Dear Srila Prabhupada,

I bow at your lotus feet and offer you my eternal gratitude for your supreme, eternal gifts.

One morning as we walked with you through Rancho Park in Los Angeles, you stopped to make a crucial point. As we gathered round, you dramatically presented Bhagavad-gita 11.33, where Krishna tells Arjuna to “just be the instrument for actions that I have already performed.”

Dramatically playing the part of Krishna, you said, “Arjuna, do not think that any of these soldiers will go home to their families. I have already slain them. Now if you like, you be the instrument and I will give you the credit. Otherwise, someone else will get the credit, for it will be done by My arrangement.”

This is the subtle art of Krishna consciousness. As Lord Krishna, and you, warn us, we should not think that we are the doers. And, yet, you and Krishna encouraged us to “take the credit,” and in Krishna’s words “gain the glory,” by enthusiastically acting as Krishna’s instrument.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, the glorious King Yudhisthira resolves this paradox when he tells Krishna, “I want to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice, which brings great power and opulence, so that the world can see the advantage and the glory of serving You.”

Please help me embrace your transcendental offer, following in Yudhisthira’s and your footsteps. You often proclaimed the success of our mission so that people would see the glory of Krishna and join Him. Please empower us now with preaching potency and humility so that in the right consciousness we may act as your empowered instruments to spread your mission.

Your servant,
Hridayananda das Goswami
September 6, 2015