Prabhupada Stories -Govinda

Dasi

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1. Preachers everywhere 2. Sufferers 3. Slug love 4. You drive too? 5. Brown rice is for animals 6. Wild kirtans 7. Cow-hooves clapping 8. Roses everywhere 9. Baked potato 10. Soap suds and duds 11. Brahmacari Lessons 12. Serving servants 13. Draft board 14. The day you left 15. Neem Toothbrush 16. Vyasa Puja - Western Style 17. Good 18. Hawaii 1969 19. Bed Bugs bite 20. I know your mind 21. Goloka and Montreal 22. December 14th, 1967 23. Govinda dasi - you have taken your sari? 24. Montreal 1968, Summer Time 25. Cathedral Visits 26. The church wax museum 27. Sex is sex 28. Just going to the bank

29. Medicine

Thank you Govinda Dasi for the beautiful and inspiring stories

Story # 1 - Preachers everywhere

In spring of 1967, Srila Prabhupada became very ill and appeared to have a stroke. He was taken to the hospital and remained there for some days. He considered the hospital an unhealthy place and expressed his wishes to go to the seashore. Often he described that his guru maharaja lived by the seashore on Puri when he was in ill health and he considered the seashore a healthy place to recover. Srila Prabhupada would say: The ocean air is full with vitamins. It is rich in iron, it is very nutritious. So a place in Long Branch, New Jersey, was rented for his recovery spot. It was a two bed room cottage apartment upstairs, just by the seashore and Gaurasundara and I were sent there to clean and prepare the apartment for his arrival. When Srila Prabhupada arrived, though to climb up the stairs was difficult for him, he seemed to quickly gain strength from the healthy atmosphere. During the weeks we lived with him at New Jersey seashore, his strength seemed to increase daily and our spiritual joy increased as well. Being in his company was a daily wonder as there were always new things to learn and to remember. Here are some of the things I remember and always try to recall of our days at the New Jersey seashore: I try to remember them in my daily life. Maybe they can

help others to remember Srila Prabhupada as well and if so that is the greatest blessing. Preachers everywhere Each day, Gaurasundara and I and Kirtanananda would go out to the beach, spread blankets on the sand and sit with Srila Prabhupada. It was a very blissful experience to simply sit and chant japa with him by the seashore. He was weak, so he talked less but as he grew stronger he seemed to enjoy teaching us different things about the world we live in. One day he was looking at the vast expanse of Sandy Beach and noting that there were tiny insects - crabs, ants, and bugs crawling here and there. Srila Prabhupada would say: Just see, they say there is no life on other planets but we can see there is life everywhere, even on this barren sand. There are small creatures here and there. How can there be any part of Gods creation without life? There is life everywhere. The form may be different but there is life. When I see small crabs or ants on the beach or in the dessert, I think of Srila Prabhupada sitting calmly chanting Hare Krsna and viewing the New Jersey beach with understanding and detachment, explaining to us how life is everywhere and am reminded of how kind you are, Srila Prabhupada to come into this dessert-like material world in order to teach us bug-like living entities who are foolish enough to believe that our tiny world is the only world. Thank you beloved master for your grace.

Story # 2 - Sufferers
Sometimes when sitting on the beach blanket in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada would look out at the waves while chanting japa. He was very beautiful and serene, always absorbed in Krsna, yet also carefully scrutinizing the world around him. On some days there were big waves and surfer boys would be out, swimming and surfing in the waves. Srila Prabhupada watched with great interest as they mounted their boards and slid down the faces of the waves. He asked us: What is this? And Gaurasundara and I replied that this is a sport called surfing wherein one mounts a board and slides swiftly on the water as the waves roll in. Srila Prabhupada watched intently for some time, then began to chuckle. He said: You call it surfing, I call it suffering. They are simply wasting their valuable human form of life by jumping in the ocean waves. They have no idea what will happen next. If they become so much fond of remaining on the ocean, then Krsna is very kind: he will satisfy their desire and give them bodies of fishes so that they can enjoy jumping in the ocean more and more but that will be greater suffering. So I call them sufferers, not surfers. He mused as he continued his eternal chanting of Hare Krsna, softly and serenely with the crashing ocean waves in the background. Even now

when I see surfers mound their boards on the waves of Sunset beach, North Shore, near where I live, I am always reminded of Srila Prabhupadas observation and the nick name Srila Prabhupada gave surfing and I am reminded of his kindness in walking amongst us foolish living entities, wasting our lives this way and that and his compassion for us who live in various states of delusion. Srila Prabhupada you are so kind, you observed us in surfer consciousness, dog consciousness, money consciousness, so many various forms of consciousness, and you so mercifully taught us about Krsna consciousness, and you gave us the opportunity to serve you and Krsna. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada!

Story # 3 - Slug love

In the late afternoon in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada would often sit downstairs in the garden beside our bungalow. New Jersey is known as the garden state, and the town of Long Branch was certainly testimony to that. There were gardens everywhere, roses were blooming and their fragrance filled the air. On one particular afternoon, Srila Prabhupada was comfortably seated in a chair, and I was sitting on the ground beside him. He was softly chanting japa, enjoying the fresh ocean air, mixed with the fragrance of roses and other flowers. Occasionally he would say something but mostly he would chant softly. Suddenly beside my sitting place I saw a large brown slug in all its slimy ugliness. Somewhat repulsed I leaned away from the creature. Srila Prabhupada looked at me quizzically and I said: "Ugh, look at this", pointing to the slimy,

sliding creature. Srila Prabhupada leaned forward and looked at the slug, his face grew full of love and compassion, and he said to me: "Chant to the poor creature", and so I sat there, chanting Hare Krsna to the slimy, yet benedicted slug for some time until he slithered away. He had incredible compassion even for the most abominable creature. Srila Prabhupada, I can never forget the sound of your voice when you gave me that instruction. In it, your whole mission was encapsulated. "Chant to the poor creature".Your face looked pained, full of compassion for the poor jiva in that slimy body. You did not see the ugly slug that I saw. You saw the soul covered in suffering, forgetful of Krsna. From that moment my heart opened for all creatures and I glimpsed the depth of your divine compassion. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for sharing that compassion with me.

Story # 4 - You drive too?

Gaurasundara and I were working on Back to Godhead drawings and paintings while staying with Srila Prabhupada at the New Jersey seashore. Srila Prabhupada would look at our work and guide us as we painted. We were painting a picture of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda and he would approvingly look at our artwork daily. Then in the afternoon, we would sit in the garden. On one occasion, Gaurasundara and I were sitting in the garden

with Srila Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krsna. It was late afternoon. Srila Prabhupada was more talkative on this day and was asking us all sorts of questions about our life in America. He asked what things we learned in school such as art, science, math, etc. "Do you know swimming", he asked Gaurasundara. "Yes", Gaurasundara replied. Then he asked me: "Did you also learn swimming?" "Yes, I also was taught swimming", I replied. Then he asked Gaurasundara: "Did you learn driving?" "Yes, I know how to drive". Then he asked me: "Did you also study driving?" "Yes, I replied, I also learned driving". He raised his eyebrows and said: "Oh, you also learned driving? He was surprised yet observant that in America both young boys and girls are educated in the same ways. They are taught many of the same skills which was not done in India at that time. It seemed that Srila Prabhupada was inquiring about our American backgrounds for his mission in America in order to know the very skills of each person so as to engage them in Krsna consciousness. His view was always just that: how to engage the living entity in Krsna consciousness with whatever skills he had already acquired thus far. He used to say: "We may die at any moment, there is no time to waste. We must simply engage whatever abilities or talents we have in Krsna's service. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for coming to America and for engaging me in your service. 7 Thank you for engaging my artistic abilities, my cooking abilities, and

whatever else in the service of your beloved Sri Krsna.

Story # 5 - Brown rice is for animals

In our small New Jersey bungalow Srila Prabhupada would eat his meals while on the sofa in the living room in front of a small coffee table. Beside him to the right was his tape player, and in front was the long coffee table where we placed his plate. We devotees sat on the floor in front of him. Generally, there was only Gaurasundara and myself and Kirtanananda but occasionally other devotees would visit from New York. Kirtanananda made delicious noon meals of dhal, rice, chapatis, and often made raisin chutney as well. The raisin chutney was his specialty. Srila Prabhupada would eat prasadam and watch us also eating and seemed to delight in watching us take prasadam. Sometimes there was dinner table talk, and on one occasion we were discussing the rice. Kirtanananda was always taunting me and so he was saying: "White rice is best and brown rice is for the animals". I looked at the mushy white rice on my plate. Basmati had not yet been introduced, so I looked down at the mushy white rice on my plate and said to him: "I must be an animal because I like brown rice better". Srila Prabhupada begin to laugh and laugh and laugh. He enjoyed the joke and found my honesty refreshingly funny. He slapped his

knee and laughed whole-heartedly. His light-heartedness was very inspiring. He found ways to encourage us in all circumstance. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for allowing me to serve you even if it was by offering you some silly things to laugh about. Whatever service you give me is a cherished prize and I am eternally grateful.

