Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Preaching spirit - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

Preaching spirit

Before leaving for the temple that afternoon, Srila Prabhupada had been sitting in his room talking with his senior disciples. Scholarly, bespectacled Pradyumna had come to Prabhupada with various technical questions on Sanskrit vocabulary. Prabhupada, as he often did, had turned the conversation into a full-blown philosophical discussion. The devotees present had relished the opportunity of witnessing Prabhupada's exhilarating presentation of Krsna consciousness, and were especially pleased when Prabhupada again invited them all up to his room after his Sunday feast lecture.

Pradyumna, Syamasundara, Mohanananda, Nanda Kumara and a few others now sat expectantly before Srila Prabhupada. He appeared to have an endless store of energy and enthusiasm to preach. The devotees reciprocated by eagerly hearing from him, hardly noticing as the pinkish dusk sky darkened to blue then black. By 11pm, despite their best intentions to stay awake, the assembled devotees could not hide their fatigue. As heads nodded, Srila Prabhupada paused. "Alright," he announced and the devotees rose to take rest.

Still marvelling at Prabhupada's unquenchable preaching spirit, a few of the devotees left the house to return to the temple. Syamasundara and Nanda Kumara, still a little "jetlagged" prepared to take rest in the servants' quarters. Syamasundara had barely drifted off to sleep when he awoke with a start. Prabhupada was ringing his little brass bell and calling his name. Syamasundara arose and entered Prabhupada's room.

"Yes, Srila Prabhupada?" he asked.

Srila Prabhupada was grave. "Sit down," he announced; but it was soon obvious to Syamasundara that Srila Prabhupada wanted nothing at all, other than the opportunity to glorify Krsna. Syamasundara listened attentively.

- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu

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