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On the appearance day of Srila Prabhupada's spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Prabhupada gathered some of his disciples-Aniruddha, Govinda dasi, Gaurasundara, Nandarani, and a boy named Sankarsana-for a special celebration. In the kitchen of his apartment, Prabhupada cooked a feast for his spiritual master. Nandarani brought flowers, and Prabhupada led the devotees in a ceremony of offering flowers and chanting prayers in honor of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

Nandarani: I had my daughter, Candramukhi, with me then. She was about two months old and was sitting very quietly in a little basket in a corner of the room. After the ceremony, Swamiji gathered a handful of flowers, walked over to the basket where Candramukhi was lying, and placed the flowers around her head. He smiled and said, "One day I will take you to India with me."

After the feast the devotees followed Prabhupada into his room. He sat at his desk and read letters aloud to the small gathering of his disciples seated on the floor before him. The letters were of appreciation. And these letters became Srila Prabhupada's offering to his spiritual master. Prabhupada read aloud statements like, "We really like chanting," "We're happy since we met you," "We're trying to teach other people how to chant Hare Krsna"-simple sentiments.

Reading the letters, Prabhupada became very happy. He then put the letters along with the flowers before the picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Then looking at Nandarani, he asked, "Have you become happy since you have been chanting Hare Krsna?"

"Oh, yes," Nandarani replied, "my life is wonderful."

Looking at the others, Prabhupada asked, "And what about you? Do you feel more satisfied since you have been chanting Hare Krsna?" They all answered yes.

"Then I have only one request," Prabhupada continued. "Whatever happiness you have felt, you simply tell someone else about that. That is all you have to do. You don't need to teach anything. You don't need to teach the philosophy. You just explain to people that because you chant Hare Krsna you have become happy, and if they chant, they will become happy. Then I will be satisfied, and my spiritual master will be satisfied."


- From "Prabhupada-lila" by HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami