It is about 5:30 in the morning and Srila Prabhupada just called me into his sitting room wanting to know why Shyamasundara and Pradyumna are still sleeping. "I don't know," I replied. He tells me to bring them to his room. When we returned Srila Prabhupada tells us all that we must conquer over sleep.
"Rising early and taking a cold shower are not austerities, but just common sense and good hygiene" says Srila Prabhupada. Then revealing a wonderful truth His Divine Grace says, "By chanting 16 rounds, following the regulative principles, rising early, reducing one's eating and sleeping, one gets spiritual energy. If one follows these guidelines for 12 years, all he speaks will be perfect!"
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
This is my first full day as Srila Prabhupada's personal servant. The sum total of training to be Srila Prabhupada's servant consisted of getting to watch Sudama Maharaja give one massage, as well as being told, "When Srila Prabhupada rings the bell go immediately to his room and see how you can serve him."
It is now about 2:00 p.m. The bell rings. I nervously trot into his room and pay obeisances. Sitting up I inquire, "What can I do, Srila Prabhupada". He smiled and said, "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to see how quick you are."
After successfully completing my first mission, I relaxed and went back to my room. Srila Prabhupada was expertly putting me at ease with his sense of humor, gentleness and kindness.
Brahmacari: "Srila Prabhupada, it says in one of the Krsna book stories that Krsna and Balarama jumped off a mountain 88 miles high. Where is this mountain located?"
Srila Prabhupada: paused, then replied, "In the sky".
Brahmacari: Srila Prabhupada, I always want to sit by your holy lotus feet!
Srila Prabhupada: That will be very difficult because I am always moving.
Srila Prabhupada has a great sense of humor.
Srila Prabhupada was in the garden with the parents of a young devotee. Being responsible for landscaping the garden for Prabhupada they had the good fortune to please His Divine Grace.
Kirtanananda Maharaja and I were also present. "A devotee is very proud that we are Krsna's servant," Srila Prabhupada said, "A devotee has that pride. We are not ashamed that we are Krsna's servant." Srila Prabhupada then spoke directly to the parents saying, "Your son is a very nice boy and a good devotee." They were very pleased by His Divine Grace's sweet words. Now at ease -- but with concern -- they mentioned to Srila Prabhupada, "The devotees don't seem very ambitious."
"That's right," Srila Prabhupada said. "A devotee has no ambition. He simply wants to do some humble service for Krishna. He is not trying to do anything big. A devotee is not ambitious. We have no ambition."
Seeing the parent's discomfort, Kirtanananda Maharaja interjected, "What Prabhupada means to say is that the devotees have no material ambition." Srila Prabhupada emphatically replied, "No! We have no ambition. The devotee is not at all ambitious. We just want to serve Krishna."
Srila Prabhupada always knew the exact point he was making, even if others didn't. Sometimes disciples would interrupt Srila Prabhupada to interpret his statements, thinking that owing to the difference of cultures Srila Prabhupada didn't understand the person.
Understanding the exalted position of our beloved Srila Prabhupada, one can appreciate that His Divine Grace knew who he was dealing with, what they meant and exactly what he wanted them to understand. Srila Prabhupada doesn't compromise the philosophy to please anyone. He speaks the absolute truth!
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
In light of our 1,000,000 book marathon we'd like to share this nectar lila for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and all his disciples and grand disciples.
Recently Srila Prabhupada said that our real preaching is to distribute books. He said, "What can you say to a person in three minutes?" he asked. "But if he reads one page of a book it may turn him around. However you have to do it, that is okay; but if you get the person angry and he doesn't take a book, then that is your foolishness."
Srila Prabhupada's statements mark the difference between our words and Srila Prabhupada's words. Purity is the force. Srila Prabhupada is the pure devotee, we are his humble servants. It is our good fortune to distribute his words in book form.
Srila Prabhupada said, "My Guru Maharaja daily printed a small paper. The paper cost a few cents and whenever a brahmacari would come back from the streets and said he had sold one, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati would become very happy and say 'Oh, that is very nice what you have done. You are a very good boy.'"
