First Stop, Holland

Śrīla Gurudeva arrived in Holland on May 5, 1996. This was the auspicious beginning of his first worldwide preaching tour in the West. Coincidentally, this day is one of the most prominent days already being celebrated in Holland and throughout Europe as the anniversary of Liberation Day, celebrating the day they were freed of Hitler’s rule after World War II. The devotees came not for that, but to see Śrīla Gurudeva and celebrate his coming to remove ignorance and give real liberation, bhakti. Śrīpādā Brajanātha Prabhu and others arranged for many devotees to meet with Śrīla Gurudeva in Holland. They came in large numbers to welcome Śrīla Gurudeva with enthusiastic kirtans. Everyone was happily and excitedly chanting and dancing along with Śrīla Gurudeva. “Somehow Brajanātha Prabhu and his wife Vrinda attracted me to come here.” Śrīla Gurudeva addressed the crowd, “I am so happy to come. Never had I dreamed that I would leave Vṛndāvana, nor did I ever want to leave Vṛndāvana to come to the West. But surrounded by devotees like Vṛndā, Brajanātha, Tuṅgavidyā, Vṛndāvana-vilasini and others, I think I’m still in Vṛndāvana. I am never out of Vṛndāvana.”

Śrīla Gurudeva explained to them, “Swāmī Mahārāja did not come just to clear the jungle and thorns of māyāvāda and voidism. Swāmījī wanted to give all that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and all our guru-varga came to give, the prema of unnatojjvala-rasa-svabhakti-Śrīyam; but in a very short time Kṛṣṇa called him and he left. So perhaps he has called me to give something to you all and make you qualified so you will never give up Kṛṣṇa and always hear hari-kathā… Swāmī Mahārāja has written so māny things in his books but without developing your bhakti, you will not be able to understand… So I have come to help you all without any personal gain…”

Śrīla Gurudeva gravely related how in the last moments of his manifest presence in this world, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja had called him and said, “Please excuse any wrong I have done. While preaching many times we say things contrary to each other or we cut each others philosophical arguments. Please ask my Godbrothers to forgive my offences. I have said that my Godbrothers are doing nothing but sleeping… But I know they are so qualified. I took sannyāsa from Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Mahārāja, instructions from Śrīdhara Mahārāja…”

Śrīla Gurudeva replied, “There’s no aparādha. Whatever you have said was done for preaching and for teaching your disciples. You said something as a Godbrother but your mood was not contrary, like Citraketu Mahārāja commented something against Lord Śiva in the presence of Pārvatī Devī. You have done marvellous work spreading Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order all over the world. You have changed flesh eaters and wine takers into devotees. We are so much indebted to you.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “You must do my Śamādhi and also teach my devotees to grow up in bhakti and not stay at the same level…”

Śrīla Gurudeva: “Swāmījī never told anyone that you should disrespect any Vaiṣṇavas. Just like Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has told, if you want to do bhakti, then you should give respect to all the Vaiṣṇavas, the Gurus, the pure brāhmaṇas and others. This was the principle of Lord Caitanya and all the followers of Lord Caitanya. Try to honour all of Lord Caitanya’s followers, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa kavirāja… Śikṣā Gurus and Dīkṣā Gurus are equal. Try to understand—if they are both qualified, they are the same. …”

Śrīla Gurudeva ignited a great fire of enthusiasm right from the very start of his setting foot in the West. Seeing and hearing Śrīla Gurudeva, everyone became bright-faced and happy. After successfully preaching for about a week in Holland and enthusing all the devotees, Śrīla Gurudeva and his entourage proceeded to their next destination—England.