1. Srila Prabhupada comes to the West — why so late?

    Prajapati: Srila Prabhupada, why has it taken so long for a pure devotee to come to the West? Has the West been so sinful that no pure devotee has come before Your Divine Grace?

    Prabhupada: (laughs) Don’t be sorry. At that time you were so sinful that
    you could not receive a pure devotee.

    Karandhara: Yes. Once in a lecture a lady asked you why hadn’t you come sooner, and you just said, “Well, you weren’t ready for me.”

    Prabhupada: Yes, “Because you were not ready.” (laughs) Yes, I told, yes. Now the Western boys, the descendants of the Western people, they are fortunate; therefore they receive Krsna. Kona bhagyavan jiva. It is Krsna’s desire that “These people are suffering so much; let some devotees come here.” So you are all devotees. You have come to join together.

    (Morning Walk — December 7, 1973, Los Angeles)