The one who taught us to love

30 Years ago was the last time that A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (September 1, 1896 – November 14, 1977), graced this dying planet with his love for all life. He sought to enlighten us and teach us all how to love God and prepare for the great journey that awaits us in our future lives.

At the ripe old age of 69 Prabhupada sailed to New York City in 1965. He had almost no money and very few possessions; nonetheless, before his death, he was able to inspire over 10,000 people to dedicate their lives to spiritual awakening.

By July 1966 he had brought Hare Krishna to the West, founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City. Srila Prabhupada became well known as one who truly practiced what he preached; leading by example he expanded the movement from a small group of people in New York in 1966, to an international movement incorporating many thousands of people. By the time of his death in Vrindavan eleven years later (1977), ISKCON was a widely known expression of Vaishnavism in the West.

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days he:

• circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents.
• introduced Vedic gurukul education to a Western audience.
• directed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, the world's largest publisher in the field of Vedic religious texts and commentary.
• founded the religious colony New Vrindaban in West Virginia
• authored sixty books (many available online here) on Vedantic philosophy, religion, literature and culture (including four in Bengali)
• watched ISKCON grow to a confederation of more than 100 schools, temples, institutes, farm communities, and ashrams.

Through his mission, Prabhupada followed and communicated the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced bhakti yoga to an international audience. Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism this was viewed as the fulfillment of a long time mission to introduce Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings to the world.

I hope that many of you will take some time, if you haven't already, to study the incredible life of this man. Although I have only studied him for a short period of time, I am already convinced that his teachings have much to offer us and will benefit everyone if properly understood and adhered to.




Videos about A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

• The Acharya: part I, part II, part III, part IV, part V
• Srila Prabhupada in Bombay
• The Simple Temple: Chowpatty
• The Science of God
• Srila Prabhupada in New Dwaraka