Recently, when I had gone to meet my relatives, I met a driver who had come to this country by crossing the border illegally. Out of curiosity, I asked him to share his story.

He narrated the level of risk he had taken — first reaching Zimbabwe, then traveling through Brazil, Ethiopia, through Panama, Columbia and Mexico – crossing dense forests, dangerous rivers and ruthless mafia – all to reach America. He had risked his life with one single goal: to earn money and enjoy life.

Such determination — simply to reach America. There are thousands, even millions, who take such great risks to fulfill their so-called “American dream.”

Prabhupāda’s Determination

Śrīla Prabhupāda also came with an “American dream” — not illegally, of course — but with a determination far greater and a purpose far higher. Despite old age, poor health, and repeated heart attacks, he crossed the ocean to fulfill the dream of Lord Caitanya and his spiritual master. He made Gauranga’s dream his life’s mission. How difficult it must have been for him to come alone here?

People cross borders to make their lives, but Prabhupāda crossed borders to “make” the lives of others — those who were breaking apart under the weight of material indulgence.

Bhakti Beyond Borders

As I sit here in the temple, I see through the window a cannabis shop across the street. In some parts of America, marijuana and certain drugs are legally sold. Before the shop opened, both the church and the temple in our neighborhood had resisted its establishment — but in vain. On one side, there is a cannabis shop, one another, there is a liquor shop, in front of the temple, there is yet another store that sells meat, and illicit sex is practically everywhere without any advertisement.

Kali’s agents and influences are too strong. The modes of passion and ignorance are deeply rooted here. Many things that should be illegal are legalized.

What hope do conditioned souls have except the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Each time I see someone entering that shop to buy drugs, I think of Śrīla Prabhupāda — how compassionately he must have preached to such people, those high on drugs and drowning in sense gratification. If I weren’t in Krishna Consciousness, I would not have felt anything about any of them.

Bhakti, as brought by Śrīla Prabhupāda, crossed all borders of nations, religions, castes, creeds, and colors. His devotion was stronger than every obstacle. By the strength of his surrender, he overcame not only legal barriers but also social, cultural and emotional barriers that bound the hearts of countless souls.

The Real Illegal Stay

In contrast to people who enter America illegally in search of pleasure, comfort, or wealth, Śrīla Prabhupāda entered America to stop all crime, to stop indulgence, and to give people their true home — back to Godhead.

In one sense, all of us are living illegally in this material world. We rebelled against Kṛṣṇa, and thus we were deported from the spiritual world. Śrīla Prabhupāda came to end our illegal stay by sending us back home, back to Godhead.

This deportation is not painful; it is joyful. It is not a loss, but the ultimate gain.

Just as there are agents who help people cross borders illegally into America, our mind acts as such an agent. It tempts us to stay in this foreign land of material enjoyment. But this is not our real home. We are not citizens of this material world.

We threw away our original passport by our rebellion against Krishna, but Śrīla Prabhupāda came to return it to us, granting us permanent residency in the spiritual world. That is the glory and greatness of Śrīla Prabhupāda.