Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:68-Defeat scientists and philosophers

Bhargava: Another time we were walking in Paris, when Prabhupada turned to the devotees and said with a serious tone, "I want you to all become Krishna conscious philosophers and to defeat the rascal philosophers and scientists."

A week or so later I was in Prabhupada's Bury Place room with Prabhupada and Kulashekar, a nice, outgoing devotee. His parents, quiet country people, had come to see Prabhupada. Kulashekar had been taking 8mm films of Prabhupada, and he was going to show Prabhupada the films. He went to get his parents so they could watch also. When he went out, I looked at Prabhupada and said, "Prabhupada, these materialistic scientists and philosophers are so strongly entrenched. How will we ever change them?" I don't know how I got the nerve to ask a question like that. Prabhupada looked at me and said, "Whether they change, whether they do not change, still I will go on with my propaganda work." You could almost feel the earth shake when he said that. It was that powerful. His determination was incredible.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada pastimes: 67- Who is crying

A Heart Touching Pastime Of Srila Prabhupada Ji.

Sripada Hrdayananda Babaji Maharaja was born in Radha Kunda and has been a pujari for 78 years. He lives next to the Radha Damodara Temple.
At the beginning of the interview, upon being asked if he knew Srila Prabhupada, Babaji Maharaja began to cry, "Never have I seen anyone do sadhana as he did.
I have lived all my life in Vraja and I have never seen anyone like him.
Prabhupada did many arduous things, he worked very hard there at the Radha Damodara Temple. At that time it was austere, undeveloped, and very muddy and dirty with no facilities.”

"Many years later, when I heard that it was actually he who had been chosen by Caitanya Mahaprabhu to spread the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra around the world, I was not surprised.”
Prabhupada spread this Krishna consciousness by the mercy of Rupa Goswami. Prabhupada used to pray to Rupa Goswami, "You please give me your mercy." And then he got that mercy. I know this because I saw some things he did at the Radha Damodara Temple. My room is still located in the same place as it was then, in 1964 or '65.
Many times in the middle of the night, at midnight or 1 or 2 in the morning, I would hear a voice crying from inside the courtyard by Rupa Goswami's samadhi mandira.
 That voice was calling out and crying but I did not know what it was because I was trying to take rest.
But one night, on the full moon, I heard that voice again, so I climbed up to the roof of our house and looked down into the Radha Damodara courtyard.
 I saw something very amazing. Srila Prabhupada was sweeping the courtyard of Rupa Goswami’s samadhi. He was bending down with a small broom and as he swept the ground by the samadhi, he was crying out, "He Rupa! He Sanatana! He Gurudeva! Please give me your mercy. Without your mercy, I cannot do anything.
Give me the mercy.
Give me the strength that I may fulfill your orders." Then, I realized that it was he who almost every night was calling out as he was sweeping like this."

ALL GLORIES TO HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA !!!

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:66-Bhargava Dasa distrub's Srila Prabhupada

Bhargava: In South Africa I agitated Prabhupada by taking photographs during his lecture. When Prabhupada spoke he used wonderful, expressive hand mudras, and I was photographing those mudras. He only used them when he spoke, so that was my only opportunity to capture them. But I distracted him, and he would get irritated with me. He said I broke his train of thought.

Unfortunately, I was impulsive and I did it repeatedly. When Prabhupada was in South Africa, the first editions of the Fourth and Fifth Cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatams arrived. Prabhupada was very pleased. It was beautiful to watch him open the books and delicately handle them. The Bhagavatam was Krishna for Prabhupada. The Bhagavatams weren't his books. He had such respect for them. It was like he was dealing with a Deity. That impressed me. I was snapping away taking pictures because it was like Christmas morning for a kid when Prabhupada got new editions of his books. I snapped one time too many, and Prabhupada snapped. He got on my case, and I sat down next to him and said, "Prabhupada, I am such a fool." He said, "If you are fool, then go away, that is my order." I was so emotionally attached to Prabhupada, that I took his words heavily. I walked out of the room.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:65-House program with Ambarisha Dasa