Story # 6 - Wild kirtans

One day while living with Srila Prabhupada at the New Jersey seashore, a tape arrived from the San Francisco temple; some devotees from New York brought it and Srila Prabhupada sat listening to the taped 'San Francisco kirtan'. Now, a bit of background: Gaurasundara and I had met Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco when he first arrived and had been initiated at the San Francisco temple, the Haight Ashbury Frederick Street storefront, and then had followed him to New York when he returned in March of 1967. The San Francisco Haight Ashbury district was quite wild, there was a hippie environment; Gaurasundara and I were students just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada, were both in our senior year in the University of Texas; we found the more studious and sedate New York temple more to our liking. In New York, devotees were reading Srila Prabhupada's books, chanting regularly, and following pretty strictly. In San Francisco, things were generally wilder, with lots of flamboyant kirtans and hardly anyone reading or following strictly. Because of this vast difference between New York mood and San Francisco

mood, the natural tendency was for the New York devotees to look down upon the San Francisco temple, and to criticize and roll their eyes when talking about the San Francisco devotees. Yes, the politics had already begun. New York temple really did not take the San Francisco devotees seriously, and San Francisco did indeed have a mood of its own. Knowing all this, I was eager to see Srila Prabhupada's reaction to the San Francisco kirtan tape. As the old reel-to-reel tape player began blurring the new Hare Krsna chant, Srila Prabhupada began to wag his head in time to the music: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare. It was a new singsong chant, nothing at all like the morning and evening ragas that Srila Prabhupada had introduced. This was an American version for sure: horns blared, drums boomed, and cymbals clanged; it was a festive party sound. Some of the New York devotees were aghast; after hearing the tape through, Srila Prabhupada smiled broadly and expressed his appreciation: "Oh, they have done nicely. Very nice. They are chanting so enthusiastically". One of the tape bearers protested the modern unauthentic sound. Srila Prabhupada drowned him out. It was, in his opinion, wonderful. He sent a message to San Francisco to let them know he loved their kirtan tape and to go on chanting. Srila Prabhupada then said: "They are chanting Hare Krsna, that is the main thing. It may be this tune or that tune, doesn't matter - this way or that, but they are sincerely chanting. That is what

Krsna wants". Please Srila Prabhupada, let me see your mercy and your incredible potency. By your divine presence you purified and inspired Westerners who were neither sattvic nor studious, neither austere nor conformists and made them into wonderful devotees of the Lord. You saw our hearts. If someone chanted with sincerity you didn't care for the outward trappings, you clearly saw the inner heart and you continue to see our hearts and lift us from wherever we are and whatever modes of nature we are enmeshed. No one has done this, Srila Prabhupada, only you. Thank you Srila Prabhupada for caring so much, foreseeing the glimmer of love sprouting in our dark hearts and fanning it with your mercy and grace. Even now, when I hear kirtans of various chants I am reminded of this incident and remember that different jivas like different types of music but the main thing is their chanting Hare Krsna, and although I may prefer Indian ragas, someone else may prefer Western chants, the important thing is "they are chanting Hare Krsna, that is the main thing". Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 7 - Cow-hooves clapping

While living together with Srila Prabhupada in New Jersey, we would have kirtan, just the four of us or if guests came from New York we would also have

kirtans and Srila Prabhupada would talk. He was recovering from the stroke, so he would not give regular lectures as before when we were in New York temple but he was always eager to talk about Krsna to whoever would listen. So while sitting on the sofa one day, Srila Prabhupada began talking about kirtan, and he began to demonstrate the different ways to play kartals. He taught us the basic ching-ching-chang and other beads as well; we sang "Govinda jaya jaya" and Srila Prabhupada began to play the kartals exactly like the sound of cow-hooves running. I was amazed. Then he showed me how to do it - slowly and carefully so that it is in perfect timing with the regular kirtan; yet it sounds exactly like cow-hooves running across the fields. Other times he would sit and talk about Krsna, His pastimes in the forest of Vrindavan and his mother and father and friends. Srila Prabhupada would close his eyes and say: "Oh, the cowboys are going to their homes in the evening and tell their mother: "Oh mother, today Krsna has killed one very big demon". Srila Prabhupada's eyes would grow big as he said this. "He has saved us from danger", and then he would smile, "and their mothers are happy and they simply talk of 'Krsna is so wonderful'. Not that He is God or anything and He is their friend, and Krsna is so wonderful". When Srila Prabhupada would talk in this way his eyes would close in a trance-like mood and the atmosphere in the room would become surcharged with spiritual energy. I would forget everything else, and when he

stopped talking I would be so happy and all other thoughts and concerns were completely erased by the absorption in the spiritual bliss. It was like a quick trip to the spiritual world and I loved it. Thus I loved to hear him speak about anything but especially about Goloka. It became the most important thing in my life. Srila Prabhupada, even today when I see pictures of Krsna, I can hear your words resounding in my memory. "Oh Krsna is so wonderful, just see how wonderful is our friend Krsna". How fortunate we are to have the blessing of your love for Krsna because you have planted the seed of love in our hearts. Lord Caitanya has stated that the most important thing, the most fortunate thing for any living entity is even one moment association with Krsna's pure devotee for in that one moment, Srila Prabhupada, you can impart to us more than we can ever hope for. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for coming to our rescue; thank you for slaying the demon of ignorance. You, Srila Prabhupada, are our dear most friend and we can chant again and again: "Srila Prabhupada, you are so wonderful, thank you".

Story # 8 - Roses everywhere

In New Jersey there were many gardens and by taking short japa walks I discovered that everyone had rose gardens. Never had I seen so many roses. Often there were small statues of Virgin Mary or various saints in the

neighboring yards, surrounded by colorful fragrant, rubyreds, sparkle-pinks and bright yellows. I began to ask the various gardeners if I could pick a few roses and found they were very friendly. They let me pick as many as I liked. So I began to make a regular route of gardens on my daily japa walk, always asking politely, and never being refused. The people seemed happy that I was appreciating their gardens, and if they asked I would tell them the roses were for my dear grandfather who was ill and recovering nearby at a house at the seashore. Daily, I would bring two or three grocery bags full of roses, and finding vases and bottles here and there I began decorating Srila Prabhupada's room with bouquets of roses. Deity worship had not yet begun but I was happy to serve Srila Prabhupada as my Deity. He loved roses, and I loved to bring them to him. Usually, I made six or seven vases full in his room and a couple more in the living room. Later, he would compare the scents of various roses. "I think yellow is the most fragrant", he sometimes said. He said that roses were medicinal and put them on his head and face, inhaling their fragrance deeply. His room smelled always like sandalwood and roses, and my daily chore of gathering roses was my greatest delight. I would chant and sing Hare Krsna as I was walking so all the bugs and slugs could hear, and I would have the joy of carrying bags of flowers to my dear grandfather. Once while returning with my booty, Srila Prabhupada heard me singing Hare Krsna as I approached our

bungalow. He smilingly turned to Gaurasundara, nodding his approval and said: "Govinda dasi is very simple hearted". Gaurasundara told me this later. At the time, I never really understood what simple hearted meant. Now I can understand more what is meant to be simple-hearted. Krsna wants this simplicity and the youth are often more simple-hearted than adults. I believe it is possible to retain this freshness of spirit, this simple-heartedness even in the midst of difficulties and complexities of life. When things get complicated I try to remember that incident. I try to return to that fresh, young mood of simply wanting to shower my spiritual father with flowers and that lifts me above the maze of illusory complexity. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving me the opportunity for serving you in this way. I am eternally grateful and I long to bring you baskets full of roses in Goloka.

Story # 9 - Baked potato

At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for "Back to Godhead". I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji's clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had

been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all. So it was a big shock one day when Kirtanananda had gone away to do some errands, Srila Prabhupada came into the kitchen and asked me if I could make him a baked potato. I was stunned. I had no idea how to make a baked potato. I politely explained to him that I had no training and no idea how to cook even a baked potato. He was surprised but he very kindly said: "That's all right, never mind. I shall wait till Kirtanananda returns". I still remember the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I had failed to keep him comfortable by giving him the food that he requested. At that moment I resolved within my mind to learn cooking. During out three weeks resident at New Jersey, Kirtanananda did all the cooking and then when Srila Prabhupada went to India for six months I hung around kitchens and watched and took notes on every form of cooking. I watched Acyutananda, Mahapurusa, Upendra, and whoever was cooking, so that six months later I was able to serve Srila Prabhupada dhal, rice, chapatis and subji according to his wishes. Then he used to exclaim that "Oh, the Goddess of Fortune has taught Govinda dasi how to cook", when I would bring him his meals and indeed I believe it was true. My prayers to be able to cook for him were fulfilled. When I remember this it is with some pain, yet it also shows that Krsna can teach us everything when we sincerely desire.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for guiding me in your service and allowing me to make up for that baked potato. Even now, I mentally always offer kachories and laddhu, your favorite dishes, and hope you will come and enjoy them in the temple of my mind. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 10 - Soap suds and duds

Once in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada called me into his room and asked me very nicely whether I was washing clothes in hot, soapy water. He said that normally so much soap is not needed, but because he was getting oil massages it was necessary to wash them with soap and hot water to cleanse them properly. He was very gentle and kind and loving, not harsh or reprimanding at all. He also then asked me about my clothing, whether or not I had other clothes. Since as an artist I still wear jeans. Saris had not been introduced as of yet. He commented, "I do not like these Western pants wearing with all parts exposed. Better for ladies to wear long dresses or saris as they do in India". I nodded and decided to find out about saris, since all I owned was jeans, and of course later

we began always wearing saris and long dresses rather than pants. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for caring so much about us that you taught us how to dress, how to eat, even how to brush our teeth. You are the perfect father, so that even now when I can remember you in all my daily activities; and another time you commented on my short hair, recently clipped just over my ears and said: "I do not like this bob tail. You should wear your hair long like Jadurani's in a bunch in the back. Jadurani's hair was pulled in back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. So from that day I let my hair grow and wear it as you requested. Another time you suggested I tied my hair in a knot - for catching Krsna. You explained that the brahmacari ties his sikha in a knot and in India, ladies also tie their bunch of hairs in a knot and always think of catching Krsna in that knot. That is the meaning of the sikha knot and also of the ladies' tradition of gathering their hair in a knot. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, that you are such a perfect father that you taught us how to look, how to dress and how to live. You are our eternal father. Thank you.

