I love to think of Prabhupada as a writer. Most devotees probably never think of Prabhupada living a writer's life, although we all understand that his writing was his most important contribution to the preaching. Prabhupada was always self-assured about his writing. He took on such monumental tasks -- Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, all his summary studies -- yet he didn't seem to think of himself as a writer. Therefore, to hear the details of how he wrote his books, how he wanted them illustrated and designed, is to meditate on an important aspect of Prabhupada's service to Krsna.

I also like to think about how full Srila Prabhupada's life was because of his writing. That is, he was given such a wonderful opportunity to express Krsna consciousness through his books. It confirms the point that Krsna fully engages and empowers a sincere devotee. Prabhupada had no desire other than to serve Krsna and to spread Krsna consciousness on his guru's order. Therefore, Krsna empowered him to pursue this goal by writing so many books.

Although we could call his writing of The Nectar of Devotion and Krsna book a peak period in his writing career, he never had to wonder what he would write on next. The Bhagavatam stood throughout his life as an ever-present work always awaiting his attention. The Bhagavatam fed his other writing. Because Prabhupada was worried that he might not finish the Bhagavatam before he left this world, for example, he wrote Krsna book.

Prabhupada began traveling almost nonstop in 1970. Despite that fact, he managed to write sixty volumes of authoritative translations and commentaries, along with several summary studies of sections of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Caitanya-caritamrta. How can someone simultaneously travel nonstop and write sixty volumes of Sanskrit translation with English commentary? Those two feats seem contradictory.

People sometimes doubt that Vyasadeva single-handedly composed millions of slokas and they wrongly assume that "Vyasadeva" refers to many authors. However, Vyasadeva was the empowered literary incarnation of Krsna. Similarly, Prabhupada was empowered to simultaneously travel and write. He didn't have a home base from which to write, but somehow he always found time and space to write.

Pliny gave this writing advice: "Never a day without a line" (nulla dies sine linea). Prabhupada had a similar motto: "Little drops of water wear away the stone. In this way I have written all these books." Although he traveled, he was a disciplined writer. He would usually spend two hours a day (sometimes less) writing, starting around one o'clock in the morning.

Writers often discuss environment and how important it is that a writer's surroundings be conducive to creativity. Of course, "environment" can pertain both to our external and our internal surroundings. Prabhupada carried his external environment with him. He had his book of Sanskrit commentaries, his typist, his Sanskrit editor, his Sanskrit and English dictionaries, and his desk-model Dictaphone. The devotees always provided him with a low desk and a quiet room. Because he wrote early in the morning, he had solitude. Therefore, his "environment" was simple and portable and could be established in any part of the world.

As for his internal environment, Prabhupada was deeply dedicated to serving his spiritual master and to spreading Krsna consciousness. He was so utterly convinced that the big mrdanga was the best way to preach that he didn't become uninspired or feel stale or tired of writing. He was always prepared to go on.

I like to talk about Prabhupada as a writer because I also write. Another writer can understand a little of the sacrifice that was required of Prabhupada to write. That doesn't mean, however, that we can understand the depth of what Prabhupada was able to do. To follow the writing discipline and at the same time manage a fledgling and later maturing institution would be impossible for anyone else.

The weight of the word "discipline" should not be underestimated even when we think of Prabhupada. To go on doing something day after day, year after year, requires conviction that the activity is important. What may start out as an idea becomes a life's work for a devotee because he realizes that this is what Krsna wants him to do.

Prabhupada said the word "discipline" comes from the same root as the word "disciple." A disciple is one who has disciplined himself. Prabhupada was a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. His writing was part of his discipleship, and he did it with the same obedience and dedication with which he did everything.

Cont'd


- From "You Cannot Leave Boston" by HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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The words-Disciple and Discipline has the same root. Disciple means one is who has disciplined himself