In Manhattan

Prabhupada Smaranam

This is a picture of Prabhupada on the roof of his skyscraper temple in Manhattan in 1976. A few weeks ago I published a photo of Prabhupada walking alone in Manhattan, perhaps in the Bowery, wearing a long black coat and looking lonely but determined. I also recently wrote a poem “Alone and Together”. The skyscraper picture reminds me how far Prabhupada has come in eleven years in the same city. Now he is surrounded with many admirers and servants and managers. He is in possession of millions of dollars for Krishna’s use and he is in charge of over a hundred temples and thousands of disciples around the world. He is certainly much better off than when he was struggling down on the street alone. Yet I cannot think but that he was not unhappy then. He had the vision of the Hare Krishna movement within him, which he has now accomplished. He used to say there is no difference what I was then and now except now I have more men and money.

When he was alone he was just as intently joyful and dependent on Krishna as he is in this skyscraper rooftop. In fact in many ways he has many more burdens now, quarrelling disciples, opposition from the public, and the need to travel constantly even though he is in old age and ill health. He even once expressed that he was happier alone because then he had only Krishna to depend on but now he has to depend on all his disciples. He actually said that.

But he is proud in a good sense of his skyscraper Manhattan project. Prabhupada is always a preacher and the preaching is unquestionably expanded in 1967 (1976 isn’t it?), with hopes of it expanding further still. So Prabhupada is willing to take on the burden of the gosthyanandi and live with many followers and seek out new ones. He is willing to sacrifice his life. He is not in the mood of enjoyment but of responsibility. He has been given more charge and responsibility by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and he is willingly taking it on onto his seemingly fragile shoulders.

When Prabhupada was deathly ill in 1977, lying in his bed in Vrndavana, Tamal Krishna Gosvami encouraged him to travel to England. Prabhupada did so and was even thinking of moving from there to the Manhattan building. He joked, “But if I die in New York you’ll have to bury me on the rooftop. That never happened. His health worsened in England and he returned to India and finally Vrindavana where he spent his last days in the peace of his eternal dhama. The skyscraper is now sold but the preaching of Krishna consciousness goes on unbridled in New York City, with several centers, yoga-asrama teachers, and interest increased and less opposition. Prabhupada achieved his mission alone and together.

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