Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Today, Surendra Kumar and his wife visited Srila Prabhupada. Also Rasa-lila devi and family arrived from Nairobi to stay in Vrndavana until Janmastami.
In a letter, Hari-sauri complained that Tusta Krsna and his group were publicly decrying our book distribution. Srila Prabhupada, being sorry to hear this, retorted, "Why are you doing this! They are selling books on my order. Why you are criticizing? That means you are criticizing me. If you don't like the way they are doing it, you do better. Show by example. Whatever is in their power, they are doing. Every salesman has his own tactics, and the results are judged by how much one sells. The end justifies the means."
A report came from Abhirama in the evening that the passport had been secured and the American consulate in Calcutta would help in getting the green card. I ran upstairs and told Srila Prabhupada there was very good news. When His Divine Grace heard this, he was lying in bed. As he listened, he began to clap his hands, saying, "Give me good news and keep me alive! I think if I go to London, I will be half cured. Radha-Londonisvara-so much smiling face; an innocent boy. I adopted America as my fatherland, so I have thousands of fathers like you. Who can take more care than an affectionate father and mother? You were born and I was born-nobody knew. But by spiritual affection, we were tied up. And you are praying for me to live, and I am praying to give to you. Radha-Londonisvara-They were in a hopeless condition. Krsna said, 'Here I am; take Me.' That lawn before my room is very magnificent. If I walk with two helpers, I think it will be very helpful. I think good time is coming. Madhudvisa has come, Gaurasundara has come. Lost child has come home. There are good signs. Mistakes there may be, but we should not give up the job. At the same time, we should be very careful not to commit mistakes. Krsna never forgets a person who gives a little service. Even if there is some mistake, He is so kind, He'll never forget."
"Srila Prabhupada," I said, "you are also like that; you never forget us."
Srila Prabhupada said: "How can I forget you? You have all helped me to execute the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and my Guru Maharaja. I always pray to Krsna to give you. I am insignificant. I cannot give you. But I pray to Krsna to give you. That I do everywhere. Try to do everything nicely and Krsna will help you. Whatever my Guru Maharaja said, I tried to the best of my power. And you have given all help. Especially in Los Angeles and New York; I feel it is my home. I do not know why.
"Because in New York, I was wandering like a street boy. When I first saw snow, I thought, 'Who has whitewashed?' I was so inexperienced. I went down to purchase some milk. It was so nice. And in the evening, I went with an umbrella to a friend's house. And I was living in a dungeon. Dr. Misra gave me some shelter. Whatever difficulty was there, I didn't care. I was simply interested to preach. No one was inimical; everyone was friendly to me. Even on Bowery Street. One friend said to me, 'O Swami, you have gone to Bowery Street? It is horrible place.' I passed through many dangers; but I wouldn't understand, 'This is a danger.' Everywhere, I thought, 'This is my home.'
"I was working very hard. Lecturing 7:00 in the morning and 7:00 in the evening. Cooking and distributing prasadam to anyone who was coming. You remember, Satsvarupa? You would bring some mango and fruit. Daily, you would come. Those days passed. Now I feel happiness remembering those days. You remember Stryadisa? He would eat twenty chapatis. He would never have enough. Every time he wanted more, I would give him four chapatis at a time. Kirtanananda, Satsvarupa, Acyutananda. Seventy-five people at least would come for Sunday feast. Very nice!
"In San Francisco, that was also a dangerous place-Ashbury St. Murari was plundered by men in the same house. And I pushed Gaurasundara to go to Hawaii.
"This is a new life. There is no doubt about it." In this way, Srila Prabhupada remembered how he began ISKCON. And he thought with anticipation of his forthcoming tour.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-TKG's Diary: Prabhupada's Final Days-August 21st-Tamala Krsna Goswami
Comments