Story # 11 - Brahmacari Lessons

Jadurani had come to visit Srila Prabhupada at the New Jersey seashore and while talking with her I discovered she was feeling disturbed. She was feeling she could make no spiritual advancement due to being a woman. This was new information and some of the boys have been teasing her; the newly shaven brahmacaris were taunting her, so she was a little upset about this. After she left, I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that Jadurani was feeling like this and feeling somewhat sad. She felt discouraged by the talks of the newly shaven brahmacaris. Srila Prabhupada's eyes lit up and grew large and he said: "What is that? Why they are saying like that? Jadurani is more advanced than all of them. They do not know". He waved his hand for emphasis. So I told Jadurani later and she felt encouraged in a simple way. In these early days this war between the sexes had already begun. This was the earliest manifestation of it, that war between the sexes which has become so common in ISKCON today. Srila Prabhupada did not take it very seriously. He seemed to view it as kindergarten kids, teasing and pulling girls' pig tails and calling one another silly names. Srila Prabhupada saw only the heart, the sincerity, not the body. What do we know of the spirit in the heart? We should not be quick to judge for the truth may be far beyond the network of our minds and senses and political proprieties. Only the pure devotee of Krsna knows these inner workings. I am always reminded in my daily life to be kind and to be

encouraging to even the most simple devotee for it is not possible that we know the heart. Srila Prabhupada encouraged everyone and never approved of the popular mood of criticizing, lambasting, and taunting. Only if a devotee mislead others did Srila Prabhupada become lion-like. His concern was for our protection and for our progress, and for this he encouraged everyone. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 12 - Serving servants

One day Srila Prabhupada was talking about his life as a gentleman householder in Calcutta. He described the various types of rice, eaten by different types of people, saying that the aristocratic class preferred the long-grain basmati rice and the servant-class preferred the short grained, cheaper type of rice. Basmati was new to us and Srila Prabhupada was expressing his appreciation of it. Srila Prabhupada said: "They like according to their nature", he explained, 'everyone has taste according to his nature. If you give a tiger milk he will not take. He desires blood to drink. That is his nature". Srila Prabhupada began to talk about his own experiences. When he was a

householder he had a few servants, as was the custom in colonial and post-colonial India. "Because we were eating a very fine quality Basmati rice, which is long-grained and very flavorful, so I wanted to give the best rice to my servants also. I wanted to offer them the best prasadam and care, as it is said that even though one pays his servants, still one becomes indebted to them as they are rendering so much service". Accepting service is such a serious thing, he explained, as it can be very much implicating. "So for some time the servants were eating this very nice Basmati rice". Then, one day, Srila Prabhupada described, one servant came to me very humbly and requested 'Sir, you are very kind and respectable and I have no complaints in your service. I am very satisfied serving here in your household but only one thing, sir, this rice which you are giving us to eat, is very difficult for us to eat. We are not accustomed. Is it possible we may have to eat that short grain variety". Srila Prabhupada burst into smiles, chuckling and shaking his head from side to side, eyebrows raised, his eyes halfclosed he said; "Just see, I am giving him first class rice, but he is unable to tolerate. He desires third class rice, cheaper quality because his taste is for that. These are the modes of nature, such a subtle thing. So I gave them as they wanted". Srila Prabhupada gave such a profound explanation of the modes of nature. It takes it out of the books and into our lives. We can look around everywhere and see how people

have tastes according to their modes of nature in food, music, environment, everything, and we can also see how by association with pure devotees and devotional service it changes; our tastes, our preferences become more refined and more sattvic. Srila Prabhupada also gave a cautionary statement about accepting service from others, how entangling it can be and thus how important it is to reciprocate, to give them some prasada, some Krsna conscious blessing and opportunity for that will help prevent us from becoming entangled in the karmic cycle of receiving service. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving us your service so that we may become purified and our tastes will change from the desire to serve dogs to the desire to serve God. You used to comment that 'dog' was "God' spelled backward and it indicates the backward mood of the modern civilization. Rather than worshipping God, they worship and serve the dogs. Dogs are seen as the repository of the lower modes of lust, anger, and greed and unbridled senses. Dogs are the symbol of degradation. Though they themselves have the good quality of faithfulness, the problem arises when one replaces God-seva with dog-seva. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for teaching us the difference between serving the dog and serving God and for purifying our consciousness so that our modes of nature slowly change and we develop a taste for serving Krsna. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, we are eternally indebted to you.

Story # 13 - Draft board

The upheaval of the 60's and the war in Vietnam was a fearful reality to many. Gaurasundara, my husband had lived in constant anxiety and fear that the draft board would call him to war. Though he was raised in a military family who fully supported the Vietnam War and they wanted him to become an airforce pilot, Gaurasundara had other ideas about his destiny. Until late November, Gaurasundara was an art student at the University of Texas, and due to his student status, he was not likely to be drafted but in late November, Gaurasundara and I had left the university in our search for truth, and in December of 1967 we had become students of Srila Prabhupada. Even in Gaurasundara's first meeting with Swamiji in San Francisco, he had expressed his anxiety about being drafted to fight in a war he did not believe in. Only about six months later, his fear became a reality. He had received a notice from the New York draft board to appear. The fateful day had arrived. We were then staying in New Jersey with Srila Prabhupada at his seashore retreat, and Gaurasundara had to travel to New York for his draft board appointment. He would receive a physical exam and very likely be drafted into the army. We expressed our severe anxiety to Srila Prabhupada who also did not endorse the

war in Vietnam. Srila Prabhupada reassured us that Krsna would take care of everything. The day came for Gaurasundara's appointment and almost tearfully bid good-bye to Srila Prabhupada and me. He did not know what lay ahead; his future was uncertain. On a silk rope around his neck he wore a small murti of Lord Jagannath, and also along with that his huge red wooden chanting beads, the beads given at his initiation. He was full of anxiety yet calmly bowed down to say good-bye to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada stood calmly in the hallway as Gaurasundara offered his last obeisances and prepared to leave. Srila Prabhupada raised his right hand in blessing and said to Gaurasundara: "Krsna will protect you. I will request him. Do not be afraid. Krsna will take care of everything". His voice was sure and strong. He smiled compassionately. He knew that everything would be all right and he conveyed that feeling of faith to us in that fragile moment. Then, Gaurasundara left for New York by train. Gaurasundara was gone the whole day. Everything went on schedule at home. Srila Prabhupada had his noon meal after Kirtanananda gave him massage and I did my usual duties of cleaning & washing Prabhupada's clothes and tried to do some art work. I was unable to concentrate, as my mind was full of thoughts of Gaurasundara. I prayed to Krsna constantly. Srila Prabhupada mentioned Gaurasundara several times, so I knew that he was also thinking of him. Evening came and he still had not returned from the city, so we were worried.

Suddenly we heard him chanting as he climbed the stairs. I rushed to the door to greet him, giving him a big hug and noting the big smile on his face. Srila Prabhupada called him into his room and asked: "So, what happened?" Gaurasundara described the visit, that because of his strange appearance, sporting big red neck beads and a colorful Lord Jagannath on his chest he was sent to a psychiatric doctor. The doctor asked Gaurasundara questions and Gaurasundara answered as simply as possible, continually chanting Hare Krsna out loud on his wooden beads, and rolling his eyes upward in yogic fashion, focusing on Krsna's form in his mind. The psychiatric doctor had not seen this before and he apparently concluded that Gaurasundara was not suitable for military service. He gave him a 3-Y status, not as good as 4-F, but it certainly reduced his chances of being drafted, and Gaurasundara was never drafted. I wept for joy as Srila Prabhupada chuckled and wagged his head side to side. "Just see, Krsna has protected you. If we are sincere, Krsna will always protect. He sees everything. You have chosen his service, not the army service, so he has arranged everything". It was a joyful evening. So much stress that had been there for so long was no more and Gaurasundara could concentrate now more fully on service to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada. Krsna had saved him from a great danger, perhaps from his destiny to go to war and he was deeply grateful. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for continuously saving us from the great dangers

of the material world, the cycle of samsara. You are called the military general of Lord Caitanya. Indeed, you led an army. Like Rama led an army of monkeys, you led an army of American youth. You had your mission and we were drafted into your army, Lord Caitanya's army. That was our greatest good fortune. We were unqualified, yet you so kindly protected us, infused us with your shakti and sent us out to do your work. May we always remember and be grateful for the opportunity to serve in your army and may we never forget that you are the commander in chief and always be obedient to you. Srila Prabhupada, you changed our destinies. Perhaps Gaurasundara had been destined for Vietnam as so many other American youths, but you "requested Krsna" and He re-arranged our lives. Often Srila Prabhupada would say to me when I had a cold or flue: "Yes, Krsna is checking off your account. He sees you sincerely desire to serve. You may deserve to die at this moment but instead he is giving you little cold". He would often say: "Krsna is watching us. When we are sincere to serve him he begins closing our account or checking off our account, meaning that he reduces our karmas from our stay in the material world". You, Srila Prabhupada, would remind me of this and still when I catch a cold I remember that maybe Krsna is checking off my account. May we always remember our precarious situation and constantly remember that you are watching us and checking off our account. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 14 - The day you left