P.S. Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters, I've gotten many requests & inquiries regarding if and when a book of Prabhupadamrita will manifest, the answer is yes a book will be forthcoming. When depends on how much help I get. Due to the mercy of His Divine Grace and His enthusiastic devotees, I have become serious about sharing Prabhupadamrita during His centennial year.
Today my wife, Kusa devi, my son, Mayapuracandra, and I took a small sparrow that was in the backyard bird feeder and placed it in a spare cage with food and water. It looks sickly and might be dying but we couldn't let it happen without trying to give it some special attention. We put it next to a continuous play Hare Krsna CD in case he was leaving his body. We will see if he gets better by living or dying.
Sometimes, we devotees may not respond in this way. I always heard that it is better not to get entangled in the affairs of other living entities. After all we are not our bodies. We are spirit soul, constitutionally part and parcel of Krsna and His servant. If we serve the bird perhaps we may have to take birth again to get the pious benefit of serving birds. The following story may explain why we did it.
It is spring of 1973 at New Dwarka, Srila Prabhupada rang his bell. I immediately went to his room and paid obeisances. When I sat up, his eyes widened. Looking at me with great concern he pointed to the floor near my legs and said, "Do you see that bug?" Looking around for a few moments I finally spotted the small insect. I nodded in agreement having no idea what was to come next.
In a very serious voice His Divine Grace said, "I have been watching that bug for some time now and he has not moved. I think he is hungry. Get a prasadam flower and take him outside. Put him on a plant so he can get some nourishment." I immediately did what my most merciful Guru Maharaja asked and returned to the servant's quarters.
Neither of us spoke of the bug again. It was just another wonderful occasion in which he showed me just how indiscriminately merciful a pure devotee is. His Divine Grace didn't feel it was a waste of time to transcendentally mitigate the suffering of even the smallest of living entities. Now, just seeing the smallest of insects, I am forced to think of my beloved Srila Prabhupada. However insignificant we maybe, if we are fortunate to get the glance of the nitya-siddha, our life will be immensely benefited.
Since we've come back to Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada has come into my room a few times and shown me how to cook some new preparations. The way he comes in, sits down on the floor and directs the activities is really endearing.
The other day Jayatirtha gave Srila Prabhupada a desk clock that tells the time of any city in the world with a turn of the dial. Prabhupada was quite pleased with it and said the man who invented it deserved the $300 it cost for taxing his brain so much.
At this moment there is a famous designer upstairs. He is the man who designs clothes for millionaires all over the world, and he wants to outfit Prabhupada with a whole wardrobe of clothing. I can't imagine what he can do to make a kurta and dhoti different and still have Srila Prabhupada wear them.
These last few days have been the most wonderful days I have had in Krsna Consciousness, despite the fact that I don't know what I am doing. I have given Srila Prabhupada three massages, his only comment after them was "Thank you very much". Yesterday he came into the kitchen and showed me how to prepare his lunch in the cooker. He made dahl and vegetables using the same chaunce and showed me how to roll chapatis without a pin. He said they are better that way -- if you can do it. Today he again cooked his lunch for my benefit. He made three vegetables, dahl, and rice in the cooker, and I made the chapatis. For his other meals he said he desired a little fruit with milk in the morning and fruit in the late afternoon -- nothing more. He stressed the fact that he only wants small portions on his plate.
This morning, while walking in Merit Park, downtown Oakland, we passed a small zoo with a large sign in front of it. It read: Children's Fairyland. Prabhupada read aloud "Children's Fairyland." Then pointing to the skyscrapers he added, "Adult's fairyland".
I have been a brahmacari for two and a half years now, and I feel restless. My senses are pulling me. Srila Prabhupada explained innumerable times that one must reduce sleeping and eating to make spiritual advancement, so I decided to utilize the two upcoming fast days to reduce my eating. When breaking fast at midnight on Janmastami, I ate very little. The next afternoon after Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-Puja celebration I again eat sparingly. I don't feel very hungry. I suppose my stomach has shrunk.