Ambarish : I was initiated in the spring of 1975, and Srila Prabhupada asked me to come to India in the fall. I flew to Kenya to meet him in Nairobi, and we went on from there to India. There are a lot of Indian Life Members in Nairobi, so Srila Prabhupada went to many engagements. He would take prasadam at people's houses or give a lecture, usually in Hindi, in front of a lot of people. We all accompanied him when he went on these lectures, and I would never know what he was saying, but often he would bring me into the lecture somehow or other. I would be listening, and as it was in Hindi, I wouldn't understand anything. Then all of a sudden, I would hear my name. Prabhupada would indicate to me, I'd stand up, he'd lecture a little bit more and then indicate that I could sit down. It was really nice. I was feeling, and I still feel, that this was the perfection of being engaged by the spiritual master, to assist him in his preaching efforts. Even though I didn't understand what he was talking about, just to be able to assist him in that way was personal service.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:64-Disciples desire to go with Srila Prabhupada in Car

Ambarish : Another time we were coming back from the morning walk. Getting back in the car was always chaotic, because everybody would run around trying to figure out who was going to go in which car. Everybody wanted to go with Prabhupada. Harikesh was Prabhupada's secretary and he was running from one side of the car to the next with all of this tape recording stuff all over him. I was sitting in the back seat of the car with Prabhupada, watching this whole thing. Prabhupada shook his head and said, "My disciples are a little crazy, I think." So it was nice. He accepted us although we were all so unqualified to do what we were doing. Simply by his mercy we were able to carry on and accomplish a few things. 

Another time, the temple president in Hawaii was trying to sell Prabhupada the idea of buying a sailboat and going from island to island. He said, "Prabhupada, all we need is twelve good men." Srila Prabhupada immediately replied, "We do not have twelve good men in all of ISKCON." I took it that we were totally unqualified, and to a degree we still are. But he still accepted us and accepted our service, which was really nice.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada pastimes-62-1 hr cooking

In New Orleans, When Harikesa mentioned that he was spending two-and-a-half hours to cook Srila Prabhupada's lunch, Prabhupada said, "You do not know how to cook. I will show you and do it in one hour."

"One hour?" said Harikesa, almost in disbelief. "This is amazing!"

Prabhupada then took off his shirt and entered the little kitchen of the Mississippi farm. While a crowd of devotees peered in through the open door, Prabhupada looked at his wristwatch and announced, "It is now twelve o'clock."

He used the same three-tiered brass cooker he had brought to America in 1965. In the bottom section he put mung beans and water, in the middle section he put rice, and in the top he arranged various cut vegetables - squash, peas, potatoes, and cauliflower. Putting the cooker over a low flame, he then poured an inch of ghee into a frying pan and placed it over a flame. Next he cut up an eggplant, dipped the pieces into turmeric and salt, and began to fry them in the hot ghee. He mixed and kneaded dough and began rolling out capatis. Periodically he checked his wristwatch, and when forty-five minutes had passed, he took the cooker's top off and turned it upside down to use as a small frying pan. He put in ghee and cooked some bitter melon, then deftly added cumin, anise, chili, and asafoetida. He squeezed lemon on the steamed vegetables and, within a few minutes, had finished.

Srila Prabhupada looked at his watch. "One hour," he said. "We have cooked nine preparations." He then left the kitchen while his servant prepared his plate. Prabhupada said that everyone who had watched him cook should be given some of the prasadam.

Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 6 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Srila Prabhupada pastimes-61-cow products

August 1, 1975 : New Talavana, Mississippi

Before sunrise the next morning Srila Prabhupada left in the rain on a two-hour drive to the farm.

Srila Prabhupada went to his room. When he began speaking about varnasrama, he called for Nityananda. They should try not to use machines, he said. The men and animals should do the work.

When Upendra asked how the milk should be used, Srila Prabhupada explained what he called the Indian village system. "As Nanda Maharaja was keeping cows," he said, "similarly there are many villages. They have a big pan, and whatever milk is collected they put into that pan. It is kept on a fire and is warm. So the whole family can drink milk whenever they like. Then whatever milk remains at night, they have to convert it into yogurt. The next day they use milk and yogurt also as they like. Then after converting the milk into yogurt, whatever remains is stored. If there is sufficient old yogurt, they churn, and then butter comes out. They take that butter, and the water separated from the butter is called whey. So instead of dal, they use this whey for eating with capatis. It will be very healthy and tasty. Meanwhile, the butter they turn into ghee. There is not a single drop of waste."

Nityananda asked whether they should immediately stop using farm machinery. "We are not against the machine," Prabhupada explained. "You can utilize machine. But we should not allow others to be unemployed while we use the machine. This is the point. You can use the machine, but the first thing is that everyone should be employed. If you have got many men, then why should you engage the machine?"

Although for years Srila Prabhupada had given many practical instructions in other areas of the Krishna consciousness movement, this was one of the first times he had given so many practical directions on conducting varnasrama society.

Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 6 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:60- Bhargava Dasa depression

Bhargava : Every now and then I would get a little depressed. Once, while kirtan was going on in the Manor, I drifted into depression. I was moping, moving back and forth slowly while everybody else was dancing in ecstasy. Prabhupada looked at me and motioned for me to dance too. I suddenly felt a wave go through me, and I started dancing like a wild man. Prabhupada reached out to his disciples. There were 150 other devotees in the room, but he reached out to me in that way and to every other devotee in some way or other. Everyone had a personal, special connection with Prabhupada. Another time I was lamenting and feeling depressed while I was in Prabhupada's room. I thought, "Prabhupada is going to chastise me or feel that he's wasting his time on me." But in fact, Prabhupada was sweet to me. He could see how fragile I was, and he talked to me just like he'd preach to a new devotee. He told me to be patient and to follow the four regulative principles. He said that everything would work out. I was impressed that someone so learned and educated could also be so sensitive toward others.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada passtimes: 55-Bonds of Love

Nagapatni was the only one of six children who showed any interest in her father’s academic career as a professor of theology at a Catholic University. When she was about 13 she started asking her father questions about why we were here and where we were going. And, “Why is one child born into a rich family and another born into severe poverty?”

He told her she just had to live with these types of questions. But she couldn’t. There were too many of them and a world full of misery. She started looking for answers in other traditions.

In 1968, at age eighteen, Nagapatni was working at head shop in Laguna Beach called Mystic Arts. That summer a few of her friends went to San Francisco and purchased Brijbasi prints from Costplus. They bought hundreds of beautiful prints featuring a beautiful blue boy. This enchanting figure piqued her interest. Who was he? It wasn’t until the following year, when she met a devotee, that she got a real introduction to him.

Finding the devotees a bit extreme she kept her distance. At the same time, her curiosity grew. One evening, she ventured to ask one devotee boy, “Why is there a lady chasing this beautiful blue boy with a stick in her hand?” The young brahmachari opened his mouth and poured out a stream of what sounded like memorized dogma, leaving her more annoyed and confused than edified.

A few days later, a visitor came to her home. He was an old friend of her husband’s, and was shaven and dressed like a devotee. He brought a big box of luglus. Unfortunately, her husband, who was sitting with other visiting friends, chose to ignore this kind visitor. Nagapatni felt bad that he was treated so rudely, but she noticed his pleasant, mild nature. This was Nanda Kumar, who was Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant at the time. As she and Nanda Kumar spoke, she told him she had just returned from a TM meeting, where they were charging $35 for a mantra for self-realization. She wanted something more meaningful than a hippy lifestyle. He encouraged her to visit the temple.

She went on a Sunday and found the chanting very spiritual. Although she was following a macrobiotic diet at the time, she accepted a plate of prasada. Then an amazing thing happened: although her mouth was burning from the chilies, she couldn’t stop eating the prasada. Next, the devotees encouraged her to meet their spiritual master. They had such awe and respect for him that she thought it a bit extreme. How could anyone be that special? But they encouraged her by telling her she could ask him questions. The next day, she arranged a ride with them to hear him speak at the L.A. temple.

She prepared five questions to ask after the lecture, but she became overwhelmed and shy, intimidated by the large number of zealous devotees in attendance. She was afraid she didn’t have the nerve to ask her questions. But during the lecture something mystical happen: Srila Prabhupada answered every one of the five questions in order. She cried tears of joy at how effortlessly Srila Prabhupada had cleared her mind of these troubling questions that had haunted her for years. There was no doubt in her mind now that this was her spiritual master.

This became her first lesson in vani. Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, she realized, transcended time and space.

When she started reading the Bhagavad-gita the text hit her heart like lightning. All the questions and confusion were clearing. She had read many other books, looking for answers, but here was so much more. She thought she should just learn the basics of Krishna consciousness, and go on with her life with her husband separately, but the temple commander, Shukadeva Dasa, saw right through her faulty plan and tricked her into more participation by inviting her to a cooking lesson and engaging her in devotional service. Shukadeva was engaged in kneading the dough when she heard him doing something on the stove. When she turned around, he put a lid on a pot and began preaching to her. Soon after, she and her husband joined.