The days went by quickly at the New Jersey seashore and soon three weeks were up. Each day was filled with joy of living with Srila Prabhupada. It was a peaceful and spiritual environment and the sweetness of his devotional mood sank deep into my heart. By the end of three weeks I was hooked. I had completely fallen in love with Srila Prabhupada. He was my whole life. I had no greater desire than to go on serving him daily, hearing him, seeing him speak, and hearing his enchanted talks about Krsna and His friends, and living in the Goloka environment that surrounded him. Srila Prabhupada was charming, enchanting, sweet, humorous and loving. The love that radiated from his presence healed my heart from all the wounds inflicted by material life. That was my experience. I was after all a child who grew up in a home without my father since my parents had divorced when I was a small child. At two months I was sent to a wonderful, religious aunt, yet I did not really connect with my dad until I was ten years old. So Srila Prabhupada was the perfect father. He knew everything about everything. His protective presence surrounded me. When the day arrived that he was to fly to San Francisco, I was in emotional shambles. I remember so clearly kneeling by

the car window just before he left, tears coursing down my cheeks as I looked up into his beautiful glowing golden face. I did not know when or if I would ever see him again. He was going to San Francisco to try to regain his health and from there he talked of going back to India. I was unable to speak very well, being very young and shy, yet somehow I expressed my intense pain at his leaving and my desire to serve him. I wanted him to get well, and if San Francisco or India would help, that was my great hope. Srila Prabhupada looked down from the open car window at a tearful young American girl with no spiritual qualification, yet he knew my heart. He raised his hand in blessing, his face was full of kindness and compassion and seemed to say: everything will be all right. He reassured me with an understanding that and told me: "Chant Hare Krsna. Krsna will arrange for everything". As his car drove away, a part of my heart went with him. Though I resumed my duties of cleaning my apartment, packing the pots and pans and household articles, my desire to see him and serve him grew and grew. He was going to San Francisco only for two or three weeks and then would return to New York. I hope he would return strong and well. Time passed and Srila Prabhupada returned to New York. He was somewhat disappointed as the San Francisco weather had been cloudy and cool, and he felt he needed the warm atmosphere of India. His plans for India were confirmed. When he arrived in New York his stay was brief. He told us he

would return to Vrindavana either to get well or to leave for Krsnaloka. We desperately wanted him to get well. We continued our daily prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva as instructed by him on that fateful night of his stroke. We begged Krsna to bring him back to us. As we gathered at the New York airport and sat on the floor, through my tears I heard the various talks. Srila Prabhupada commented on the Air India wallpaper designs that showed Indian ladies carrying water vessels on their heads. He found the pictures very beautiful. They reminded him of his beloved India. "Just see how graceful. They are wearing saris, carrying water pots. They are looking just like gopis in Vrindavana". Srila Prabhupada turned to Hemavati who was wearing a sari she made from a piece of cloth: "Just see how nice Hemavati looks in her sari. Hemavati you may also learn how to carry water vessels, water pots, just like the gopis, and you will look even more beautiful". Himavati was smiling radiantly, her long blond braid hidden underneath the silky sari. There was a soft and sad kirtan, and the flight was called. We clustered around Srila Prabhupada as if to keep him with us for as long as possible. Here he was - surrounded by his children; most of us in our early twenties, some even younger. This was the final moment. I looked around. Jadurani was in great pain. She loved Srila Prabhupada so much; she could barely open her eyes and could barely breathe. Everyone was sad. I was crying, focused on his face,

drinking in every last moment and filling my mind and heart with the desire to see him well and to serve him again. Then he left, he was gone. We watched late into the night as the plane took off. Brahmananda and I kept watching, as the jet streams grew faint; drizzly rain blew in our faces mixed with tears. It was the end of Srila Prabhupada's first lila in the USA. We knew little about Krsna but we knew a lot about loving Srila Prabhupada. Brahmananda and I agreed the rain felt like gopis' tears and the separation set in. It must be similar to the way the gopis felt when Krsna left for Mathura. It seemed to us like the whole world was crying when Srila Prabhupada departed for India. I remember it also well. Most of all I remember, Srila Prabhupada, your compassionate glance as you looked at all your children just before departing for India. This has always been my favorite mood: your mood of love, concern and compassion. Thank you for coming here, for taking so much trouble and thank you coming back again and again and for dealing with all the headaches of starting a big organization. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving us your love so that we may learn to open our hearts and experience love. Thank you for teaching us to love and for giving us the experience of divine spiritual love without which our hearts are like empty pumping machines. Please remain always on the altar of my heart where I will serve you always with my thoughts and deeds.

Story # 15 - Neem Toothbrush

In San Francisco in early 1967, Gaurasundara and I met Srila Prabhupada. Early on in our relationship we already felt we had known him eternally but there were of course many things we did not know about him. After all, we were children, as he would often say, only 19 or 20 years old. Once while walking back from a rip-roaring kirtan in Golden Gate Park we were walking alone with Srila Prabhupada, just the three of us. The kirtan was still going on but it was getting a bit late, so Srila Prabhupada had expressed the desire to go back to his Frederick Street apartment. Gaurasundara and I volunteered to walk with him, one of us on each side, eager to hear him speak and to get know him better. Srila Prabhupada walked silently. Softly sounding his eternal japa, occasionally it became audible. The path was winding and just as we rounded a bend Srila Prabhupada stopped short. He pointed to a bunch of trees on his right; it was considerably off from the path, and he said: "Gaurasundara, can you bring some small branches from that tree, about this thick," and held up his little finger to demonstrate the size. Gaurasundara nodded eagerly and thrashed into the bushes to reach the selected tree. After a few minutes of scrambling in the bushes we saw the big tree shudder slightly as Gaurasundara pulled off some branches. Srila Prabhupada stood patiently waiting on the

pathway, watching quietly as Gaurasundara clamored through the bushes, his arms full of small branches. Long pointed leafs stuck out here and there and Gaurasundara's smiling face was visible just above them. Srila Prabhupada was clearly pleased, so we felt pleased. We had no idea, however, why he wanted those branches. We were dying to know but he was silent and we were too timid to ask. Quietly we walked on, and while walking, Srila Prabhupada plucked the leaves off the twigs, one by one; the small branches were only about three feet long, so as he walked the plucked leafs scattered the path behind us. Then he began the branches into eight inch pieces and gathering the bundles in his hands. I was dying of curiosity but still just watched quietly. We had no idea what he was doing. Suddenly, just was we were leaving the park, Srila Prabhupada smiled brightly and said to us: "These twigs will be my tooth brushes. This tree has a very medicinal sap. It has very antiseptic properties". He turned to us, flashing his bright smile and perfectly white teeth and said: "If you want to have teeth like mine at eighty, you can not use a tooth brush, you must use these tree twigs. It will keep your teeth very healthy". We were stunned, and then we courageously asked him how he used them. He said "simply, I shall show you", and some time later he showed us how to chew the one quarter inch end of the twig until it became like a brush, then how to scrub the teeth and gums side to side, cleaning the plaque from them and stimulating

the gums and leaving them feeling cleaner than a dentist's office visit. Srila Prabhupada later told us the best twig was eucalyptus, but mango was also very good, and on the East coast, where eucalyptus was not available he used birch. Srila Prabhupada, you taught us everything, even how to brush our teeth, and more over you taught us how to serve unquestioningly and eagerly without reservation. If you wanted twigs from a tree we eagerly gave them to you. Krsna tested our service mood in so many ways, even if we did not know or understand we trusted you anyway. That was the key. Krsna wanted to see how much we sincerely believed in you. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for still watching over us, for giving us the faith that you are still here, watching, guiding and waiting patiently for us to bring the twigs of our devotion to your lotus feet. Even now, just as then you stood patiently on the forest path, watching and waiting, and even now you still stand quietly in our hearts, guiding and waiting for us to invite you to sit down and remain there eternally, guiding and teaching us from within. There is no limitation on your mercy. You were kind and powerful that you can sit in the heart of everyone who calls to you.

Story # 16 Vyasa Puja - Western Style

In June, July and August, Srila Prabhupada, Gaurasundara and I lived at the Prince Arthur Street apartment in Montreal. It was a homey atmosphere since Srila Prabhupada did not travel for over three months due to visa requirements. Since his birthday was a approaching in late summer, I debated what to do and I decided to surprise him with a birthday cake. Of course, there were other arrangements at the temple, no doubt but this was my personal contribution and at the time it seemed like a nice thing to do. In the morning on his birthday I carefully prepared a two layer cake and frosted it with sweet butter and cream frosting. Then I decorated it with candles, not 72 or 73 but about twelve or fourteen candles. Then, after Srila Prabhupada had completed his usual bath, and tilak and prasadam and he was sitting poised at his desk chanting, I carried the flaming cake from the kitchen to his altar as I did all the usual offerings. His eyes grew large and open wide. He exclaimed: "Oh, what is that?" as I placed the candle-lit cake on the altar. I replied: "Oh, Srila Prabhupada, this is your birthday cake. I've made it for you. This is how we celebrate birthdays in America". He wagged his head from side to side and said: "Very nice", and smiled as I brought him the flaming cake; as I set it on his desk I explained: "Srila Prabhupada, now you make a wish and then try to blow out the candles with one breath". Srila Prabhupada quickly caught on and with one

deep, big whoosh he blew out every flame on the cake. Then he laughed and said: "I have done good?" "Yes", I laughed and said: "Now you will get your wish but you don't have to tell me or anybody what you wish for". "I wish only for Krsna", his voice deep, he said smilingly, 'for Krsna's service', he added. I, saying happy birthday to him as I carefully removed the candles and cut him a big piece of birthday cake and served it to him on one of his several plates. As he tasted it he smiled and said: "Oh, this is very good." I brought him some warm milk also. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for honoring my simple American ideas of service. I innocently offered you a Western birthday party and you accepted it graciously as if it were the more natural thing in the world. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you this life and next and thank you for reminding me of your only wish. Please bless me that some day I may also wish only for Krsna's seva. When I see birthday celebrations I am always reminded of your bright surprised look as I carried in the flaming birthday cake and how kindly you were in accepting my innocent offering. Birthday celebrations always stir memories of your gentle face, wide-eyed staring at the flaming cake in wonder. What a wonderful memory and what a wonderful wish.

