November 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
At this time in Prabhupada’s life, he was most restricted in conducting his mission. He was forbidden from preaching to Dr. Mishra’s yoga students. He had no money of his own and was dependent on Dr. Mishra’s support. He only had about two men who were interested in visiting him in his windowless room, Robert Nelson and Harvey Cohen, but they were not able to offer much help. When the thousands of loyal, surrendered followers of Prabhupada today read of his neglected condition in 1965, they may feel frustration and wish they were present in 1965 to give him care and support. Years later when he had many followers, he once said, “I am the same person now that I was in 1965, the only difference is that now I have devotees and money.” But what a difference! We feel poignant and helpless when we read of his condition in 1965. Why weren’t we there to help him? Each devotee can ask himself or herself, “Where was I in 1965 when Prabhupada needed me?” Maybe you were too young or not even born yet, but some of us were old enough; we were just too entangled in Maya. In short, we were not ready. We have to be grateful to Prabhupada that he was patient when he had no assistance and that he persisted and endured until Krishna gave him the opportunities to spread the Movement. Reading the accounts of his situation in 1965, we simply pray, “Please stay in America, Prabhupada. Don’t give up. Help is coming. Krishna is guiding you.”
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