Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada had difficulty sleeping this past night, because of the disturbance from different sounds during my shift. I received a report from Jayapataka Swami, and knowing Srila Prabhupada was eager to hear about Mayapur, I read the letter to him. We were asked to leave Bangladesh because of the Mayapur incident.
Prabhavisnu Prabhu, who was in charge of the Dacca preaching, brought the letter. He came to see Srila Prabhupada, who was sitting on his porch upstairs. Guru-krpa Maharaja had just presented a new pair of Polaroid sunglasses to Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada told Prabhavisnu, "I congratulate you. There was a Bengali poet, Zamindar Michael Madhusadhan Dutta. He became a Christian and spent all his money. Indian Christian means extravagant. Indians become Christians to eat meat and drink wine. He married a British woman and settled in England and spent all his money. Then he had to ask money from so many Indians, but no one would give any money. But one from Vidyanagar thought, 'Such a big man and he needs money. I shall give him.' So the poet congratulated the donor, 'No one dared to pay me, except you. You have the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother.'
"You are a Britisher. The British Empire expanded by such courage. America is also an English creation. They were famous for courage, enthusiasm and expansion. So you have to show that Englishman's courage. You have two nice fields-Bangladesh and Nepal. Nepal has the sentiment of Hinduism. We can establish a stronghold there. They want foreign exchange, so I will give you six hundred dollars monthly. I have foreign accounts. Formerly, the British expanded an empire. Now you establish an empire of consciousness. Krsna has given you the ability; do it with the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother. In Bangladesh, take foreign exchange and print books there; never mind the quality.
"We should ventilate to the papers that this Indian investment is my money. I have laboured hard day and night, and the American boys have cooperated. It's not American money. It's my money. They should be proud. 'Our boy has done such good business.' I've done business, earned money, and brought it home to spend. They should not think that the American government and World Bank is supplying. [This was the propaganda of many in the government.] Nobody is supplying. I am earning money through my hard labour. The money belongs to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Ventilate this. And all the Bengali literature already published, get it republished."
Yesterday Sura dasa arrived, and I introduced him to Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada wears his sunglasses more and more, not only outside, but indoors as well, whenever a light is on. Today during darsana of the Deities, he called for the sunglasses. He now wears them even while being carried in his chair to the temple.
In the afternoon, Srila Prabhupada called me in and asked, "What is to be done? Continue this kaviraja or should we change? Perhaps the astrologer has information. Now the kaviraja's medicine is doing nothing."
At this time Abhirama returned from Delhi, where he had gone to obtain further information from the astrologer. The astrologer calculated that according to the stars at his birth, Srila Prabhupada would live for eighty-one years, five months and twenty-nine days. In other words, February 28th 1978, was supposed to be the fatal date. He stressed, however, that this was true only for an ordinary man, that pious and spiritual activities often prolonged life. The next six months would be difficult, especially the first week of September, when Saturn passed over Ketu and agitated it, causing weakness and possibly trouble from juniors. If he survived throughout 1978, then he should not have trouble for four or five years, after which period his health would suffer again. February 28th 1978, was the date of completion of one Ketu-mahadasa. The blue sapphire, along with Ayurvedic treatment, could give relief during this period.
Prabhupada heard Abhirama's report silently but intently, chanting inaudibly on beads. His expression of soberness never changed. After some moments, Srila Prabhupada said, "By calculation, the age is finished. Rather, if I die, it will be glorious."
In the early evening, Prabhupada called me to his bedside; and while still lying down, he spoke, "Throughout the Society, we should be prepared. Take it for granted, the day is given. Now do everything carefully. Everyone knows when there is no appetite, it is warning: life is over."
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-TKG's Diary: Prabhupada's Final Days-August 11th-Tamala Krsna Goswami
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