Once in Vrindavan, after hearing from Tamal Krishna Maharaj, the pastimes of Krishna stealing butter, Srila Prabhupada looked at a few devotees gathered and said, “I am a worthless person. I am poor physically and spiritually. Please bless me that I can fix my mind on Krishna.” Devotees were uncomfortable when Srila Prabhupada spoke to them like this, but since he instigated this relationship, they carefully served Srila Prabhupada by encouraging him. Srila Prabhupada told the devotees that it is by their sincere service that the Krishna consciousness movement was going on. Everyone knew Srila Prabhupada was driving the movement forward, yet he humbly gave credit to his disciples, who he said were associates of his spiritual master, and sent by him to help spread the Krishna consciousness movement.
Even while reprimanding an errant disciple or counselling a devotee struggling with his senses, Srila Prabhupada’s authenticity touched devotees’ hearts. Once a devotee ignored a service, and Srila Prabhupada said one should never be neglectful. He then spoke how the only time he neglected his duties was when he was married and was involved with his young wife- that’s when he missed his studies often. But he clarified that was circumstantial. On another occassion, a sannyasi remorsefully said his attachments still trouble him- his wife had appeared in his dream the previous night. Srila Prabhupada dismissed the incident, saying his wife too sometimes came in his dream, and one should not take the mind seriously. This humanness of Srila Prabhupada was most endearing to his disciples. And when we carefully observe Srila Prabhupada’s life, we can see his humility was a natural outflow of his absorption in Krishna- the more we remember Krishna, humility blossoms as a fresh and fragrant flower in the heart. Let’s make this Kartik special by remembering Krishna’s pastimes and cultivating genuine humility.
