The word “sankirtana” means, literally, “kirtana together”. Our whole process is based on cooperation and association, much different from the process followed by impersonalists and mystic yogis, which is based on solitary meditation and self-advancement. As devotees, we are the best example of the saying “united we stand, divided we fall”.

“I am the only gardener. How many places can I go? How many fruits can I pick and distribute? (Cc. Adi 9.34)

Purport: Here Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu indicates that the distribution of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra should be performed by combined forces. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He laments, “How can I act alone? How can I alone pick the fruit and distribute it all over the world?” This indicates that all classes of devotees should combine to distribute the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without consideration of the time, place or situation.

In 1973, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter:

“We must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop’s Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity.” (Letter to Kirtanananda, October 18, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada was able to start the Krsna Consciousness movement alone, with just a few books and almost no money, because he is the combination of all Vaishnava qualities. He had all the knowledge and all the necessary qualities and talents to spread the sankirtana movement in the west, but none of us can make such a claim. At best, each of us may manifest some small percentage of one or a few qualities of Srila Prabhupada, therefore the only chance we have of maintaining and spreading this movement is to work together. As HG Pita Prabhu recollects in his remembrances of the final days of Srila Prabhupada:

“At one point, all the devotees were with Srila Prabhupada in his room. Bhavananda, Giriraj, Jayapataka Maharaj, Satsvarupa Maharaj, Jayadvaita, Panca Dravida, they were all there. Prabhupada said, “Of my disciples, I see no one who has my qualities. But if I look at this or that disciple, I see some qualities. And if I look at a group of them, some percentage of my qualities is certainly there. So I have some hope that this movement can continue. The test of your love for me will be shown in how well you work together.”