published by BTG used with permission Author: Suresvara Dasa Vyasa-puja 1972: A Guru of Gurus …
Month: July 2025
Interviewer: What do you recommend for those who find parts of Founder-Acharya’s writings confusing or disturbing?
Garuda das: First, absorb. Read. Reflect. If you don’t understand, acknowledge it. Then bring it into dialogue with others. Be honest. Third, only after that process, share it. Present it with integrity.
If something doesn’t make sense right now, put it on the shelf. Return to it later. Have faith that the realization will come.
Reading Srila Prabhupada’s books is not like reading a novel. It’s a sadhana—a devotional practice. If we approach it with that mindset, our understanding will deepen over time.
Srila Prabhupada’s opinion on war focused specifically on the protection of innocent, women and children, and, of course, devotees of Krishna Consciousness movement. On February 24, 2022, a brutal war broke out in Ukraine. Cities were bombed, civilians killed, and millions of innocent — including several thousands of devotees — were forced to flee their homes. The following selection of quotes from Srila Prabhupada answer the question of how devotees should respond to such a crisis.
by Suresvara Das The year is 1972. In New Vrindaban, West Virginia, it is Srila…
Srila Prabhupada flew to London in July 1977. Upon arrival, he was wheeled off the plane and driven directly to Bhaktivedanta Manor. When his disciples entered his room, he was “radiant, beaming.” Sitting in a rocking chair by the bay window, he looked out over the garden and said, “Western countries are so nice. If only they wouldn’t eat cow. Is there any other meat they can eat?” It was a statement filled with compassion. He was not condoning meat-eating, but lamenting the killing of the cow—the emblem of maternal service and sacredness.
At this stage, although he could not walk, Srila Prabhupada maintained great dignity. He would dress twice daily in fresh clothes, complete with clean socks and gold buttons. He insisted on being well-kept. “Most dignified person,” said one disciple. “He refused to let us carry him at first. I would stand behind him, lifting him under the arms while he moved his own legs.”