Blog

San Francisco

March 8, 1968

Srila Prabhupada flew from Los Angeles to San Francisco. After the slower pace of the Los Angeles center, the activities in San Francisco encouraged Prabhupada.

I think San Francisco center has been very much sanctified by unalloyed devotional service of the members here. As soon as there are sincere devotees, immediately the situation changes favorably.

The morning and evening meetings drew crowds of interested young people, and Srila Prabhupada observed: "Dancing in ecstasy is often exhibited to the transcendental pleasure of everyone present."

Prabhupada was witnessing the success of the sankirtana movement. He had planted the seed, and now the plant of krsna-bhakti was flowering. To revisit a center and see that his disciples, by sincerely following his orders, were advancing in Krsna consciousness increased Prabhupada's bliss and satisfaction. He was witnessing the power of kirtana to transform the fallen souls. And to see his smile of approval increased the ecstasy of the devotees.

Guru dasa showed Prabhupada slides of the Krsna Deity Prabhupada had named Kartamisana. One picture showed Kartamisana shortly after the devotees had obtained Him from an import store and placed Him in the temple. Other slides showed Kartamisana after the devotees had been regularly worshiping Him and offering Him food. As Prabhupada viewed the slides, he began to chuckle. "I think the Deity has changed."

Guru dasa reviewed the slides. Sure enough, Kartamisana had become bluer and plumper. "Has He been painted or anything?" Umapati asked. Guru dasa said they hadn't done anything to Him.

"You have been taking care of Him," Prabhupada affirmed.

Bhakti-yoga was a scientific law; as one approached Krsna, He reciprocated. Wherever Prabhupada's disciples were following the process carefully, he saw the improvement. Krsna consciousness, he said, was a treatment of the diseased soul by medicine and diet. The medicine was chanting Hare Krsna, and the diet was prasadam. If one followed this program, he would be rejuvenated; if one neglected it, he would relapse. Srila Prabhupada found both health and illness.

Upendra, Prabhupada's personal servant in San Francisco, came before Prabhupada crying. He said he couldn't overcome his sex urge. He had engaged in illicit sex. When he asked if Krsna forgives offenses, Prabhupada consoled him: "Yes, Krsna forgives." Upendra asked if he could overcome his lust by getting married. "No, you are too young," Prabhupada said. "You should stay away from rich food. Eat starvishly." He told Upendra to take unspiced dal and capatis without butter.

After a few weeks in San Francisco, Srila Prabhupada flew to New York, where the devotees greeted him with a grand airport reception. A city newspaper ran an article "Guru Returns." The New York center at 26 Second Avenue had improved, and there were new faces and enthusiastic kirtanas.

Here are many new flowerlike young boys and girls, and they are all so much interested in Krishna consciousness very seriously. I am surprised at their great enthusiasm, and I am very happy amongst them.

Prabhupada stayed in his old rooms at 26 Second Avenue. Although there had been talk of getting him another residence, everything had been too expensive. Prabhupada had assured Brahmananda, "I would like to stay in my apartment. If it is silent and solitary I feel pleasure to live there, better than elsewhere." Although Srila Prabhupada's plans were to stay in New York less than two weeks, he talked of staying longer-if his disciples could arrange for him to work steadily at his translating and would help him publish his books one after another. Prabhupada had written Brahmananda,

I want to sit down tightly with some assistants and spend the rest of my time translating Srimad-Bhagavatam and other books. And train students to do preaching on the outside. So, from now on, I would like to speak only at very important engagements, and for most engagements, have my students preach. All of you must learn to preach; and for me, my most important preaching work is to finish up the Srimad-Bhagavatam. So please try to make arrangement like this, as it is very important that my books be finished, as soon as possible.


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