Being in an all-brahmachari temple was challenging. She wanted to dress in a sari but didn’t have one. Then one day, the temple president, Durlab Dasa, brought her one. But there was no one to teach her how to put it on. The next Monday night the devotees were scheduled to travel to hear Srila Prabhupada again and she decided to try to wear the sari however she could. She wrapped it round and around herself like a mummy. When they arrived, everyone ran in, but she waddled like a penguin. Nothing got past Srila Prabhupada. As soon as Nagapatni came through the door, he told Sudama’s younger sister to take her and teach her how to put on a sari and tilaka.

Soon after the property on Watseka Ave was acquired, Nagapatni and her husband moved to L.A. It was such a sweet, special time. Each morning the devotees gathered in front of the temple to greet Srila Prabhupada as he returned from his morning walk. Each devotee would give him a flower, and he would give a flower to each of them in return. Sometimes he would pat a devotee on the head. Everyone then followed him into the temple room to greet the Deities. After the greeting, everyone would sit down for a Sri Ishopanishad class. First the devotees chanted in unison the verses they had already learned, and then Srila Prabhupada taught a new verse. This would be followed by a lecture. The atmosphere at the temple was completely transcendental. Nagapatni absorbed her full consciousness in Prabhupada’s presence, especially his words and gestures. She wanted to imprint him deeply into her consciousness.

One morning after greeting the Deities, Srila Prabhupada turned to walk from the altar to the vyasasana. However, it seemed he was walking straight toward Nagapatni. She stepped back, thinking he would turn at any moment toward his seat, but she soon found her back against the wall, with Prabhupada smiling at her. She felt a different dimension open up. Time was not relevant as he looked at her; he saw her past and future. She knew no one had or ever would love her more than Srila Prabhupada and that she was experiencing real love.

There could be one of two reasons why Srila Prabhupada gave her the name Nagapatni. Once, while chanting and walking around the temple room she found herself wondering what service she would have in the spiritual sky. She stopped at the painting of Krishna subduing Kaliya. Not knowing the pastime, she thought the Nagapatnis were surfing. She thought, “This is something I can do! I use to surf!” Or perhaps its was because her husband kept delaying his request for initiation. At one point he said he didn’t want to do it. She told him fine, “but I’m going to take initiation, and you will feel foolish having a wife who is more advanced.”

A week before the San Francisco Ratha-yatra, the L.A. devotees would go up to help. Nagapatni was expecting her first child within a month, and Srila Prabhupada told her for the well-being of her child that she shouldn’t travel after seven months of pregnancy or offer her obeisances after five. Only seven devotees stayed in L.A. to take care of things.

One warm evening, she was the only one attending the arati. The back doors of the temple were open and someone threw a cherry bomb into the temple. It made a very loud noise. Srila Prabhupada was very concerned. The next morning he came to greet the Deities as usual, and the seven devotees sat around him in a semicircle. He asked each of them how they were doing. Nagapatni was overwhelmed by his fatherly compassion. Tears filled her eyes, and as her emotions increased, she became afraid that she wouldn’t be able to answer him without sobbing uncontrollably. He saw her discomfort and gave her a knowing smile.

Srila Prabhupada then passed out a paper with two verses written on it – a prayer to Lord Nrisimhadeva – and proceeded to teach them the prayer. He instructed them to chant it every day after arati and said that Krishna would protect them. Nagapatni was struck with awe at how Srila Prabhupada was making them fearless not only from material dangers but the danger of taking another material body.

Nagapatni never tried to come too close to Srila Prabhupada because she didn’t want to interfere with his important translation work. She started the first nursery school program in ISKCON at the L.A. temple. A few women would take the now large number of children out to a park or beach. Then some would distribute books and the rest would watch the children. Once, a devotee who was married to a member of the GBC came to L.A. and wanted to dissolve the program. She thought the children could simply be kept in one room and given coloring books. Nagapatni was distressed. She felt the children needed healthy exercise and fresh air, but she was nobody compared to this devotee. The next day in Srimad-Bhagavatam class, Srila Prabhupada talked about Krishna and Balarama and how They would go to the Yamuna every day with Their friends. Then he said, “Like you have a beach here the children can play there.” Srila Prabhupada’s connection was greater than material designations, greater than time and space.

Somehow or other, Srila Prabhupada has remained Nagapatni’s dearest father. Her body has grown old and troublesome, but she begs to remain in his service until her last breath.

—–Bonds of Love: Nagapatni Devi Dasi

Srila Prabhupada passtimes:41- Give each child a cookie.. 2 passtimes

Radhanatha Swami : 

It was wonderful when Srila Prabhupada gave cookies to the children during guru puja. I thought, "This is a real preacher." The children couldn't understand philosophy, and they weren't able to follow the Srimad-Bhagavatam class. But Srila Prabhupada knew that if they became attached to him, they would go back to Godhead. So, with a beautiful, loving smile, like a father he would give each child a cookie. The children loved him. Everything Srila Prabhupada did was to induce our love for him, because he knew that our love for him was carried to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 1
Author: Siddhanta Dasa


Radhanath Swami: 

Prabhupada was giving a lecture in a garden. There was a small pandal set up, and many Brijbasis came to attend that. It was somewhere in the area of Radha-Govinda temple. Somehow or other I came late, and when I arrived Prabhupada was just leaving, walking through a field back to his car. People were lined up on both sides to offer obeisances, and I offered obeisances. Srila Prabhupada stopped in front of me, and when I got up Prabhupada very affectionately showered his mercy upon me and told me how he was very pleased that I was so much attached to living in Vrindavan.

Reference: Following Srila Prabhupada – A Chronological Series
Author: Yadubara Dasa

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes:58-Srila Prabhupada enjoys reading Krishna Book

Madhudvisa : We had a very intimate Janmastami celebration in Tokyo, Japan. In those days, Dai-Nippon was the printer that was printing our books, and they were hosting Prabhupada in a nice house. We all went to Srila Prabhupada's house on Janmastami day because he wanted us to cook a big feast for midnight and read the Krishna Book during the day. Srila Prabhupada started the tradition of reading as much as you could of the Krishna Book on Janmastami. He said, "Read the whole Krishna Book if you can. Read it constantly throughout the day." So we started. I took a turn reading the Krishna book. Tamal Krishna took a turn, and Kirtanananda took a turn. Then Srila Prabhupada said, "Now it is my turn." He took the Krishna Book and started reading. When a person reads something you can tell by their manner and the feeling that they put into the reading if they are really fascinated with it. Srila Prabhupada was reading very feelingly. Later on I said to Prabhupada, "Prabhupada, you were reading the Krishna Book so feelingly." And Prabhupada said, "Yes. I like to read my Krishna Book. It's very entertaining. It's not that because I wrote it, I don't care about reading it anymore. These are Krishna's pastimes, and it's very ecstatic to read the pastimes of Krishna." On that Janmastami day we went on and on reading Krishna Book until midnight. We didn't finish the whole Krishna Book, but we read quite a bit of it.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 1
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada Pastimes: 59-A Extremely Unique Characteristic of Ratha Yatra Festival.

Madhudvisa : Prabhupada would stress how Lord Jagannatha's going out for a chariot ride was part of our tradition. Prabhupada made it a very personal thing. Whenever Srila Prabhupada talked about Krishna, he made it personal. 

When we were standing before the Lord we couldn't sense that personal feeling and have that sense of rapport with Him. When Srila Prabhupada arrived at the temple the day before the festival we were making the chariots right across the street in the lot. Prabhupada went over to the small lot, which was in disarray, and paid his obeisances in front of the chariots. Then he looked at me and said, "The chariots are as good as the Lord." That made it much more personal. Here we were building chariots for the Lord, but the chariots themselves were objects of worship. The whole spectrum of Krishna consciousness was there in the Ratha-yatra festival. The chariots, the garlands, the prasadam, the instruments, and the clothes for Deities, were all on that same worshipable level.


Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 1

Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila prabhupada passtimes:57-Chastisement

Prabhupada said, “You have left Krishna sitting on the fence post.”

Yamuna: In March ’72, my husband and I were stationed in Vrindavan to help to start the Krsna-Balaram Mandir.

Srila Prabhupada wanted Vrindavan and Mayapur to be places for pilgrims to come from around the world to,

“Hear in the dhama and to taste the beauty of the dhama.”

Prabhupada wanted an international guest center with vibrant Krishna conscious activities going on, and he wanted prasada distribution.

He said, “Especially in Vrindavan, you won’t be recognized so much for your scholarship. But if you distribute prasada nicely and if you worship the Deity nicely, you will be respected.”

Prabhupada mercifully revealed Vrindavan to us, sometimes with encouragement and sometimes with chastisement.

While we were trying to do the Vrindavan project Prabhupada gave us lots of chastisement.

Chastisement is a special relationship that one has with the spiritual master, and sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate its potency when you’re being chastised, but in retrospect it becomes relishable mercy that we continue to learn from years and years later.

