IMHO, as ISKCON makes plans for 2016, equal attention should
be paid to the 50th anniversary of Prabhupada’s momentous journey to
the West in 2015. In the public eye, the story of individual effort always
trumps the story of an organization.
People can certainly make a more visceral connection with Srila
Prabhupada since they would be natural inspired by a his struggle against great
odds. (Look at how the world has
responded to the story of Nelson Mandela) And now especially as baby boomers
head into their senior years (myself included), Prabhupada’s accomplishments
will seem even greater. His is an important story to honor and to share.
To win the hearts of people in general one has to understand
the potency of STORY. STORY is a valuable tool. This has been my personal experience as a
professional storyteller and workshop leader for over 25 years.
And Prabhupada’s is a remarkable story. He came with practically nothing save for the
three volumes of first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam he had prepared for the West.
He hitched a ride on a freighter, braved
a month long voyage and struggled through a New York winter to present an
ancient and venerable teaching to the West. And sociologically speaking, he
came at a remarkable time when young people in the West were dissatisfied with
materialistic culture and rejected the unprecedented wealth and education
available to them.
This is the time for devotees to develop projects as an offering for Srila Prabhupada
in 2015. I know Yadubara is doing a
film and you may want to support that if you don’t have time to develop a
project of your own. But there should in
fact be hundreds and even thousands of events and projects manifested in 2015
as a way to individually and collectively honor Srila Prabhupada for his
selfless and untiring efforts to help humankind.