Story # 17 - Good
When we first met Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco, it was 1967, the Haight Ashbury era. There were only a handful of devotees, Mukunda and Janaki, Syamasundara and Malati, and Yamuna and Gurudas were just coming, and there were a few others such as Harsarani and Murari. Mukunda and Janaki were very close associates with Srila Prabhupada as Mukunda had come there from New York. Mukunda was doing all sorts of wonderful organizational preaching work, arranging programs for Srila Prabhupada and so forth. Srila Prabhupada had married Mukunda and Janaki and they had no children. However, Janaki had a pet cat that she dearly loved. Srila Prabhupada, seeing the affection that Janaki lavished on her cat would say: "Just see. In America there is no family life. Women have no children, so they place their love on a cat or dog. Everyone wants love, and everyone wants to serve. That is the nature of the living entity. In America they are serving the cats and dogs." Later on, in San Francisco, when Janaki's cat somehow died and Srila Prabhupada was informed of this, he said simply: "Good". When asked about this, Srila Prabhupada told us that now Janaki can place her full love on Krsna,

and factually we saw that Janaki became then more focused on Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. Srila Prabhupada encouraged us to place the focus of our love on Krsna because whatever we love we will think about, and especially we will think about at the time of death. He was sad when a disciple placed his love elsewhere; whether it was on a business, a pet, a hobby or even too much on a family. Just like he would say: "Oh, now such and such has been lost to business, or in Janaki's case when her beloved pet cat died, his only comment was 'good'. Once when Gaurasundara joined him in Los Angeles, and I had remained in San Francisco due to illness, he said: "Oh you have come, even without your wife". Srila Prabhupada taught us that whoever or whatever we love other than Krsna and our spiritual master would lead us astray. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for teaching us who to love and who to serve. In our ignorance we place our love on so many other things: animals, people, careers, etc. but you taught us to focus our love on Krsna and by so doing we will thus come to love everyone: all the animals, all the people in a way that is on a spiritual level.

Story # 18 - Hawaii 1969

After Gaurasundara and I had been traveling and living with Srila Prabhupada for about a year, Srila Prabhupada began to encourage us to go and open a temple. He would sometimes say: "We have become just like a family but now it is time to go and preach." He would say: "It is time to push you out of the nest", and later on he would joke that "like birds he had pushed us out of the nest to fly". Gaurasundara left for Hawaii in September for opening a preaching center and later on, in January of 1969, I left Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles and also came to Hawaii. Gaurasundara had rented a house in Kaawa (?) about 45 minutes from Honolulu by ocean on about 7 acres of land. He also had a small storefront; it actually was an office building in Honolulu where the preaching center was held. The area around Kaawa was a very beautiful jungle retreat, yet there were houses nearby. One day, shortly after I arrived Gaurasundara and I walked to a small grocery store, opposite Swanzy (?) Park, which later became a tirtha, where Srila Prabhupada took his daily walks. On the way back from the store we stumbled upon a tiny kitten, just two or three feet from the side of the road. The helpless creature was sure to be hit by a car, so we asked some children playing nearby to take him home with them. Then we walked the remaining half-mile back to our home. When we returned home I could not find my japa beads anywhere, which had been with me on my walk. So we retraced our steps and there besides the road, next to the small kitten

were my sacred beads. They had fallen from the bead bag and the kitten was still there. Compassionately, Gaurasundara and I decided that since the children were not going to help him we would. We picked up the small animal and brought him home. The last thing I wanted was a pet cat. So I had mixed feelings about this, yet we decided to give him some shelter until he was larger and we could find a home for him. He was a very tiny, wining, whimpering kitten who would always get under our feet and we would always have to avoid stepping on him. Then we got a telegram that Srila Prabhupada was coming. What to do? I was embarrassed that we had this kitten and we had not yet found a home for him. So when Srila Prabhupada came the kitten was still there. Srila Prabhupada would often affectionately tease me about the small kitten and even in lectures he would mention it. Sometimes when I worked down in the garden outside, Srila Prabhupada would watch me from his window up above and he would see the kitten running around at my feet. Then, later on he would chuckle and say: "Oh, this cat is always at Govinda dasi's feet but that is fortunate because she is Vaisnavi". This kitten had the constant habit of getting under foot, almost tripping people as they walked. It stayed outside the kitchen door and each morning when Srila Prabhupada went for his walk, he invariably stepped it on. I was often amazed at how often this small creature managed to get under Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet as he left

for his daily walk, and as it was always hungry, prasadam scrubs was given to her daily. Of course, I felt somewhat embarrassed for the situation, so we continued to look for a home for the small cat. Srila Prabhupada stayed with us for about a month and the day of his departure we had a chanting and feast program at our home. Many people came and one young couple agreed to adopt this kitten. We were glad to find her a good home. A few days later, however, they informed us that the kitten had suddenly died the very evening Srila Prabhupada had left Hawaii. I then wondered at the good fortune of the kitten that daily was stepped on by Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving your grace to anyone, even a small cat that takes shelter under your lotus feet. May we always remember to take shelter beneath your lotus feet and focus our love entirely on you and Krsna and be spared the danger of taking birth in the body of a deer, a cat, a dog, or any other creature or we cannot serve you in the most complete way. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 19 - Bed Bugs bite

We had met Swamiji in San Francisco, and only a few days before Swamiji left for New York, Gaurasundara, my husband, and I decided we desperately wanted to go there with him. After all, we had left college in November in search of a spiritual teacher and we met Swamiji in December or early January of 1967, and now only a couple of months later he was leaving for New York City. We had no other life; he was our life. The two months in San Francisco, reading his Srimad Bhagavatam, attending his lectures daily and painting pictures for him had given us a taste of bhakti. We had no other goal than to follow him. Like the Pied Piper we wanted to follow along. So we approached him at his San Francisco apartment and asked if we could come to New York. His smile brightened as he saw our sincerity of purpose and he nodded, saying: "Why not?" So, Gaurasundara and I began searching for a way from San Francisco to New York. Since we had very little money, we hoped to get a ride. Gaurasundara went out to the local hip shops to put up signs, advertising for a ride back East, and while he was out he met some San Francisco hippies who were driving straight to New York. They were leaving in about an hour. Gaurasundara rushed home, we packed our few belongings and we were ready to go almost immediately. About two days before Swamiji's departure from San

Francisco we headed out to New York; we figured Krsna had arranged the whole thing. It took us 4 days driving day and night, taking turns driving, to reach the East Coast, which meant we could arrive only two days after Swamiji's flight from San Francisco landing. After a few minor harrowing adventures on the way, we arrived safely in New York in very early morning of March of 1967. When we arrived, it was around 6:30 or 7 in the morning, and we opened the door to 26, 2nd Avenue and fell to our knees in obeisances and gratitude. The scene was unforgettable: Swamiji was sitting on a raised dais, chanting and he was surrounded by a small group of devotees, singing the beautiful morning tune. Billows of incense filled the air and the aura of heavyliness was intoxicating. Drones of the vina hummed lovely and Swamiji himself expertly played the mrdanga. The vina player, who had a sikha that was like a long curl in the back of his head, wore robes. Other devotees also were dressed in dhotis and shawls, and the scene was like none either of us had witnessed. I was amazed: this was a different world from San Francisco. It was serene, intellectual and focused, nothing like the wild party mood of San Francisco. It was like a glimpse of Vaikuntha. Swamiji smiled and acknowledged our arrival, and continued chanting. After the lecture he let everyone know that we were devotees and artists who had come from San Francisco. The New York devotees welcomed us and we began to live amongst

them just like a family. It was perhaps one of the sweetest times of my life. I remember we were very poor, yet we were very rich. Swamiji was our wealth, our joy and our everything. The devotees in New York had this mood and everything evolved around Swamiji. In San Francisco, Swamiji was in his apartment and guests visited by appointment and most people were new. The devotees in New York, on the other hand, had been there much longer and it was clearly Swamiji's home. We practically lived all together like a family: Swamiji was the head and we were the children. We spent the days together; we had prasadam in his apartment. He was with us all the time. We would sit around in his room, in the evening talking all of us together like a family. We would all sit in his room, doing painting during the day. For the first couple of nights, Gaurasundara and I slept on the concrete floor the temple room, and in other areas of that floor slept Gargamuni, Brahmananda, and several other devotees as well. It was not very comfortable. There were rats that prowled the area at night, sometimes awaking devotees. One night Gargamuni woke up because a rat got into his hair and the next day devotees were teasing him because his hair was long, down to his shoulders, so the rats liked it. Gargamuni was Brahmananda's little brother, he was very young and liked having his long dark hair parted in the middle and Swamiji would say: "Like Lord Caitanya". So Gargamuni would defend his long locks by saying that his hair was like Lord

Caitanya's. These were the family moods that permeated our early days in New York until we found a small apartment, we then moved over to Satsvarupa's apartment. There, Gaurasundara and I slept on a blanket on the floor in the kitchen, at a tiny front room, and Satsvarupa camped out on the floor in the next room and Raya Rama in another room. I recall hearing the sounds of a type writer in the wee early morning hours, 2:30 or 3 AM and peaked in to see Satsvarupa sitting on the floor, hunched over a type writer, transcribing Swamiji's Srimad Bhagavatam tapes. I was impressed. These devotees were unlike any I had ever seen before. They were totally dedicated to Swamiji and had no other life. This was a really different experience than San Francisco. In Satsvarupa's apartment and I slept on a blanket on the floor in the kitchen and the bed bugs were a problem. I would wake up in the morning with red bites all over my cheeks. I tried turn in the other direction with my feet to the wall but then my feet would be covered with red bites. Swamiji asked us how we were doing and seeing the red marks on my face, I explained to him that some bugs were biting me. He laughed and said, pointing to his window: "Yes, they also come here but I stay very still and when they think I am asleep they come, then I catch them and chant to them, and then put them out my window. By the breathing they know just when a man is sleeping but I can trick them." His eyes sparkled as he told of how he tricked the little bed bugs by pretending to be

asleep. So that night I tried tricking them but I fell asleep and got bitten as usual and the next night, and again and again and again to no avail. I couldn't catch them. A few days later I told Swamiji: "I've tried every night to catch them but I can't catch them. I breathe softly and try to pretend that I am asleep but they are too clever. They don't come and bite until I am really asleep. I don't know how you do this." Swamiji laughed and wagged his head from side to side, saying: "Yes, you have to be very expert". Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for showing me your compassion even for bed bugs. You cared even for these living entities who came to you only for biting and sucking blood, and you gave them your mercy as surely as those who came for serving. Thank you for showing us how to live, how to love all creatures and how to give the benediction of the Holy Name.

