Blog

Perth was famous for its abundance of very large, fragrant roses. When Srila Prabhupada returned to the house after his walk, Amogha offered him an enormous garland of them that reached down to his knees. Each rose was over 15cm wide, with an exquisite perfume, and Prabhupada appeared very pleased.

"I have never seen such big roses. You have collected, so nice service you have done." Srila Prabhupada asked Amogha if he had stolen the flowers. Amogha explained sheepishly that he had ta

Wednesday, 7 May 1975

A notable feature of Prabhupada's visit to Perth was his animated morning walk conversations. During these lively discourses, Srila Prabhupada demonstrated that philosophical analysis need not be a dull, abstruse affair, but could be a dynamic cutting edge into every sphere of life. Nothing could escape Prabhupada's keen intellect, deep spiritual insight and uncommon wit. Rejecting superficial and dogmatic thinking, he edified, challenged, cajoled, charmed and en

Srutakirti asked Amogha to prepare lunch. He quickly cooked -- eggplant with tomatoes, potatoes and cauliflower, rice, mung bean dal and cut fruit -- while Prabhupada bathed. Prabhupada found it tasty. "Everything is very nice," he said. Along with remnants from Prabhupada's meal, the three young devotees eagerly ate a tiffin-full of mahaprasadam delicacies brought from the Bombay temple. They were touched to hear from Srutakirti that bringing the prasadam was Srila Prabhupa

Tuesday, 6 May 1975 - Perth, Western Australia

Srila Prabhupada arrived at Perth airport at 11.45am from Bombay, accompanied by Srutakirti, his servant, and Paramahamsa Swami, his secretary. Vigilant Western Australian quarantine officers -- amongst the strictest in Australia -- confiscated some choice mangoes the devotees had brought with them from India. Srutakirti asked them why they allowed dried meat but didn't allow mangoes. The men told them that according to Australia'

Although it was legal for devotees to distribute books in many Australian cities and towns, some authorities still objected. A few vehemently opposed. On 23 December 1974, a party of book distributors was arrested in Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory, lying on the shore of the Arafura Sea in the tropical "top-end" of Australia. Their books and money were confiscated, they were jailed and then, finally, unceremoniously thrown out of the city.

Two days later, on C

Madhudvisa Swami enthusiastically pursued all opportunities to purchase the property on Danks Street as the new ISKCON Australian headquarters. But again there were problems. The Catholic Church was expressing the same reservations at selling the property to the devotees as they had with the beachside convent. Not only that, but another private buyer was bidding for the place. To Madhudvisa's great disappointment, despite ISKCON's firm offer, the Church soon sold the pr

Prabhupada's extensive preaching directly after his life-threatening illness demonstrated that he was totally transcendental to the state of his health. He soon took up active correspondence, particularly with Madhudvisa Swami, about the on-going business of whether or not to purchase the massive beachside convent in Melbourne.

Just weeks after Srila Prabhupada had seen the place, towards the middle of August, the church authorities had given Madhudvisa Swami a decisive

After another three weeks of travel in the US, Srila Prabhupada returned to India. But the opening of the Krsna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana, scheduled to take place on Janmastami in mid-August, did not take place. Srila Prabhupada was disappointed to find that the temple construction was just not ready; and so the opening was postponed until the 1975 Gaura Purnima festival.

Srila Prabhupada remained in Vrndavana, but soon fell sick. August and September 1974 became a period of ser

The advancement of modern civilisation is zero, but if you add many thousands of zeros, does the value increase? No, it simply remains zero. But if you add a "one" it will increase the value. That "one" is Krishna consciousness. That will make this material civilisation important -- a hundred, a thousand times more important.

-------

Perth 1975 - Srila Prabhupada

In the month directly following Srila Prabhupada's Ratha-yatra visit -- July 1974 -- sankirtana ent

Prabhupada's disciples certainly could not match or imitate his powerful and uncompromising preaching, but his example of selfless work on behalf of Krsna was an inspirational standard that uplifted and sustained them all. Lord Krsna had predicted in the Bhagavad-gita that out of thousands, only one would seek perfection. In Prabhupada's tireless search for that one person out of thousands, he had shown his enthusiasm and willingness to speak with whomever came to see him

After a two-hour stop over, Prabhupada boarded his Qantas flight to Hawaii. Prabhupada's constant travelling was exactly in the mood of a wandering sannyasi. Travelling, Prabhupada stressed, did not mean aimless wandering or pleasure-seeking. Rather, while travelling, the preacher had to do some substantial work for the Krsna consciousness movement.

Prabhupada's life followed rhythm: touring, preaching and managing, interspersed with periods of writing and translating

Tatah sudamno bhavanam mala-karasya jagmatuh” (SB 10.41.43)

Krishna comes across a shop of a floweriest. The name of the shopkeeper was Sudama, its different, don’t confuse, Krishna was studying with Sudama and there is a Sridhama from Vrindavan. Krishna’s friend from Vrindavan is Sridhama and Sudama is from, you understand now. Sudama had gone with little chipped rice to Dwarka and they were studying together and this is yet another Sudama here. So immediately,

“tau drishtva sa samutthaya nanama

On the flight to Sydney, Prabhupada carefully carried the bouquet that little Janaka had given him. A dozen Sydney devotees greeted Prabhupada and his party in transit with the sweet fragrance of burning incense, an exuberant kirtana, a large, fragrant garland of jonquils and sandalwood paste applied to Prabhupada's forehead with a pink rose.

The devotees escorted Srila Prabhupada to the press lounge, where they had arranged an interview with a reporter from The Sydney Morn

Srila Prabhupada sat softly chanting japa in the lounge at Melbourne airport. His adoring disciples sat around him on the floor. Prabhupada's flight to mainland America via Hawaii was due to depart from Sydney. When it was time to board the connecting flight, Prabhupada took the escalator up to the departure area, followed by the devotees sweetly chanting in kirtana.

Hari-sauri: Just before Prabhupada disappeared behind the dividing panel to board the plane, he stopped, raisin

Srila Prabhupada sat softly chanting japa in the lounge at Melbourne airport. His adoring disciples sat around him on the floor. Prabhupada's flight to mainland America via Hawaii was due to depart from Sydney. When it was time to board the connecting flight, Prabhupada took the escalator up to the departure area, followed by the devotees sweetly chanting in kirtana.

Hari-sauri: Just before Prabhupada disappeared behind the dividing panel to board the plane, he stopped, raisin

Srila Prabhupada sat softly chanting japa in the lounge at Melbourne airport. His adoring disciples sat around him on the floor. Prabhupada's flight to mainland America via Hawaii was due to depart from Sydney. When it was time to board the connecting flight, Prabhupada took the escalator up to the departure area, followed by the devotees sweetly chanting in kirtana.

Hari-sauri: Just before Prabhupada disappeared behind the dividing panel to board the plane, he stopped, raisin