Change the World
BY: GIRI-NAYAKA DAS (BVS)
Jan 6, SLOVENIA (SUN) — Recently, somebody told me something. He said: "Let me tell you a little
secret. You will never change ISKCON, nor will you change the world, and you
will certainly never change other people. The only thing you can ever hope
to change in this world is YOURSELF."
I thought about it, and here I refute such foolish statement of weakness, and vow to always prove such nonsense statements to be false.
Someone presented similar doubts before Srila Prabhupada:
John Nordheimer: Many people have tried to change the world, but we see that they have failed. Many people have tried to see God, but they do not succeed.
Prabhupada: That is because their purpose is not strong. That is due to maya, forgetfulness. Just like darkness and light; if your light is strong, there is no darkness. But if you have no light, or if your light is not very strong, there is darkness. This is the principle: If you want to drive away darkness, you must bring light. That is the only medicine."
(Interview with the New York Times, September 2, 1972, New Vrindaban)
and more:
"My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life. If only 1% become devotees, that will change the world."
(Srila Prabhupada's Letter to: Karandhara, Tokyo, 2 May, 1972)
And all Srila Prabhupada's followers have faith in this. Here is a view from Anuttama Prabhu:
"Margaret Mead once advised that we shouldn't think that a small group of committed people cannot change the world, because, indeed, that's the only way the world has ever changed. Sometimes there is a lot of questioning about when will ISKCON do this and when will devotee communities do that? The real question is: when will we find the potential in our own hearts to change ourselves and others? As Prabhupada showed, it only takes one or two people to make a difference. Prabhupada didn't wait for others. He tried to get others involved, but when he didn't get much help, he went on alone."
(Anuttama dasa, ICJ 2001)
Therefore, any propaganda, that "you will never do this, you will never do that.." is nonsense whining of the confused fools. Go hide in your hole, and feel pity on yourself.
Not only we can change the world, we are expected to do it. That's our only purpose! Everything else is dust! Srila Prabhupada perfectly set the path, and our only duty is to make this happen. Anybody having doubts in this is to be avoided, and left alone with his petty weakness, let him cry over his
own foolishness.
That guy said: "Let me tell you a little secret...." Now, here is a little secret for you! By Guru's and Krsna's Grace, I am changing myself, I am changing others, I am changing ISKCON, and I will change the world.
We will change the world! And if you do not cooperate, we will do it without you. And if nobody wants to do it, I will do it myself!
Here is my vow!
Let me remain here, birth after birth, working hard to be able to please Srila Prabhupada, until this world is changed, as Srila Prabhupada envisioned it.
I say this vow, now, in front of all assembled Vaisnavas, in front of my guru, in front of the GBC, in front of Srila Prabhupada, in front of Krsna and in front of everything that is and all that will be. This vow is irrevocable, and I hold it to come true on spiritual strength of all witnessing this. Let it entirely form my future, from now on and forever! Please accept this vow, and please make sure that it comes true. I will forget about it, the fool that I am, but remind me. Remind me eternally!
Kick me in the face, laugh at me, spit at me, curse me, cause me all kinds of trouble, but let me just remember this vow, as the only thing in my existence, and let me increase my determination to fulfill it. Have no mercy on my disgraceful weakness. Mold me as needed, and let every fall make me even more determined! Let all, that happens to me, and all I see or hear, increase my determination beyond all limits. And after many lifetimes, when it is time, when I get purified, then I will be strong, and then I can do
something.
And keep your stupid weakness and doubts in Srila Prabhupada far from our ears. Seeing your weakness is so disgraceful that it makes me want to die immediately, just to be able to avoid the association of such fools.
