Niranjan das Remembers Srila Prabhupada
Prabhupada Memories
Interview 01
Niranjana: In Benares there were three important questions. First, I asked Srila Prabhupada about guru-daksina. He said, “It is just a formality. It shows that you have become the servant of your guru. You just go one door to two doors and beg with your relatives, whatever you can get.” Second question was, “How can I wear tilak? I am a student and my colleagues and teachers will laugh at me.” Prabhupada said, “You are a soldier of Krishna. A soldier fights gallantly, bravely in the battlefield, and then the government gives him a gallantry award. In India we have Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra medals. On behalf of Krishna, if you face criticism and laughing from your friends, Krishna will be more pleased, so don’t worry.” The third question was, “How can I shave off my hair?” Prabhupada replied, “It is a Vedic custom to make brahman first and then give initiation. You can shave once and then you can keep short hair.” I said, “Okay, I’m taking initiation.” Prabhupada said, “Okay, go take bath, shave off your hair, and bring your new dhoti.” At noon he gave me initiation without any fire sacrifice, as there was only one person in the temple. Then he asked me, “Do you have any questions?” I asked Srila Prabhupada, “What should our relationship be with Krishna? Is it neutral, servitude, friendship, conjugal?” He said, “Common platform is neutrality when you begin your chanting or service, and from that level you go on to make advancement.” But, he said, “Don’t jump. Just chant Hare Krishna and all your doubts will be cleared up.”
I stopped reading. Prabhupada said, “No, tell me the translation and the word meaning.” I did and then I stopped again. He said, “You’re not going to stop unless I tell you to stop.” [laughs] I continued reading for about twenty minutes from the purport that mentioned how the guru is the via media. That was the main position. Srila Prabhupada quoted in English as well; just like glass, the glass doesn’t see. Through the glass we are seeing, so in the same way, through the spiritual master we are serving Krishna.
It is a Bengali poem meaning that the only perfection of life is to serve the guru. And Prabhupada had that confidence even though he hadn’t reached the States.
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To view the entire unedited video go to Memories 63 - Atitaguna dasi, Krsnarupa dasi, Mishra Bhagavan, Niranjan, Pancharatn
The full Prabhupada Memories Series can be viewed here and also at www.prabhupadamemories.com