The next day, after I again ate a small lunch, Srila Prabhupada called me to his room. After skimping on only a few meals Srila Prabhupada stated his observation, "Your face is looking thin. You are not feeling well?" "No, Srila Prabhupada, I feel fine. I was trying to cut down on my eating." "What is this!?" Srila Prabhupada exclaimed, "You have service to perform. You shouldn't cut down on your eating. This is nonsense. You have to give massage and do so many things. Don't cut down. You should eat whatever you can digest. That is what you should eat."
Amazingly, in our first 16 months together, this is Srila Prabhupada's second conversation with me regarding my prasadam intake. Finally, I've decided not to worry about how much prasadam I eat at my meals.
Just see how merciful Srila Prabhupada is! His Divine Grace has keen powers of observation and is always looking out for our welfare. Sometimes, we are busy concocting how to make advancement, but Srila Prabhupada guides us and cares for us at every level.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Allen Ginsberg just returned from India. When he came to have darsana with Srila Prabhupada he brought a harmonium with him. "You are chanting Hare Krishna?" Srila Prabhupada asked. "Yes, I still chant Hare Krishna and I am chanting some other things. Is it all right if I play the harmonium for you and chant?" said Allen. Srila Prabhupada said, "Yes, you can do."
Allen Ginsberg began playing the harmonium, chanting, "Ooooommm." Each time he chanted "Om" his voice would get deeper and deeper. All the while, Srila Prabhupada reclined comfortably behind his desk. When Allen Ginsberg finished Srila Prabhupada said, "You can chant what ever you want to chant, just keep chanting Hare Krishna. As long as you are chanting Hare Krishna everything else is all right. You can chant whatever you want, but don't stop chanting Hare Krishna."
By this time, there were many devotees in the room. Srila Prabhupada said, "So have kirtan." Allen Ginsberg began to lead, playing the harmonium and chanting the maha- mantra. After a couple of minutes Srila Prabhupada looked at Hamsadutta and said, "Your turn to lead." Then, turning to Allen Ginsberg he said, "He'll lead, he'll chant." By Srila Prabhupada's mercy all of us were engaged in ecstatic kirtan.
Srila Prabhupada knows how to encourage everyone irrespective of orientation and background. His Divine Grace inspires us on the path back home, back to Godhead.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
This month, Srila Prabhupada's godbrother Damodara Maharaja came to visit often His Divine Grace. Srila Prabhupada was not very anxious to see him. Once he said to me, "If Damodara Maharaja comes, I do not want to see him. He simply comes and talks, 'this math, they are doing this and that math, they are doing that and my disciples they are doing like this.'" Srila Prabhupada said, "I am not interested in these things. I would relish it if he came and talked about Krishna or talked some philosophy, but he talks all these nonsense things. I am not very interested to hear it."
I told Srila Prabhupada that I would try to prevent Damodara Maharaja from coming in. The next time he came, I told him that His Divine Grace was resting and could not be disturbed. Damodara Maharaja was not satisfied with my reason. "Prabhupada said I could come whenever I want. Why don't you let me see him?" he asked. Again I explained, "I cannot disturb him while he takes his afternoon nap." Damodara Maharaja angrily paced about, determined to have his way. I was sweating.
Miraculously, Srila Prabhupada came out of his room out onto the verandah started for the bathroom at the end of the building. Immediately Damodara Maharaja called out, "Prabhupada! Swamiji!" Srila Prabhupada replied, "Oh! Come on, come on. I will be right with you." When Srila Prabhupada returned to his sitting room, Damodara Maharaja said, "Your disciples are giving me such a difficult time. They won't let me come in to see you."
Srila Prabhupada turned to me, "Why are you giving him such a hard time. I told you whenever he comes, you should let him in. He is my God-brother. He should be allowed to come in right away." I submitted, "All right, Srila Prabhupada."
