Hare Kṛṣṇa! Most respected Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to you, Gurudeva! All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.
I consider myself extremely blessed to write this Vyāsa-pūjā offering, and I request you to accept it at your lotus feet. I see this as an opportunity to think about you sincerely, remember your pearls of wisdom, and feel grateful to be serving you in paramparā.
To me, “pearls of wisdom” are those powerful quotes that you have shared on various topics during your pastimes on the planet across multiple room conversations, morning walks, and in your purports. They serve as a life guide for your millions of followers like me. On this auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I would like to remember a few of your pearls of wisdom, and share my learnings and the deep impact your words have left on me.
Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation. (Bhagavad-gītā 3.3, purport)
We live in a world today where people favor spirituality over religion and usually resist associating with the latter, as it is seen as sectarian and noninclusive. This quote emphatically positions how the two go hand in hand, and presents a balanced portrayal of the same.
Our only business is to love God, not to ask God for our necessities.
(The Science of Self-Realization)
In the material world, prayer has come to be associated with a series of asks that one has for God in the form of wants: education, intelligence, strength, success, fame, wealth, etc. In such a setting, this quote asserts what real prayer is – what bhakti/devotion to God is. Unalloyed and unconditional love is what you have always emphasized in your talks, and this quote is one such. In fact, in one other instance you talked about how a mother’s love for her child is the highest form of love in this material world.
Don’t feel yourself to be alone, because God is always with you.
(The Science of Self-Realization)
This statement is a sign of hope for the materially conditioned souls. Further contemplation on this helps an individual gather strength in tough situations. When we understand and internalize how the Paramātmā is seated next to the jīvātmā and watching the jīva go through every situation, one truly feels assured that they are in the best company possible – with God Himself. This strong statement from you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, also reflects the unflinching faith you had in Kṛṣṇa and the compassion you have for the jīvas in this world as you seek to comfort them and make them feel secure.
Simply by appreciating the dealings of the Lord with His pure devotees, one can attain salvation. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.16, purport)
This reflects the importance of taste (ruci). Having admiration and appreciation for the Supreme Lord is a step in the direction to attaining perfection in life. This taste comes from mercy in association with pure devotees like you. At the same time, what I learned from this quote is that it gives one reassurance when we have such appreciation. We are able to see such dealings as a yardstick for spiritual behavior.
Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others. (Bhagavad-gītā 13.8–12, purport)
Humility can oftentimes be misconstrued as thinking lowly of oneself or being timid. However, in this statement, you uprooted any of those false beliefs and clearly established that it’s about building comfort with who one is – accepting oneself as one is without feeling anxious to seek satisfaction from being honored. It’s a very deep thought, and I oftentimes return to this quote whenever I think of humility as a trait.
You should not be carried away by the dictation of the mind, but the mind should be carried by your dictation. (Lecture on the Bhagavad-gītā (18.41) to Uppsala University Student Assembly, Stockholm, Sweden)
Mental control is at the core of the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. This quote encapsulates the core of that, where you emphasize the need for the jīva to take charge of the mind and not fall prey to its whims and fancies. Oftentimes, when people confuse the mind and the intelligence or sometimes also associate the mind with the soul, this quote delves deeper into that aspect and decodes it well.
We have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give people an opportunity to associate with those who have not forgotten Kṛṣṇa.
(The Path of Perfection, chapter 8)
This quote is beautiful because you were instrumental in making the people in the ISKCON society remember Kṛṣṇa, who was previously forgotten. Further, you also ensured that they never forget Kṛṣṇa, as you instilled a nourishing morning program and other practices that allow members of the society to always remember Kṛṣṇa. However, in this quote, you gave all credit to the ISKCON devotees by saying they never forgot Kṛṣṇa. That’s your magnanimity, Śrīla Prabhupāda!
These temples, they are just like oasis in the desert for the conditioned souls to quench the thirst of their desire for real happiness. (Letter to Kṣīrodakaśāyī Dāsa, Calcutta, 29 January 1973)
Truly, if there is one place in this world for the entire world to come together and feel at home, it’s the ISKCON temples. And the temples are truly an oasis in a desert where people are engrossed in so many conflicts and engaged in one-upmanship. There are multiple such oases in this vast desert, and you mercifully planted these oases across the globe so that anyone in any part of the world can have easy access to these oases and quench their thirst. Haribol!
As soon as you try to sell a diamond, you cannot expect many customers. Nonetheless, a diamond is a diamond, even if there are no customers. (Interview with The New York Times, September 2, 1972, New Vrindaban)
This reflects your firm belief in the power of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and its elevated position. Further, this also reiterates that you never went in search of followers. You traveled far, to the West, to preach the purest message of Godhead, and had the most deserving earn it. You never for once compromised on the message or the practice. You made sure people went through the grind as rigorously as it takes for a diamond to get formed.
And finally, a quote that needs no explanation – the summum bonum.
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy!
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Today, on the auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I meditate on these pearls of wisdom and seek inspiration for me to continue serving you in the mission. I pray that I always think of you and continue to serve you and the paramparā.
Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda! Daṇḍavat praṇāms unto your lotus feet, Gurudeva!
Your ever humble servant,
Gaurāṅga Dāsa