Svavasa das Remembers Srila Prabhupada: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:59, 5 February 2022

Prabhupada Memories

Interview 01

Svavasa: Throughout the morning walk all I could think about was how to maneuver myself to the front to say something because I felt I’d never get the opportunity again. On this walk, a devotee was asking Prabhupada intimate questions about Radha and Krishna’s pastimes. Prabhupada briefly answered his questions and then continued chanting japa. This devotee would persist in asking more questions. Prabhupada didn’t exhibit anger about the questions, but it wasn’t an enlivening and powerful discussion. Srila Prabhupada was not absorbed in it. That morning the walk wasn’t very long. When we turned around to return I became nervous because I had little time left to say something to Srila Prabhupada and I tried to develop enough courage to do it. Finally I thought, “I’ve got to do this. I cannot hesitate.” I zigzagged through the crowd of sannyasis. Doing that excited me, but I was fearful of offending Prabhupada and fearful of saying something insignificant. I yelled out, “Srila Prabhupada!” It was so startling that Prabhupada and all the devotees stopped in the middle of the street. They thought it was some crazy guy. Everyone looked at me. Out of complete anxiety I started saying, “Srila Prabhupada, we want to please you. We’re distributing books at O’Hare Airport,” and I told him the statistics of how many books we distributed and how we were doing it. I said everything I could say and repeatedly said, “We just want to please you, Srila Prabhupada.” Srila Prabhupada looked at me throughout the whole thing, which took a matter of seconds, but it meant minutes to me—my throat became choked up and my mouth became dry. At one point all I could hear was my heart beating fast. And then I was finished. I stood there before Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada could see I was excited and he was merciful, kind, peaceful and calming. He said, “Thank you.” Then what shocked me was that Prabhupada, with his calm demeanor, wonderfully encouraged me by turning to all the devotees and saying, “Just see, this is my real devotee,” referring to the book distributors. At the time I was overwhelmed with emotions, but later I thought about what happened and I felt that this was my life instruction from Srila Prabhupada. I felt that it was something that Srila Prabhupada was telling me and it meant everything. Even now, so many years later, I consider that to be the most important event in my life in Krishna consciousness.

I appreciate Prabhupada’s strength—Prabhupada never gave up fighting for Krishna. One of my fondest thoughts is when Prabhupada was in New York at the time the anti-cult movement was prominent and giving us lots of trouble. Prabhupada said, “I want to fight for Krishna with my last breath.” That statement was very significant and important to me. No matter what the circumstances Prabhupada would never give up. He was a warrior for Krishna. Whatever it took, it didn’t matter. He would do anything for Krishna. He exhibited this strength on the Jaladuta before he came to America and he exhibited it in New York in the early days. Most people would have turned back, given up, but Prabhupada had a vision of so many temples, so many devotees. I personally appreciate Srila Prabhupada for his undaunting devotion and strength to the instruction of his spiritual master and, of course, to Krishna.

To view the entire unedited video go to Memories 41 - Mahamaya dd, Govidna dd, Kulashekhara, Mahavir, Tulsi, Svavasa

The full Prabhupada Memories Series can be viewed here and also at www.prabhupadamemories.com

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+==Prabhupada Memories==
+===Interview 01===
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+'''Svavasa:''' Throughout the morning walk all I could think about was how to  maneuver myself to the front to say something because I felt I’d never get the opportunity  again. On this walk, a devotee was asking Prabhupada intimate  questions about Radha and Krishna’s pastimes. Prabhupada briefly answered his  questions and then continued chanting japa. This devotee would persist in asking  more questions. Prabhupada didn’t exhibit anger about the questions, but it  wasn’t an enlivening and powerful discussion. Srila Prabhupada was not  absorbed in it.  That morning the walk wasn’t very long. When we turned around to return I  became nervous because I had little time left to say something to Srila  Prabhupada and I tried to develop enough courage to do it. Finally I thought,  “I’ve got to do this. I cannot hesitate.” I zigzagged through the crowd of  sannyasis. Doing that excited me, but I was fearful of offending Prabhupada and  fearful of saying something insignificant. I yelled out, “Srila Prabhupada!” It was  so startling that Prabhupada and all the devotees stopped in the middle of the  street. They thought it was some crazy guy. Everyone looked at me. Out of  complete anxiety I started saying, “Srila Prabhupada, we want to please you.  We’re distributing books at O’Hare Airport,” and I told him the statistics of how  many books we distributed and how we were doing it. I said everything I could  say and repeatedly said, “We just want to please you, Srila Prabhupada.” Srila  Prabhupada looked at me throughout the whole thing, which took a matter of  seconds, but it meant minutes to me—my throat became choked up and my  mouth became dry. At one point all I could hear was my heart beating fast. And  then I was finished. I stood there before Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada could see  I was excited and he was merciful, kind, peaceful and calming. He said, “Thank  you.” Then what shocked me was that Prabhupada, with his calm demeanor,  wonderfully encouraged me by turning to all the devotees and saying, “Just see,  this is my real devotee,” referring to the book distributors. At the time I was  overwhelmed with emotions, but later I thought about what happened and I felt  that this was my life instruction from Srila Prabhupada. I felt that it was  something that Srila Prabhupada was telling me and it meant everything. Even  now, so many years later, I consider that to be the most important event in my  life in Krishna consciousness.
+I appreciate Prabhupada’s strength—Prabhupada never gave up  fighting for Krishna. One of my fondest thoughts is when Prabhupada was in New  York at the time the anti-cult movement was prominent and giving us lots of  trouble. Prabhupada said, “I want to fight for Krishna with my last breath.” That  statement was very significant and important to me. No matter what the  circumstances Prabhupada would never give up. He was a warrior for Krishna.  Whatever it took, it didn’t matter. He would do anything for Krishna. He  exhibited this strength on the Jaladuta before he came to America and he  exhibited it in New York in the early days. Most people would have turned back,  given up, but Prabhupada had a vision of so many temples, so many devotees. I  personally appreciate Srila Prabhupada for his undaunting devotion and strength  to the instruction of his spiritual master and, of course, to Krishna.
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