Ref: Lesson 1

8. List three aspects of Prabhupada’s mood and mission as revealed in the

Preface to Bhagavad-Gita and comment on the importance of these
aspects for ISKCON.

Introduction

Srila Prabhupada, who is the pioneer of the Hare Krishna Movement, definitely had
higher mission and carried certain mood. It is very important for an aspiring
devotee to know these elements very closely, that he can become a sincere and
honest instrument in the hands of spiritual master and other acharyas in the
disciplic succession. Srila Prabhupada wanted all his followers to practice and
preach Krishna consciousness with one goal in mind, to serve Krishna.

Mission

Srila Prabhupada’s fundamental mission was to preach Krishna consciousness to the

western world in English. To fulfill this desire of the previous acharyas and
personally his own spiritual master, he translated Bhagavad Gita as it is in English.
Srila Prabhupada claimed that even though there were many editions of Bhagavad
Gita (adulterated with personal motives) in English by many so-called scholars and
thinkers but none produced any pure devotee of the Lord. ISKCON, therefore,
has always been a preaching movement to propagate the Will of the Lord
and attract His mercy to the conditioned souls. It is our duty to carry
forward this mission with the invaluable assets (BG As It Is and other
books), Srila Prabhupada has given.

Another facet of Srila Prabhupada’s mission was to teach the central theme of
Bhagavad Gita. People in general are seeking happiness by sense gratification
which is temporary and binds to the material world. However, real satisfaction can
only be obtained by rendering service to the Lord, which means to satisfy the
senses of the Lord. One will benefit deliberately if one adapts to this central point of
Gita, as Krishna is demanding. A devotee must stick to this theme and by
following the four regulative principles, one will gradually serve the Lord’s
senses.

Srila Prabhupada also wanted to publish how God or Krishna is great, and bring to
light the constitutional position of the living entities, as to be the servant of Krishna.
In ISKCON, Devotees should always hear and discuss the glories and
pastimes of the Lord and by doing so gradually a natural tendency to
serve Him will be developed.

Mood

Srila Prabhupada never took credits for his works rather he offered them to his guru
and the Lord. This is the mood of a Vaisnava in absolute knowledge. He never takes
credit. It is very important for a devotee to remain in devotional life that
he passes credits to his superiors and think Krishna’s will is functional.

Srila Prabhupada established Krishna Conscious Society in great humility and

compassion for the conditioned soul. His tone in the preface of Bhagavad Gita also
lights on this: “Such understanding of Bhagavad-Gita is really profitable and
authorized for the welfare of human society in fulfilling the mission of life.” These
qualities are essential in devotees and must for one in ISKCON preaching.

Srila Prabhupada’s mood and mission is to be always stern on impersonalists and

so-called sadhus who gives offensive presentation of God or mislead innocent
people. In his commentary on Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupada always stressed that
God is a person and has form and qualities. He at the same time gave counter
arguments for mayavad philosophy and misinterpretation of the Vedas. ISKCON
being a preaching movement, a devotee must equip himself with strong
arguments for any such misleading philosophy.