Posted by Eternal Muser on October 2, 2009 at 7:37pm
The day was last Sunday, the time, around 1.30 pm and the venue, Sri RadhaGopinath Temple, Chowpatty, Mumbai.About 500 plus Devotees sat gazing at His Holinesss Radhanath Maharaj as he described the virtues of an unassuming man sitting next to him. The Gentleman humbly acknowledged the same.We learnt that Mr Burwash Prabhu was a successful professional Tennis Player in his younger days before he became one of the most sought-after Business Management Experts in the field.But he is considered even more successful and fortunate by the Devotee community, because he has had some of the longest one-on-one conversations with Srila Prabhupada himself. Wherein, he was able to learn from Srila Prabhupada himself, the art of business management, the Krishna Conscious way!And he was here to share some of his realizations and experiences.I considered myself rather lucky to be present at the gathering.I cannot recall or report everything that Mr Burwash Prabhu said that day, but some of the words he said will remain with me for a long time to come.He spoke about the period towards the end of his career. Mr Burwash Prabhu was about to deliver the match-deciding service in an important tennis match. He was all set to take up the appropriate foot-position that was crucial to the success of the service. And at that very moment, he noticed that at the exact spot where he was to stand, there was a line of ants crawling on the ground. Any tennis player would have taken up the position without a second thought and delivered the service, squashing the ants in the process.But this was no ordinary tennis player. For this tennis player was one upon whom Srila Prabhupada had created a deep impression. And in that impression, personally sown the seeds of Krishna-Consciousness and its Principles. Mr Burwash Prabhu remembered those principles at that time, the fact that there is a jivatma in every living being and that going ahead with the service would necessitate killing those living beings, the ants. Which ran contrary to his Principle of Non-violence. He also remembered Srila Prabhupada’s advice never to compromise on his Principles.The result?In order to save the ants, Mr Burwash Prabhu did not take up the position as required for the service, could not perform the service properly, lost the point and the match, which ultimately ended his tennis career!I know this sounds far-fetched, but I don’t think even the Icon of Non-violence in the last century, Mahatma Gandhi, would have considered doing such a thing!Mr Burwash Prabhu went on to elaborate how Srila Prabhupada, apart of being a superlative Spiritual Guru, was also a Guru in planning and management! And how on the strength of Faith in Krishna and his Principles, the latter was able to achieve his goal in life. Referring to the achievements of Srila Prabhupada, Mr Burwash Prabhu revealed the two pillars of his success viz. Enthusiasm and Humility.One could develop boundless enthusiasm to work, by working for Krishna, through Bhakti. Mr Burwash Prabhu remembered the time when Srila Prabhupada exhorted him to ‘go and play tennis for Krishna!’ Which he did, and very successfully indeed!Humility was the other key asset, Mr Burwash Prabhu explained, to success in life. Humility attracts people like a magnet, he said and upon reflecting on that for a moment, I realized that this is so true! There are too many people I know who have achieved only a fraction of what Srila Prabhupada and other great people have, but brag about it till your ears start ringing and you feel an aching desire to suddenly leave that person’s company! :DConversely, a person who achieves a lot, but is genuinely humble about it gains the respect, admiration and cooperation of everyone…As a side note, he gave a very useful and practical advice to everyone, to take notes at every Lecture that one hears. He said that if he had not done so himself, he would have forgotten everything that Srila Prabhupada had told him!The next few minutes were spent by him in recalling a both harrowing and spiritually enlightening experience, when he had a very close call with death. Mr Burwash Prabhu had come to Mumbai for a very risky open heart surgery. He described the anxious period before the day of the actual surgery; his emotions, his thoughts and feelings, the knowledge that he may go into the Operation Theatre and may not come out alive at all.The realizations that came to him as he was being prepared for surgery, when the hospital staff removed and took away everything that he possessed, even his wedding ring and tulsi beads. The fact that ultimately one has to face death all by oneself and leave every single thing behind…with only Krishna as one’s companion.He described how his fear gave way to a sense of peacefulness and confidence as he prayed to Krishna, and by the time he was to be administered anaesthesia, he was able to calmly tell the Devotee doctors in the operation theatre that if the time ever arrived during the operation, when they felt that he was to leave his body, they should chant Hare Krishna in his ears!Needless to say, this intensely emotional account brought tears to everyone’s eyes.With folded hands, Mr Burwash Prabhu then very humbly acknowledged the efforts of Jugal Kishore Prabhu, Deepak Prabhu and other Devotees who helped him through his difficult times.He emphasized the value of expressing our appreciation for anything that is done by someone. He mentioned that anyone does anything because of three motivating factors: Appreciation, Recognition and Creative Freedom. He said that if one sits down and really thinks about it, it is possible to write a thank-you note to at least one person, every day, for something that person has done for us.So in keeping with the suggestions by Mr Burwash Prabhu, I wish to express my appreciation to all the Devotees who have created this website and more so, allowed a worthless sinner like myself to become a Member and express his worthless thoughts. And to all those Devotees, who out of their causeless kindness and large-heartedness, shown their encouragement and appreciation for my writings. I also wish to thank from the bottom of my heart, all the Devotees who have granted me their Mercy and Association and on whose recommendation and prayers to Lord Krishna, I may still have a chance (albeit after countless more lives!) to become the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of Lord Krishna…HaribolYour eternal servant,eternal muser
Wonderful write-up Prabhu !
Burwash Prabhu might've lost that match but he walked away with the ultimate trophy that counts..."Love of Krsna"
Thanks for sharing and a big Haribol !
Comments
Thank you so much prabhuji .. for writing and hence sharing this article.. It was really inspiring and a lot for me to learn.
Burwash Prabhu might've lost that match but he walked away with the ultimate trophy that counts..."Love of Krsna"
Thanks for sharing and a big Haribol !