I was thrilled to have been able to serve Srila Prabhupada in this intimate way. I felt blessed to be privy to Srila Prabhupada's inner views. His Divine Grace was able to endear His God-brother to him and I was given the opportunity to assist. Srila Prabhupada showed us how to treat a God-brother no matter how we feel. He was a transcendental diplomat and I relished being Srila Prabhupada's confidant.
This evening in the garden Srila Prabhupada sat with his back very straight and with his eyes opened wide chanted, "Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami. This is our pride. We are servants to the most regal person -- Krishna. Everyone is servant but our pride is that we are servant to Krishna. Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami."
As a very young boy walking in the marketplace with his Mataji, Srila Prabhupada saw some toy guns. "I saw the guns and immediately I had to have them", he said. His mother did not want to get him one, so he started crying. Finally his mother said, "All right, all right, I will buy you a gun". Srila Prabhupada looked at the gun in one hand and then looked at his other, empty hand. "I don't have a gun for it. I must have one for each hand", he said. "No", his mother said. But even at such a young age, Prabhupada's determination was unshakable and he was able to get what he wanted. "At that point" he said, "I lay down in the street and started to kick my hands and feet and bang my head on the ground". He called it a tantrum. Pointing to a mark on his forehead, he said, "this scar is from that time. I was very sure that I had to have two guns. So, then she got me the other gun."
He said, "When I wanted something I had to have it and my mother would get it. Otherwise, I would tell my father and he would get very upset with my mother and then she would have to do it. I don't know," He said, "maybe my father knew."
Srila Prabhupada makes a very brief statement here about his father "knowing" what the position is of his beloved son. Prabhupada does not get any more specific, giving us the opportunity to come to our own conclusions. Here, again, we are able to see the great humility that the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord has.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders.
Srila Prabhupada: So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. that's all. You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear, that's all. What is the question of mind?
I received your letter and was happy to hear some of the current news of the western world. None of the items were known by Srila Prabhupada. One item was especially interesting. It involved the separation of men and women in the New York temple. Srila Prabhupada received a letter involving this matter at the same time that yours arrived. When he heard that the women were only allowed in the temple at certain times because of agitating the brahmacaris he said that the brahmacaris could go to the mountains as it wasn't possible to have such rules in our temples.
In Srila Prabhupada's letter to Ekayani Srila Prabhupada said, "I don't know why these inventions are going on. We have already got our Vaisnava standard. It is sufficient for all the big, big saints and acaryas in our line -- why it shall be inadequate for my disciples so they must manufacture something? That is not possible. Who has introduced these things -- that women cannot chant japa in the temple, they cannot perform arati and so many things? If they become agitated, then let the brahmacaris go to the forest, I have never introduced these things. If the brahmacaris cannot remain in the presence of women in the temple, then they may go to the forest, not remaining in New York City, because in New York there are so many women so how they can avoid seeing? Best thing is to go to the forest for not seeing any women, if they become so easily agitated, but then no one will either see them and how our preaching work will go on?"
The other day Srila Prabhupada rang his bell to call me. I went into his sitting room and paid obeisances. When I sat up he smiled and said, "Srutakirti, your name is too long. I will call you Sruto." The next few days His Divine Grace playfully called me "Sruto". My affection for him increased immensely. Srila Prabhupada's personalizing my name was so relishable.
Last night Srila Prabhupada stayed up until 11:30 at night enlivening a few of us philosophically. I felt tired but was unable to pull myself away from such nectarine talks.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!
One day in his room in Los Angeles a psychiatrist was criticizing the devotees because they force the public to accept their services. Srila Prabhupada quickly pointed out that this made us better than him. He said that we give our services to all for free by going to them while he makes the people come to see him and then charges them. The psychiatrist suddenly fell silent.
Srila Prabhupada did speak about sleeping on different occasions. When I first became his servant, he called me into his room after taking a short nap after lunch. This was at the Dallas temple when Srila Prabhupada went to see the gurukula facility. He asked me if I took rest after eating lunch. I said no. This was not something that was done at this time. He then said, "I am an old man. I can not sleep very long at one time so I take a nap after lunch."
