Srila Gurudeva: Svamiji came to the eastern and western countries and very mercifully, in a very short time he preached Krsna-nama and bhakti everywhere. We wonder how it was possible he preached so quickly all over the world. But he left this world, back to aprakata-lila, the devotees everywhere in the world became so weak because there was no advanced Vaisnava association there.
Lacking these things, their bhakti began to dry up. Svamiji saw that there were devotees who were kanistha Vaisnavas and who wanted to progress, but gradually that they were going to dry up. So I think that he mercifully inspired me to go everywhere he had planted the seeds of bhakti. He made a very good platform. Otherwise, a person like me, I have not done anything. You are hearing all these things only due to his mercy. He wrote so many books that can help new devotees or anyone to understand what bhakti is, who the Supreme Personality of Godhead is, and how we can have a relationship with Him and how can we can be happy in this life and in future lives.
I see that everywhere I am going, there is a very good platform. Although we are few in number, still we are satisfied. Also, I am so much indebted to Gour Govinda Maharaja. He was a pure Vaisnava, a very pure Vaisnava. He tried his best to follow Svamiji, but so many obstacles came. He wanted to cross them, but there were so many obstacles that he was surrounded from all sides. At last, he left this world. But he was so bold. He impressed the importance of Vaisnava association on his disciples and that is why almost all his disciples are now associating with me.
So, I am indebted to him. I know that they cannot die. They are beyond the limit of birth and death, so they are anywhere and they are serving their holy master, Krsna, Radha, and Mahaprabhu. When they will see that we are preaching in the same line, they will be very happy and they will sprinkle their mercy to us. Don’t be weak. You should have very strong faith in bhakti and in our Guru-parampara. Don’t be weak. If there is no Vaisnava association, then they have left Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, Gita, and so many books. We can associate with them in their absence. But when this jivanta-bhagavata, when the living bhagavata is there, then we should try to go and listen to them.
[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on December 4th, 1998, Malaysia, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 25]