Story # 20 - I know your mind

When Swamiji left for India, it was just like the sun and moon had hidden behind the clouds. We immediately felt the separation and then began praying to Krsna for his healthy return to America. During his sixmonth stay in Vrindavana, Gaurasundara and I moved to Montreal. There we lived in the Montreal temple that was a renovated bowling alley across from Mount Royal. There we continued our illustration work for Back To Godhead as well as the Prahlada picture book we had begun in New York under Srila Prabhupada's

guidance. Our life was a peaceful one: daily kirtans and class, working in our small partitioned art studio in the temple. While we worked, Sivananda, a brahmacari would read to us from Srimad Bhagavatam and sometimes also Caitanya Caritamrta. Gaurasundara had obtained a translation of Caitanya Caritamrta in New York and we relished the stories of Lord Caitanya. We also gained insight into the divine position of the spiritual master and the proper etiquette that should be given to him. Mahapurusa was our temple cook and I watched him daily cook different preparations, taking notes on how each one was done as I hope to some day cook for Srila Prabhupada. Day and night my contemplation was "how will I again be with Swamiji and serve him". (start of new tape; text missing). to Lord Jagannath onepointedly that my only desire was to again experience the sweetness of living in that divine Goloka-realm of Swamiji's household, serving him in any menial way possible. My heart was set on this desire. I even wrote to him in Vrindavana, expressing how much I missed him and how much I wanted his divine association once again. With my youthful innocence I expressed my heartfelt wish to be engaged in his service. The reply letter that I received from him was short but complete. This was my first letter from Srila Prabhupada. At the end of it he stated simply: "I know your mind". He let me know early on that he knew my every thought and movement even though he was far away as India or as near

as the next room. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for allowing me a glimpse of your omniscience and your divinity when I was but a new devotee. Thank you for hearing the prayers of my heart and allowing me to serve you all but imperfectly and for allowing me residence in your Goloka household. This was the greatest gift of my life. No amount of wealth or fame or followers can begin to compare with the sweetness of your divine association.

Story # 21 - Goloka and Montreal

Gaurasundara and I remained in Montreal for the duration of time that Swamiji was in India; that was about six months. During that time we drew many pictures for early Back to Godhead magazines and daily we worked in our small art studio while hearing Caitanya Caritamrta and Srimad Bhagavatam. During that time I began working on a drawing of Krsna and Balarama returning home with their cows, millions of cows. It became a kind of meditation. Daily I worked on this drawing and although we had little information of how Vrindavana looked it seemed to manifest from within the

heart. Though we did many other pictures, this picture was the most dear to me. Even when I close my eyes I would still see an ocean of cows with Krsna and Balarama prancing before them and in my view, over to the right, that cowherd boy was clearly meant to be Srila Prabhupada. After, all Swamiji had requested me to paint his portrait in San Francisco, and it was one of the first pictures I painted for him. Now I felt I was painting his spiritual portrait in Goloka. It was an innocent offering. I sent a copy of the drawing to Swamiji in Vrindavana, saying, "This cowherd boy is my portrait of you". Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving me that glimpse of Goloka. It spurred me on in my desire to serve you; even now when I see this picture, my original drawing has been colored in and hangs behind the Deities of Krsna Balarama, I think of you as I see you walking besides Krsna and Balarama, herding the cows home in the evening and I think that this is no accident that this very picture that I had offered to you so many years before is your portrait walking beside your beloved Krsna Balarama and you are there nearby. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 22 - December 14th, 1967

In late October, the exciting news came. Swamiji would be returning soon to San Francisco. His health had improved and his travel arrangements were being made. Gaurasundara and I immediately began planning our trip to meet him in California. The first snow had fallen in Montreal, so we were eager to go West anyway. We packed our meager belongings, mostly the contents of our art studio and a few clothes, a couple of saris that I had gotten and took a bus to New York City. There we found a drive away car, one that was to be delivered to the West Coast. Gargamuni and his new wife, Karunamayi and Gaurasundara and I sat out on a hazardous winter journey to San Francisco. Anxious over the perils of winter driving we chanted the whole way. In Colorado we ran off the road in a blizzard and it seemed to us that our chanting brought a big snowplow to rescue us almost immediately. We were so focused on greeting our beloved Swamiji that all obstacles seemed to melt like snow in the sunshine of our love for him. The mood was simple, direct and sweet. When we arrived in San Francisco, Gaurasundara and I rented a small room two blocks from the Frederick Street temple. We were situated there about a week or two before Swamiji's arrival on September 14th, 1967. Daily, my prayers intensified as I looked forward to his arrival. Arrangements were made for

Swamiji to stay at Jayananda's large flat and our good friend Upendra was going to cook for him. I began to study Upendra's cooking techniques avidly. Finally, the big day came. Swamiji was arriving. We went to the San Francisco airport and we chanted wildly in the waiting area. I remember walking up a hallway and seeing him through some big glass doors. He turned to us and waved, he gave us a long loving glance and a friendly wave. It meant everything to us. Our kirtan intensified and tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. I felt as if my very life had been returned to me. It was the most joyful day in the history of America: Swamiji had returned. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for taking the trouble to come back to us. You had an ideal situation in India, in Vrindavana, you could have stayed in your beloved Vrindavana but out of divine compassion for all souls you chose to fly back into the Kali-yuga cities of America to spread the message of Lord Caitanya. You are the most exemplary preacher of the Lord, always concerned for the welfare of all living entities for the suffering of all the souls in this world. We must never forget that without you we would simply continue turning on the rotating wheel of samsara, from king to beggar, elephant to ant, our gratitude must never wane for you alone came to our rescue. We are eternally indebted. No one had heard of Krsna in the West. You were the emissary, the pioneer, the divine agent sent by Lord Caitanya to awaken the Western world from the sleep of ignorance.

Story # 23 - Govinda dasi - you have taken your sari?

Joyfully we escorted Swamiji to his flat on (I don't remember the name of the Street); there like a rose surrounded by bees he sat in our midst, carefully unpacking his trunk and smiling at everyone. He spoke with each devotee, asking about his or her welfare, smiling and enchanting everyone with his sweetness. His big Indian trunk was full of goodies. He pulled out all sorts of things we'd never seen before. It was better than Christmas. He showed us a strange metal contraption and explained it was for grating coconut. He showed us a finely carved conch shell and some excellent kartals. He gave Gaurasundara and I pictures of him dancing in front of his Calcutta Deities and asked us to paint them with color. On the back he wrote "Swami Prabhupada dancing in front of his Deities" (I have to look that up). Then he began to pull out gifts for all the devotees. Two disciples, Acyutananda and I think Ramanuja, were in India and had sent saris and gifts for the devotees in San Francisco. I sat, watching Swamiji, totally mesmerized by his spiritual beauty. He carefully unpacked all the saris, each one had a small slip of paper

and a devotees' name pinned on it. Then he carefully removed all the pins and placed the pins in a little pile and then placed all the saris in one pack and then all the slips of paper in another stack. Then he began to hand out saris to each of the ladies as he chose, totally disregarding the slips of paper pinned on them. I did not expect to receive a sari as I had not sent money or anything nor did I even know Ramananda. The conversation drifted to items needed by Swamiji with different devotees volunteering for various services or purchases. Swamiji needed some house slippers. I immediately volunteered to buy him some new house slippers and he smilingly nodded and told me he wore size A. He added that they should be made of all synthetic or manmade materials. Swamiji later said: "The only advancement the modern scientists have made is this: to make non-leather shoes". His opinion of material science was encapsulated in this statement. After each devotee was given a project and gift and we all happily bowed and left Swamiji to rest from his journey. Gaurasundara and I were bowing down to leave when Swamiji asked me: "Oh, Govind dasi? You have taken your sari?" Already standing I stopped short and replied: "No, Swamiji, I didn't know there was one for me". Swamiji carefully thumbed through the stack of saris and selected one, a pale lavender cotton sari with a simple border. Beaming, he held it up to me and I reached over and received it. He smiled in a fatherly and loving way and I happily bowed down

as I received it. How can he know that lavender is my favorite color, I thought; and then I remembered his quote in the letter: "I know your mind". Knowing everything about me he loved me anyway. Krsna had sent me a wonderful spiritual father. Later I searched for the most perfect house slippers. At one shop I found all man made materials stamped on all the slippers so I chose a nice black slipper with red furry lining. The red furry lining, I thought would match his reddish lotus feet. I purchased the slippers and quickly took them to his apartment. Smilingly, he thanked me and tried them on. "Oh, perfect fit he exclaimed. Very nice, thank you very much". "What a pleasure", I thought. Swamiji wore these slippers for the entire year or more that Gaurasundara and I lived with and traveled with him. The sound of him shuffling down the hall in those slippers is still fresh in my mind. Then as those slippers became worn, I purchased another pair from the same shop in San Francisco; this time a sandy mustard color with tan for relining, and a back which he quickly flattened with his heels. Having been accustomed to his back-less previous slippers, these were also stamped "all man made materials". Those black and red slippers well worn, well loved, he gave to me when I brought him the new sandy colored slippers. Those slippers are worshipable even by devas. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving me the opportunity to serve you with those slippers and in every other way. I pray those shoes will remain

enthroned in my heart through all eternity and that I shall always hear you shuffling about, wearing those slippers in the halls of my mind, guiding me, loving me and leading me to Krsna.