I had only been with him for a few days at this time. But his humility had already captured my heart. On another occasion, when he was getting ready to take rest in the evening, he said to me, "Whenever I go to take rest 'I think now I am going to waste my time.'"
Srila Prabhupada was so amazing. After being with him for two years one thing I know for certain is that he never, ever wasted his time. At 20 years old I would have a difficult time keeping up with him as he traveled around the world to enliven his disciples. He was 75 at the time. Sometimes on the morning walk some of his disciples would shake their heads, looking at each other, and wonder when he was going to turn around and head back because they were getting tired of walking.
Once Srila Prabhupada was on a short flight out of JFK. Since it was a wide-bodied plane -- that particular jet must have had about 10 seats going across -- many of the devotees got tickets that placed them in the same row as Srila Prabhupada. Who wouldn't want the chance to sit near their guru? I was next to Srila Prabhupada -- my most fortunate duty as his servant. As the flight progressed, unfortunately, some of his disciples began to do the devotee dive-bomb (nodding out). It was quite a sight -- shaven heads bobbing up and down across the isle, like the little dolls with heads on a spring people put in the back window of cars. Prabhupada was not amused by the tamasic display and let me know about it. "Just see" he said "everyone is wide awake except for the devotees. They are in maya, sleeping. Everyone else is awake. Why they can not stay awake". Usually whenever Srila Prabhupada addressed me in this way I would become quite silent. Afraid of saying the wrong thing, something that might further disturb him, I would just sit there and wait for him to stop, without saying a word. This was one such instance. During my stay with Srila Prabhupada, I learned there was no such thing as a good reason. There wasn't a point you could bring up that Prabhupada couldn't defeat, and I was not advanced enough to have him start chastising me on a regular basis. Therefore, I didn't even try the argument that the devotees only slept a few hours compared to the karmis. Prabhupada spent a few more minutes pointing out how even the karmis were up but his devotees could not stay awake. One thing was certain: I did not nod on that flight.
There is another story about sleeping I'm sure you would like but it is a little long and I thought I would put something on the file quickly. I will also tell you more about his schedule if you are not familiar with it.
In New Dwarka, every evening around sunset, Srila Prabhupada would go into the garden for two to three hours. Here we were, in the middle of smoggy Los Angeles, but when we entered the garden we were in another world. The light filtered gently through the trees casting a surreal glow on the foliage. Sometimes, we would be alone. At other times one or two devotees would join us. When we were alone, Srila Prabhupada spent much of His time chanting japa while sitting on His small raised asana. The garden is cozy, and lushly decorated with an arch, laced with flowering creepers, and a trickling fountain.
Very often His Divine Grace commented how much he liked the garden. He said that after traveling around the world several times he concluded that this place is his favorite spot. I think it is due to over 30 beautiful Tulasi plants luxuriously growing in his garden. Srila Prabhupada said, "Wherever there is Tulasi, it is Vrindavan."
Today I am alone in Srila Prabhupada's quarters giving him massage. I feel very awkward. He is sitting on the mat cross-legged and I am sitting in front of him massaging his head with sandalwood oil. I am embarrassed because it is very apparent that he has been staring at my feet for awhile. I don't think I have ever felt this self conscious in the presence of my spiritual master.
To my amazement His Divine Grace said, "So, your mother is very beautiful?" Now, in a state of shock I answer, "Well, she is almost 50 now, but yes, she was a very good looking woman". He said, "Yes, I can tell. I was noticing your feet. Your feet are very nice. They say that means that your mother is beautiful. I was checking. I wanted to see if it was actual."
Srila Prabhupada is very personal with his disciples. He cares for us, looks out for us and is interested in us. Jai Srila Prabhupada!
