is necessary to regain our lost transcendental consciousness and enter into the kingdom of God. By your mercy we can know that the kingdom of God is here when we engage in chanting His holy names and preaching His glories to the fallen souls.
It is simply because of your books that the world atmosphere is becoming clearer and people can see things as they are. Even though they cannot understand the books (perhaps they are not even aware of their existence), which are so spiritually powerful, the effect is there and people are imperceptibly becoming purified although they cannot understand how or why. The completely demoniac trend of human society is gradually changing, and soon the time will come when Krsna will arrange the ways and means that Krsna consciousness will envelop the world in floods of transcendental ecstasy, and it is all because of your books.
So you are the perfect acarya, acting and preaching in the most perfect way, guiding us (especially me-how fallen and sinful a person I am!) to the light of knowledge and gradually freeing us from the bondage of illusion. Your every activity is leading us back home, back to Godhead, and you are forcing all the conditioned souls to also return someday, although they have no idea to do it on their own.
I am praying that you will have me always as your humble servitor, and if ever I decide to deviate from the correct path of devotion, please beat me severely and drag me back to your lotus feet.
Your foolish servant,
Harikesa Svami
BBT trustee
GBC for Eastern Europe, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria
 

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