(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.12)
Question: We might try to do something to elevate our consciousness and pray for the mercy but then the result does not instantaneously manifest, as a quick result. So how can one remain fixed in that determination when not being able to perceive anything…
As long as one is still attached to immediate results, it means that we are so attached to the result of our activities and we think, ’Oh, it does not work!’ Then try again. Even with simple things in the material world, like when you try to close the door and somehow the doorknob does not work very well. Well, try it again and after three times of trying, it might work. But if it was the first time and you say, ‘Oh, I cannot…’ Then nothing will work! So one has to pursue it, it may not work the first time.
That is what you see in Srila Prabhupada. He had this amazing quality that he would not give up! When everyone just gave up, ’Oh, it is impossible! It does not work. It cannot be done. No, I have tried it.’ And they always gave up. Prabhupada just never gave up and kept on trying and then in the end, it worked beyond expectation…