I just rejoined Srila Prabhupada after six months away from his personal service. Today devotees have been talking about the proper way to make rasgulla. Srila Prabhupada said, "I will show you how to make rasgulla. You get everything ready today." All the devotees were excited. Most would get their only opportunity to see Srila Prabhupada at work in the kitchen. Srila Prabhupada explained how to prepare the curd and to make the sugar water ready. When everything was in order Srila Prabhupada entered the kitchen and began to cook the rasgulla. All eyes were on Srila Prabhupada as he artfully coaxed the balls to rotate in the syrup. All except for one sannyasi who was looking at the rasgulla. Srila Prabhupada chastised him saying, "You have already half eaten these."
After a little while Srila Prabhupada turned to Kirtanananda Maharaja and said, "Now you can take over." The moment Srila Prabhupada took His hand off the spoon the rasgullas collapsed, shrinking to half their size. Kirtanananda Maharaja tried to save the offering but it was useless. They were ruined. A few of us tasted them just to make sure, unfortunately, they tasted terrible.
By the causeless mercy of the Spiritual Master all things are possible.
Srila Prabhupada is being driven in a car. Paramahamsa Swami and I are with him. As we go past a playground Srila Prabhupada smiles and says, "I played football there when I was young. I would be the goalie because I was lazy. I didn't like to run around. That was the position I liked."
Today while massaging Srila Prabhupada he points to a scar on his leg and says, "See this scar? That happened when I was young. I was out in front of the house and I had matches. Somehow I started some fire and my clothing immediately went up in flames. It was very bad. I do not know what would have happened but out of nowhere some man appeared and put out the flames and then he left."
Srila Prabhupada did not get more specific about the gentleman who came out of nowhere. He definitely made it sound as though the person came directly from the spiritual world. I know I couldn't ask him to be more specific. After having been with Srila Prabhupada for so long I knew that he had already told me as much as he wanted. In the course of two years that I was with him, Srila Prabhupada never made any statement in my presence that he had come down from the spiritual world. He is so compassionate and merciful that he encourages us by saying we can become Krsna Conscious in this very lifetime.
He is the acarya, teaching by example. He never asked us to do anything that he wasn't doing. He ate, slept, chanted rounds, rose early, read Srimad Bhagavatam. He never acted superior to his disciples. Sometimes he would say, "It is my duty to chastise because you are my disciple." We are his children and his responsibility is to teach us.
We know that Srila Prabhupada has been sent to us from the spiritual world by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but one reason I am so attached to him is because he allowed us to be comfortable with him by acting as if he were "practicing" Krsna Consciousness rather than the embodiment of it.
Personally, I have always felt that the person who put out the fire was Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
One evening while in his New Dwarka garden, Srila Prabhupada looked into the sky and said, "So, is the sky the color of Krsna?" A disciple said, "In Krsna Book it says that Krsna is dark bluish like the thunder cloud." Srila Prabhupada said, "The sky is the color of Krsna. It is the light from Krsna's bodily effulgence that makes the sky blue."
Sometimes after leaving the garden, he would go back to his room and listen to the recording of that morning's Srimad Bhagavatam class. Then he would have me pick night blooming star jasmine growing on the bushes just outside his garden. The flower's scent is especially fragrant at night. One evening while holding a sprig of blossoms up to his nose for several minutes, he said, "Ahh, this is Krsna!"
Often times I would bring them to his bedroom just before his evening massage. Throughout his massage he would smell them off and on. He would then keep them on His pillow (close to His nose) all night. The following morning, I would find the flowers gently laying on the pillow exactly where they had been the night before. The flowers looked as fresh and fragrant as ever, looking as if they had just been picked. His Divine Grace is always showing us how Krishna is in every part of this material creation.
While taking morning walk along the Yamuna Srila Prabhupada asked one of us to get some water. Shyamasundara prabhu brought a handful to him. Srila Prabhupada sprinkled some on his head and told us to do the same. He then said, "This is as good as bathing in the Yamuna".
While we were all at the palace at Keshi-ghata Srila Prabhupada warned the devotees not to dive into the Yamuna as there are too many large turtles in the water and injury is possible. Srila Prabhupada is always looking out for our welfare, in every way.
