by HH Sridhar Swami

—————–
Anxiety again,
No place to hide.
Can this be spiritual life?
Is ISKCON bona fide?
Who wants to manage?
Set it all aside;
My life’s now half over.
Got to renovate my pride.

Establish my identity,
Let all devotees know
I’m marching to Pretoria–
Just call me Major Domo.
But just before I embark
On such a glorious campaign,
Reflect, O conditioned soul;
For whom is the refrain?

Who gave you life?
Who gave you rhyme?
Who gave you all the reason
To pass away your time
It is for him that now you live,
And for him you’ll die,
And in the time that’s in between,
To spread his mission you must try.

Whatever is the needful,
Just see the time and place,
Measure carefully your cadence
Lest your father be disgraced.

Anxiety is piety
When his pleasure is the goal.
Be steady now; it’s not the time
To hoist your flag upon a pole.

You always hated duty,
But now you’re not your own.
You’re a slave upon the master’s ship,
Headed back to home.

Srila Prabhupäda is all you have,
And he is using you
In his master plan to save the world,
So surrender all you do.

It may involve a little trouble,
You may have to get through pain,
But when you think of what he’s given,
You surely can’t complain.

Just follow the example
Of all your learned brothers.
Srila Prabhupäda will guide you
To transcend your meager druthers.

—

Srila Prabhupäda, please accept this insignificant beggar as your servant. Although I am practically asura, or useless, due to my deep-rooted lust and envy, somehow I have recognized one thing: Your mission will be successful. Some foolish persons have claimed that there is a difference between you, your mission, and ISKCON as you set it up. Using this as an excuse, they find fault and then leave to create another institution, supposedly free from faults. For my part I could never be able to tolerate having your prestige diminished by the failure of the society you so painstakingly endeavored to establish.

While foolish persons may juggle words, trying to camouflage their own ambitions as your mission, I am bound to work by all means, however inconsequential, for ISKCON as it was, is, and will be. You would sometimes quote the British: “England with all my faults, I love thee.” There may have been faults in ISKCON, and I am sure there always will be, but I will not abandon ship so easily.

Although day by day ISKCON is regaining its health, some are still reluctant to take up responsibility (such as being temple president or whatever). This is another cop-out on Srila Prabhupäda. Now is the time, more than ever, for devotees to come forward and help rebuild the house in which we want all men to live.

Srila Prabhupäda, I am trying to use my intelligence to serve you in the best capacity I can, but only you know perfectly well my material desires and my weaknesses. Therefore please neglect my whimsical and irresponsible plans, and use me as you desire. Your mission will be successful, and those who surrender to do the needful will surely get your blessings. I pray to be in that number.

Your menial servant,
Sridhar Swami