Personal spiritual journey that began in a nominally Methodist upbringing, passed through a brief period in Mormonism, and eventually led to the practice of Krishna consciousness after meeting early Hare Krishna devotees in Ohio in the late 1960s. Inspired by vegetarianism, yoga, and spiritual philosophy, the speaker wrote to Srila Prabhupada and received a defining reply: one need not abandon one’s existing faith but should learn to love God through chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and associating with devotees. Deeply moved, the speaker began chanting before even having an image of Krishna, using a picture of Jesus instead, and soon became a devotee and was initiated by Prabhupada in 1969.
Much of the talk consists of vivid personal memories of Srila Prabhupada that illustrate his saintly character, humility, compassion, discipline, and personal care for his disciples. Stories include public kirtans where devotees responded to violence with saintly gentleness, Prabhupada’s insistence on proper standards in initiation rituals, his joy in simple sincere offerings, and his ability to correct or chastise without lingering anger. He is depicted as deeply attentive to details of devotional life, from clean cooking pots to correct worship procedures, yet also extraordinarily kind and reassuring to insecure or struggling disciples.
Several episodes highlight his spiritual depth and compassion: being moved to tears while reading about the suffering of souls, praying not to fall into illusion, and expressing that a simple offering made with devotion pleases Krishna more than opulent items bought without devotion. The speaker describes feeling personally protected and guided by the holy name, recounting getting lost in the woods and being saved from an attacking dog while chanting.
Prabhupada is shown as adaptable and personal in his guidance, giving different instructions to different devotees when needed, such as permitting the speaker to personally worship Jagannath deities despite general restrictions. He strongly condemned domestic abuse, encouraged kindness in marriage, and emphasized reading his books and maintaining philosophical grounding alongside chanting.
The narrative also covers early missionary hardships in places like New Vrindavan and Japan: poverty, cold, isolation, and austere living conditions, yet also moments of profound encouragement when a single appreciative word from Prabhupada dispelled all difficulties. Encounters with figures like Allen Ginsberg illustrate Prabhupada’s humility and openness even toward those not fully following the practices.
Overall, the testimony portrays Prabhupada’s mission as creating saintly, compassionate representatives of Krishna consciousness who live simply, serve sincerely, reconcile conflicts quickly, and spread the holy name. His defining quality is presented as boundless compassion for all beings and an unwavering desire to bring everyone closer to God through chanting Hare Krishna.
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