A Post In Response to Lilamrta Bashing and Fighting between Factions
I just finished posting some drops of Prabhupada nectar, however I am realizing my lack of qualification and the insufficiency of my endeavor. Who can properly glorify the Lord or His pure devotee? Reading specific critiques given by respected devotees, I have become frightened. I was already worrying that in the course of daily writing someone may find the expression of my memories offensive or blasphemous. Obviously, I am full of fault. My intention is to glorify His Divine Grace and share with all my Godbrothers and Godsisters some Prabhupada nectar. My hope is to share Srila Prabhupada's glorious enthusiasm in serving the Lord, so we can all be inspired to continue the process of devotional service desiring to personally serve our beloved Srila Prabhupada and push on his mission.
I feel it is my duty to tell my memories of His Divine Grace. I was never very philosophical but I always loved the way Srila Prabhupada conducted every minute of His life. He was literally my father. My own father died when I was three and until I was 19 and met Srila Prabhupada I never had any major male influence in my life. I think that's one reason my stories of Srila Prabhupada tend to be on the softer side of His personality. There are so many facets of Srila Prabhupada's character, but I only remember his sweetness, compassion and mercy, and his childlike innocence and kindness. In giving class over the years it has been apparent that the devotees are anxious to hear about these qualities.
Some of the favorite stories are the ones when I describe how He chastised me calling me such colorful names as "melechha", "dead man", "rascal" etc. They are ecstatic stories because when I tell them, I hope people can see and feel the love Srila Prabhupada has for me. I know that he loved me and therefore he could call me these names to try to get through my thick skull. If I were to write the same stories I am sure that someone would be offended and think that I was seeing Srila Prabhupada as an ordinary person.
In 1978 I sat down with Satsvarupa Maharaja and he recorded my memories over a five day period. I am looking at the manuscripts now and I can see so many things that would be offensive to some devotees. However, these activities did occur. Please forgive my imperfect recollection. I realize my ability to share is full of fault, but if I wait till I become pure, I fear you may never hear them. Srila Prabhupada said so many things. He managed a worldwide transcendental society with a band of western rogues. He was and is the "Krishna Consciousness" within ISKCON.
In my manuscripts many times I said that Srila Prabhupada was in anxiety or that he chanted loudly when he was upset. He instructed others to do the same. He once told me that "when you are sleepy and you have rounds to finish you can walk around the room and chant, like I do." I know that Srila Prabhupada was never sleepy, not in the way that I am sleepy. I am asleep, even when I am awake. Actually, the only time I am awake is when I am remembering him. In his sleep, he was with Krsna just as when he was awake.
I saw Srila Prabhupada in distress, in anxiety, upset, angry, enraged. It was usually due to our immaturity, or our adulterating the philosophy etc., but no matter what his mood was it was always filled with Krsna Consciousness.
I pray to all of you that I may continue to write about the transcendental pastimes of His Divine Grace. I know that I am fallen and it is very likely that I will not present him properly. I depend on my wife, Kusa devi, to edit my writings as she is much more advanced than I and can delete most of my offenses before I post. I was Srila Prabhupada's servant for 2 years and I know that I committed more offenses than you can imagine but his mercy is so great that he allows me to continue to do some service.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA !
I've said, "All glories to Srila Prabhupada," thousands and thousands of times, unconsciously repeating these beautiful words without full awareness, attention, or comprehension. I repeat them like a robot. I need to rejoice in the full meaning of this mantra.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!
Reading over the posts in this folder this phrase "All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!" has personally taken on more meaning then ever before. I am not interested in presenting my personal views on initiation into our ISKCON branch of Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya in this forum.
Srila Prabhupada would often say the absolute truth is unchangeable. He has given us the priceless gift of "Absolute Truth". My understanding will not be changed by philosophical points presented by different parties in or outside of ISKCON.
