by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Today is the ninth of December 1968. Thirty-two years ago, I was in Bombay doing some business. At that time Guru Maharaja was a little indisposed, and was staying at Jagannath Puri on the seashore. So I wrote him a letter, “My dear master, your brahmacārī and sannyāsī disciples are rendering you direct service. I am a householder. I cannot live with you; I cannot serve you nicely. How can I serve you seriously?” His reply was dated 13th December 1936. In that letter he wrote, “My dear such and such, I am very glad to receive your letter. I think that you should try to push our movement in English. That will do good to you and to the people who will help you.” That was his instruction.

Then in 1936, on 31st December — just a fortnight after writing me this letter — he passed away. I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously. I was a householder. But if we strictly try to serve the order of the spiritual master, then Krishna will give us all facilities. That is the secret. I took it a little seriously by studying a commentary by Viswanath Chakravarti Thakur on the Bhagavad-gītā verse, vyavasāyātmikā-buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. Concerning that verse, Viswanath Chakravarti Thakur comments that we should take up the words from the spiritual master as our life and soul. We should try to carry out the specific instruction of the spiritual master very rigidly, without caring for our personal benefit or loss.

So I tried a little bit in that spirit, and he has given me all facilities to serve him. Things have come to this stage, that in this old age I have come to your country, and you are taking this movement seriously, trying to understand it. We have some books now, so there is a little foothold of this movement. On this occasion of my spiritual master’s departure, as I am trying to execute his will, similarly, I request you to execute the same order through my will. I am an old man; I can also pass away at any moment. That is nature’s law. Nobody can check it. That is not very astonishing. At least to some extent you have understood the essence of this Krishna consciousness movement. So my appeal to you on this auspicious day of the departure of my Guru Maharaja is that you should try to push on this movement. People are suffering for want of this consciousness.

… This Krishna consciousness movement is authorized, very important. Now, you American boys and girls who have taken to this movement, please take it more seriously. This is the mission of Lord Chaitanya and my Guru Maharaja. We are trying to execute the will of the disciplic succession. You have come forward to help me. I shall go away, but you will live. I request all of you, don’t give up pushing on this movement, and you’ll be blessed by Lord Chaitanya and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Disappearance will be celebrated on the 31st of December this year. (Fasting till noon)