Story # 24 - Montreal 1968, Summer Time

During our summer stay in Montreal, Srila Prabhupada would often sit out in front of his Prince Arthur Street apartment in the afternoon, after his lunch and nap, and visits with (of?) devotees and guests. In the evenings he would also have guests in his room; three evenings a week we would go to the temple that was walking distance from our apartment. Srila Prabhupada and I would walk three blocks to the temple and Gaurasundara would also join us sometimes at a leisurely pace, Srila Prabhupada chanting japa along the way. Often the neighborhood children would taunt us: "Hari Krsna Hari Krsna Krsna Krsna" and although they were obviously teasing and making fun, Srila Prabhupada would beam at them with his million Dollar smile and say to me: "Yes, they are saying Krsna. Never mind they are joking. They are chanting Krsna's names somehow or other". In this way we would chant japa and continue our short journey to the temple with the taunting kids in the distance. Srila Prabhupada was always teaching every step of the way. During

his afternoon and evening visits there were several devotees who came regularly. One was a young Indian boy named Gopal Krsna who had a great fondness for Srila Prabhupada over and above the usual Indian communities' interest. Gopal Krsna would often visit Prabhupada and when he made his obeisances at the entryway of Prabhupada's room he would bow down, then hatch his head to the floor again and again, repeatedly. Obviously it was with the great feeling of conviction and not a mere formality of bowing down. Then he would have many detailed talks with Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was training him for preaching work, so they would discuss philosophy and all points of Vedic culture. Another regular visitor was Janardana das, a scholarly disciple who had some affiliation with McGill University. Janardana and Gaurasundara, my husband, both being scholarly by nature spent much time together and often went to the McGill University library. In the course of their research and study they somehow discovered a small booklet sent by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur to McGill University in 1896, the year of Srila Prabhupada's birth. Srila Prabhupada was delighted to see the copy of the book and always talked of it thereafter. The fact that Srila Bhaktivinoda, the father of his beloved guru-maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had paved the way in the West by sending literature so many years before was a great inspiration to Srila Prabhupada. He cherished this book and often mentioned it in his lectures. He

exclaimed that this was all part of Lord Krsna's plan: to spread Lord Caitanya's movement all over the world. Of course, I could not fully understand the significance of all this at the time. Yet, Srila Prabhupada felt the book was a most important discovery and he often marveled that in the very year of his birth Srila Bhaktivinoda was already laying the foundation work for Lord Caitanya's mission in North America. On a regular basis, Janardana was reading Srila Prabhupada's Gita manuscript and going over the details with Srila Prabhupada when he visited. Srila Prabhupada had asked him to edit the English translation and purport so that it was correct and understandable in a scholarly fashion. He also wanted him to translate the Gita into French as Janardana was French Canadian and knew French well. He wanted that a French edition of Bhagavad Gita should be available to those whose native tongue was French. Almost daily there were many long discussions and Janardana had many intriguing questions about Vedic philosophy, astronomy and culture. Often the philosophical discussions were too detailed for me though I would sit in on some of them; however I had much work to do; my life was busy from morning to night with the running of the household, meal preparation, dictation and typing letters as well as my own japa and reading, most of which I only had time to do during Srila Prabhupada's afternoon nap, so I did not listen in to all of the talks. Srila Prabhupada always had me serving

prasadam to the visiting devotees so that also meant my going in and out of the room as they arrived. However, I can understand that Janardana was very important to Srila Prabhupada and he saw him as one of the principle whips in his preaching movement. Srila Prabhupada was extremely fond of Janardana and he encouraged him to translate his Bhagavad Gita into his native French language. Sometimes Janardana would bring his wife Muna with him to visit Srila Prabhupada. She obviously had a different relationship with Prabhupada. Rather than offering obeisances and sit on the floor as did Janardana and all other guests and devotees, she would sit on the sofa across from his desk. Her attitude was a challenging one, somewhat disrespectful and this was a bit unnerving to me as I felt it my duty to protect Srila Prabhupada from anyone who may be insulting or disrespectful to him. I tried to befriend Muna and talked to her about Krsna but she sat down on my altar, which was a small table and told me flatly: "All I want is that Krsna gives me plenty of money eternally". I was somewhat taken aback and certainly unable to relate to her as a potential godsister. Nevertheless I remained polite but was always somewhat disturbed by her visits and especially by her attitude toward my beloved spiritual master. However, Srila Prabhupada was tolerant. He smiled and charmed, joked and encouraged and tried to inspire her to work for Krsna along with her husband Janardana. That was his ongoing mood. Several

months later, however, when Srila Prabhupada was with Gaurasundara and I in Hawaii, he one day mentioned to me somewhat sadly that Janardana was a very nice boy but the problem is his wife Muna. He said: "Now she making him ask for editing my books - how much money for me, how much money for Muna. She is demanding and she is controlling him". His voice trailed off and he shook his head from side to side, obviously saddened by the plight of his disciple Janardana being under the control of his materialistic wife. Srila Prabhupada loved him so much that he felt deep concern for his situation. He never condemned or criticized Janardana. He only thought of how to help him in serving the Lord. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for loving us so much that you see beyond our flaws, our attachments, our inebriates and think only of how to deliver us to Krsna. You never slammed the door in our face because of our foolish attachments, our silly pride or our childish speculations. You saw us all as Krsna's servants and you tried to polish away the dirt of forgetfulness from the jewels of our hearts. With your divine love, your mood was one of encouragement, inspiration, even cajoling, somehow or other you wanted us to do some service for Krsna. You used to often say: "Even a little bit of service to Krsna can save one from the greatest danger". You said this so frequently that one day I asked you point blank: "Srila Prabhupada, what is the greatest danger?"

(Incident is told twice!) Srila Prabhupada looked deeply into my eyes and became very serious and replied: "The greatest danger is to fall back into the animal species of life and to continue birth after birth in forgetfulness of krsna. Srila Prabhupada you tried to give everyone the opportunity for even a little service to Krsna. You so clearly saw our tiny short lives as brief excursions in the human form and to assure our future human birth you wanted to distribute your mercy as much as possible to everyone in the world. Srila Prabhupada, you changed the course of this planet's history. Some may see that now but in the future many will glorify your greatness. Thank you again and again for guiding me eternally and for always being there in my heart, and when I call out to you, you always answer me with the greatest kindness. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 25 - Cathedral Visits

During summer in Montreal, Janardana who seemed to have access to a vehicle would take Srila Prabhupada, Gaurasundara and I on little excursions to places of interest. Usually, it was just Janardana, Gaurasundara, Srila Prabhupada and myself and we would get into the car and go to the places that Janardana knew about in and around Montreal vicinity. One day, he took us to a huge cathedral, a beautiful cathedral with towering domes and elaborate

sculptures and paintings. As I walked with Srila Prabhupada through the huge church the quiet mood of reverence predominated. Stained glass windows, Stations of the Cross, holy icons and elaborate paintings surrounded us. It was a beautiful creation by man dedicated to the worship of the Supreme God. Because I had traveled all over Europe as a teenager and spent much time marveling the artistic work of the masters in the cathedrals of Europe I felt very happy to be there with Srila Prabhupada and eager to hear his opinion of one of my favorite places. Srila Prabhupada paused and looked up at the dome ceiling that towered above us, and turned to me and said: "Yes, this is the worship of Narayana with awe and reference. This is the mood of reverential worship". He said it flatly with approval and appreciated the pious efforts that went into this monument to God. Then we walked along the sides of the church by the Stations of the Cross, elaborate paintings that showed Christ carrying the cross and ultimately the crucifixion. Because I had not been raised Catholic, rather I was raised a Baptist, I did not really understand the philosophical or religious meanings of these stations nor did I really understand the various traditions or religious trappings of the Catholic Church yet I appreciated the exquisite artwork and the devotion that went into it. During my own early years of searching for God the old masters of Europe had been my heroes and spending time in the European cathedrals had convinced me of

God's existence. The devotion and their work came through to my heart, so I felt very happy to be walking around a cathedral with Srila Prabhupada and hearing his point of view on all this phenomena which was important to me. As we continued we came to the part of the church where a huge wall was painted with the scene of the crucifixion. Srila Prabhupada stopped short and said, shaking his head: "This emphasis on the killing of Christ is not good. It simply stirs the hatred of the Jews and keeps alive this conflict between the Christians and the Jews. They should more emphasize the teachings of Jesus Christ. The teachings are the important thing". Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving me that precious experience to walk with you in the cathedral. You gave new understanding and meaning to my long time attraction for churches and cathedrals and moreover you so quickly penetrated all the religious rituals and traditions to the heart of the truth. The teachings of Christ are the important thing, you said. These religious traditions that develop around various great personalities are often flawed with the inebriates of man, his likes and dislikes, his preferences or cultural style. Thus so many branches with different trappings develop and they often war with one another but the real essence is the actual teachings. May we always remember that the real essence is your teachings so clearly expressed in your books and lectures and darsanas, and may we not forget that the contemporary

socio-religious or political morals are ever-changing but that we must cling to the essence of your teachings: chant Hare Krsna and be happy. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving us the truth.