It is apparent that this is true for many heartfelt devotees, who have authored volumes of papers, letters, pamphlets, etc. They have been fortunate to be exposed to the process of devotional service by our glorious spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!
These beautiful words mean so much to me right now. It is 3:00 a.m. I just woke up from a dream of my beloved Spiritual Master as he engaged some of his disciples. I am so happy to be able to have such activities take place in my life & I must share his blessing with others.
If not for Srila Prabhupada what would be the cause of our disagreements in life? Some of us might be arguing about who will win the world series or the super bowl. Others might be more inclined to argue over stock prices etc. More pious individuals may be having debates about how to present the teachings of Lord Jesus more purely.
We are so very fortunate. We are able to argue and discuss about the best way to engage one's body, mind and intellect in the process of devotional service to Lord Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has taken this bickering lot and made us very fortunate.
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!
There are some devotees that want to take initiation from Srila Prabhupada directly, chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principles. There are others who want to take initiation from one of Srila Prabhupada's disciples, chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principles. And so on.
I can see Srila Prabhupada smiling now. It is a beautiful smile, I have seen so many times before and pray to see his smile again and again. He has certainly had the last laugh. He has taken an unholy gang of westerners, expert at fighting and has us fighting over him. What could be better?
Working cooperatively for him? That would be nice. Obviously, the only way to do that is serve him and if need be spar a little also
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!
It appears that is what is happening here, however we are all engaged in the process of glorifying Srila Prabhupada.
I must admit, I derive some pleasure from a good fight. That is to say I like to watch the action from a safe distance. My ego seldom lets me fight directly, unless I know I can beat my opponent. It would be too much of a blow to my false ego if I were to lose, but as a sports enthusiast, I like to watch a good brawl. That is natural. But this topic is way too voluminous for my small mind. It is necessary to present a thesis in order to present a tiny case. I am not at all qualified for such an endeavor. In school, I had no attraction for the debate club. The only thing debatable was whose car was faster, or whose girl was prettier and of course who might win the world series.
I do not wish to criticize any Vaisnava here, nor do I desire to minimize the subject matter being discussed by an assembly of devotees. I stand humbled before all who have taken shelter at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Prabhupada. I hope that I can get the mercy of the assembled devotees so that I may be so passionate in my love for him.
It's 3 o'clock in the morning and Srila Prabhupada woke me from a wonderful dream. It's his causeless mercy, and he is ecstatically on my mind. During the two years I spent in Srila Prabhupada's personal service, it was most apparent that he wanted us to work cooperatively. Disagreements have always been there and will always be there. Despite our problems it is possible to work cooperatively.
Srila Prabhupada would sometimes tell the story of the sons who were massaging the father. They had some disagreements. The one son would poke the father in the back where the other son was massaging and the other son of course would do the same where his brother was massaging the father. In this way they were only successful in hurting the father. Obviously, this was not good for anyone.
In the course of our arguments and debates it is important to remember that we are all massaging our father, Srila Prabhupada. If we keep that in focus, the differences may be there but by respecting one another as loving children of Srila Prabhupada, we can still provide our father with an excellent massage. ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada's body. Srila Prabhupada said that his morning walk and massage kept him in good health. Let's contribute to the health of our beloved Guru Maharaja by giving him a good massage while honoring our Godbrothers and Sisters. Let our motives and actions be focused on:
THE GLORIES OF SRILA PRABHUPADA!
Most every morning Srila Prabhupada would rise at two or three in the morning and do translating work so that his disciples could have his transcendental ecstasies in print for all time to read. Some mornings I was fortunate enough to wake to the sound of his voice in the next room. He may be doing word for word translation, or carefully and slowly speaking the purport into the Dictaphone. Even though I was entrenched in the mode of ignorance, I still felt so fortunate to be able to hear transcendental history being recorded. Now, after 25 years I have finally risen early in the morning to write the only transcendental ecstasy that I have realized by the mercy of the assembled devotees and my Spiritual Master and that is:
ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!
Begging to remain Srila Prabhupada's servant,
Srutakirti dasa