On Remembering Srila Prabhupada
I personally felt the presence of Prabhupada very strongly in the early days of our preaching mission in Bangladesh. There were but few devotees, and we were spread thin. I had to spend weeks and months without strong association. It was underground work. There were many difficulties. I had to call to Srila Prabhupada for help, and that was the only thing that helped me to keep going.
Once I was traveling alone in Bangladesh, undergoing many difficulties, compounded by a lack of association. To return to the capital, Dhaka, there was a whole day journey on bumpy roads in a hot, noisy, crowded bus. I had just got over a severe fever and was still sick and weak. People were talking loudly and smoking, and goats and chickens were also in the bus. Suddenly I thought, "Why am I doing this?" For a short time I was bewildered, until I remembered that I was doing it for Srila Prabhupada. Then all the hardship seemed insignificant. Rather, it seemed a great privilege to have the opportunity to accept some trouble in order to serve Srila Prabhupada.
It was definitely all worth it. Prabhupada went through so many difficulties to save us, so we should be glad to go through some minor difficulties to please him.
- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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