Story # 26 - The church wax museum

On another occasion Janardana took us to a large church which I recall was somewhere on the outskirts of Montreal. This cathedral had a long walkway, very wide, with many steps leading up to its entrance. To the left side of this walkway was a separate building and in this was housed a monument and museum to a famous saint and hero. I don't know the name of this church. Perhaps someone in Montreal can volunteer this information, as I believe it was a very famous place that Janardana took us to. Srila Prabhupada and I went into the museum monument and began to walk around and see the exhibits. Apparently, the man had been a famous saint and hero and had healed the physical sufferings of many, many people. I found it very strange there. It was a wax museum, showing the very life-like images of the man in his healing work, and it had many of his former belongings, in particular I recall a glass eye-ball

being shown and this left me somewhat jarred and confused. I really didn't understand who the man was or why he was enshrined in this way. Janardana explained to Srila Prabhupada in detail about the history of the hero and what he had done to achieve such recognition. However, I remember my feeling of bewilderment over the museum of artifacts and a certain uncomfortable feeling that left me confused. As usual, I turned to Srila Prabhupada to find out his reaction. I always liked to hear his opinion of things that we saw as it gave me a correct window to view things through. His view was always clear and precise. Srila Prabhupada was clearly unimpressed. He sat flatly: "Why they are making so much importance over the healing of the body. This is not very important. More important is the soul. His real work should have been how to heal the soul. Our work is to heal the soul from its forgetfulness of Krsna. This is the important work". He shook his head as if it was all a frivolous folly as we left from that wax museum. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for penetrating my confusion. You always got to the heart of things; you cut through to the truth and let everyone know it, even if they didn't like to hear it. Others may be impressed by material accomplishments but you were impressed only by Krsnaaccomplishments how much we remember and serve Krsna. Please, Srila Prabhupada protect me from the distractions of life in this world and the confusions that arise and

help me always remember what is important and what is not important, what is to be done and what is not to be done, and guide me on my pathway to Krsna. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 27 - Sex is sex

One day in Montreal, during afternoon guest hours a young devotee from the temple asked me for an appointment to see Srila Prabhupada. I agreed and told her to come in the late afternoon, as it was his custom to visit with guests and devotees after his afternoon nap. This girl was an artist, her name was Madhavi Lata and she had come from New York. She was now living at the Montreal temple and I assumed she wanted to discuss her paintings with Srila Prabhupada and ask questions about them, as did Jadurani and the other artists from time to time. However, her intention was different. When she came, she began to explain her problem to Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada having difficulty understanding her, called me into the room. I was working in the kitchen nearby and heard his call: "Govind Dasi!" He always pronounced my name with 4 syllables: Govind Dasi, other than Govinda Dasi. I rushed in and made obeisances and he told me to bring prasadam. Then he motioned for me to sit down and listen to the discussion. Madhavi Lata was explaining to

Srila Prabhupada that as a brahmacarini at the temple she was having difficulty being around all the other girls as they were often dressing and sometimes wearing only slips and cholis while putting on their saris. She tried to explain to Srila Prabhupada that this was a great agitation for her and she needed a different living situation. She was very upset and didn't know what to do. Srila Prabhupada was having difficulty understanding her problem. Srila Prabhupada was encouraging her to chant Hare Krsna, read his books and do her wonderful art work. He inspired her and preached to her and talked to her about Krsna and the temporary existence in the material world. I sat quietly listening to the conversation nearby and observing that he was giving her the highest instruction that was applicable in every case. However, there was clearly a lapse in communication. Eventually, the girl graciously respected prasadam and left. Then I sat down in front of Srila Prabhupada's desk and he asked me: "What is her problem?" I groped for words, trying to find a way to express it and finally said: "Srila Prabhupada, in this country there are some women who are attracted to other women sexually, not to men. So she is having this problem living with the other girls and doesn't know what to do about it". Srila Prabhupada's eyes grew large and round and he said: "Oh". He saw the whole thing immediately. Then he said in a very surprised tone: "In India there are some such low-class men but not women, never women". His

face was full of surprise. I said: "Yes, Srila Prabhupada, in the West there are such women also". Then he leaned back and wagged his head side-to-side, Indian fashion in a very amused and almost amazed look. "Just see, this sex life. Men to men, women to women. Men to women. Sex life is the bondage. It is all bondage. But, he opened his eyes wide: the sex life between man and woman can be sanctified by marriage. That is the difference. Krsna says in the Gita that I am the sex life within marriage. So within marriage it can be used for having nice Krsna conscious children but not like this. This is very low class". Srila Prabhupada you clearly cut through the illusion of homosexuality, simply and concisely. Never mind arguments one way or another. You saw it simply as another form of bondage, one that cannot be sanctified by God or purified within the marriage institution of God. Nowadays, Western society has begun to aggressively promote homosexuality but their promotion cannot change the truth. It is simply another form of bondage in the material world, forcing the soul to take birth after birth of endless suffering. Unlike us, Srila Prabhupada you never became swayed by personal likes or dislikes, preferences or passions. You cut through our illusions with the swift and sure knife of knowledge and irrefutable truth. Then you stitched the wound with your divine love and instruction: chant Hare Krsna and be happy. Thank you. Your opinion, Srila Prabhupada is as valid today and unchanged

by time as it was in 1968. All these various modern trends of society you once commented to me, that nothing is new, they are all old, these things have been done again and again and Krsna knows them all. He spoke about them and he deals with each on in the Gita. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for being above everything and being able to teach us so that we also can see things from the window of spiritual realization. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Story # 28 - Just going to the bank

One day, in Montreal in the summer of 1968 I went into Srila Prabhupada's room and he wasn't there. Needless to say this was very unusual. I checked he wasn't in any other part of the apartment and it was early afternoon, so I became completely complexed because it wasn't his habit to get up and leave or go anywhere. I went running out into the street to see where he had gone but I didn't see him anywhere. I was becoming very concerned, so I ran down to the corner to see if I could see him in any direction and there he was, perhaps a block or so down the street, he had already turned the corner and he was walking somewhere, alone. So I went running down the street and caught up with him. As I was very shocked and I was trying to find out where he was going, what was going on, why he had gotten up and left the house. When I caught up with him I was out of breath and laughed when he saw me, and I

asked him: "Where are you going? What's going on? Why have you left?" He smiled and chuckled and said: "Oh, I am just going to the bank. It is all right. I will be all right". I asked him: "Srila Prabhupada, do you want to go alone? Shall I get Gaurasundara to go with you? Will you be OK?" He said: "Yes, yes, I will be all right, I will go alone". So I let him proceed and go alone and I went back to the house. He was not in the habit of going to places alone, especially at that time. This was after all after his stroke. So he would take rest and we would take care of all of his errands for him. Generally he would have Gaurasundara do the banking and of course we took care of grocery shopping and everything. The only time he went out was for some excursion or his morning walk or to the temple in the evenings, so I was a little perplexed by this but perhaps he felt that he wanted to take a walk out that day. I do have one photograph of him as he is coming out of the bank in Montreal. Gaurasundara took of him that day since he didn't usually go to the bank by himself. Gaurasundara found him there and walked with him back to our house. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving us the opportunity to care for you. Although you didn't really need us at all, certainly we thought that you did and therefore our full focus was on serving you, taking care of you and protecting you, watching out for your health, and watching out for any problem that might erase or for any errands that you needed to have done. Thank you for

giving us that opportunity. We know that you can actually do everything yourself but by Krsna's grace for our benefit you allowed us to be engaged in your service. Thank you.

Story # 29 - Medicine
Since Srila Prabhupada's stroke the previous year he always regularly took Ayurvedic medicine. He brought with him a supply of medicine when he returned from Vrindavana and then Acyutananda who was still in India would regularly send medicine to him as well as some particular nuts from India called parayalyche (?) These nuts had to be grounded to powder and they were as hard as bricks and they had to be mixed with his medicine. So Gaurasundara would sit regularly with mortar and pestle and grind these nuts into powder; then 3 mornings a week Gaurasundara would grind Srila Prabhupada's medicine along with the nuts. It consisted of all these little herbs and Prabhupada also mentioned there was gold in his medicine. It was a time consuming task - the grinding of these little brick-like nuts which Gaurasundara did regularly, and Srila Prabhupada often said this Ayurvedic medicine was helping him, and because Gaurasundara and I were taking care of Srila Prabhupada, giving him medicine, trying to take care of all his needs and running errands we naturally were a bit over-protective. Sometimes in my

overprotective mood I would mother him a bit and he would say jokingly to me: "Physician heal thyself" since I was always sickly. "You first heal yourself", he would quip in a loving fatherly fashion but the big problem came when he would stay up late with guests preaching. Srila Prabhupada loved to preach and if someone wanted to hear about Krsna he would continue on and on, often late into the night. But then, unknown to that person who had stayed late, the next day Srila Prabhupada would feel headachy and ill and tell me: "Oh, Govinda dasi, I should take rest earlier. I should not over-exert like this". So I would be distressed to see him feeling ill and then try to curtail his late evening programs. Yet, when I would try to remind him or whisper to the devotees: "Its night, it's late, come on out now", he would usually insist on continuing. So in that sense it was a difficult job to try to remind him not to over-exert but to also be the one who was the party pooper or the bouncer. Perhaps that was the most difficult job for me in my life with Srila Prabhupada in the year and a few months that we spent with him. Yet I am still grateful for that service to Srila Prabhupada and I thank him to this day. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving me the opportunity to mother you, take care of you and give you your medicine. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your bouncer even though a lot of devotees were very offended and I humbly request that any devotees who

felt offended will please forgive me for I was only trying to do my job of keeping our spiritual master well so that he could do his work. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for your grace on me, thank you for coming and thank you for coming back after your illness and tolerating so much inconvenience to preach in the Western world, even not being able to get your parayaliche (barayalyche??) nuts from India which was always an ongoing problem. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.