When you get chastised, you feel your energy change, and sometimes it takes a long time to put the beauty of that chastisement into perspective.

Once Srila Prabhupada was in Delhi when I came from Vrindavan and joined him there.

Although he knew that I was part of the Vrindavan project and was just visiting the Delhi temple, he said to me,

“How could you have let this happen?”

I didn’t know what he was referring to.

Prabhupada said, “You have left Krishna sitting on the fence post.”

I tried to explain, “Srila Prabhupada, I’m just visiting. I don’t have anything to do with the Deity program here.”

But Prabhupada chastised me because it’s the disciple’s duty to try to preserve what the guru has given.

He said, “I have trained you in Deity worship,” and he felt that I should extend myself to the Delhi temple also.

He also said to all of us, “You may think that this is a stone statue, an idol, standing before you, and you may think, ‘Let me give this rubbish garland to this stone statue, and Krishna will not mind.’

“But if you do that Krishna will remain a stone statue for you forever. So please take care.”

He made it clear how important it is to be attentive in our service to Krishna and in our service to Krishna’s devotees.

Under the merciful instructions of the spiritual master and in a loving way we’re supposed to help each other go back to Godhead.

That’s a glorious thing to explore because there’s no end to it.

As long as we’re breathing, there is no end to the potential of helping each other become Krishna conscious in every minute of our existence by following the instructions of our spiritual master.

—Yamuna
.
.
(Excerpt from “A Bond of Love, Srila Prabhupada and his daughters”)

Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:56--Everyone Is Won By Kirtan

We have travelled throughout India -- to Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, and to smaller cities too. We have been on the street, to conventions, in temples, and with the Prime Minister. Some people we have met have been convinced by our philosophy and some have not, but practically everybody is won by kirtana -- the sound representation of Krsna.

 At religious conventions, monistic philosophers may rebuke us all day long, insisting that everyone is God -- but by nightfall they are begging us to perform kirtana for them. Everyone is impressed that Srila Prabhupada has established his "New Vrndavana" in West Virginia with cows, forests, and temples modelled after the original Vrndavana of Lord Krsna in India. They marvel at his fifty centres established throughout the world, at the fifty thousand participants at his Ratha yatra Festival in San Francisco, and at the monthly circulation of five hundred thousand Back to Godhead's, to be increased to one million by the summer. 

The people of India, who are looking to the example of the West, are surprised to find Americans, Europeans, and Asians chanting Hare Krsna. Lord Caitanya, who is God Himself, is simply witnessing everything that He already knew would happen. His name is being sung as Srila Prabhupada said in every village and town in all countries throughout the world; Krsna consciousness is being brought back to India from the West, and those who are chanting the Hare Krsna mantra are experiencing the ultimate goal of life: the transcendental bliss which comes from love of God.

Back to Godhead Magazine- Krsna Returns to India- Giriraja dasa Brahmacari (ISKCON-Bombay)

Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:52-"where I won't see anyone's face."

Although Prabhupada remained alone on a daily basis, his main service was to be the paramahamsa ghoshtyanandi, a pure devotee surrounded by many followers whom he trained in Krishna consciousness. His own spiritual master criticized Vaishnavas who go to a secluded place to gain a reputation as a great chanter of the holy names. But occasionally Prabhupada expressed an inclination for being alone in order to work at translating the scriptures. He became disturbed when many letters came in from devotees quarreling with one another. Sometimes a disciple would travel thousands of miles to come to Prabhupada just to criticize a Godbrother. 

This exasperated Prabhupada and sometimes interrupted his composition of purports. One time in Bombay, when there was a rash of letters from devotees complaining against one another, Prabhupada said that he would like to go somewhere "where I won't see anyone's face." That was a surprising statement, but I liked to hear it. And since I was supposed to be his secretary, I began to think of how to carry out his desire. At the same time, he received an invitation to take a European tour, and he immediately accepted it. 

Before the European invitation came, I had tried to suggest places to Prabhupada where he might be alone. But I couldn't think of a place that was secluded enough. I suggested Hawaii, but he said, "Even if I go there, the letters will come." So where was that place where he could go and not see anyone's face? I thought, "Wow, this is really something! How can I accommodate his desire?" But when the European invitation came, it changed all that. "Prabhupada," I said, "you said that you are going to go to Europe. But the other day you said you wanted to go somewhere where you wouldn't see anyone's face." Prabhupada laughed and said, "I don't think I can do that in this lifetime." 

Prabhupada liked to be with devotees. If he had wanted to be alone, he could have stayed in Vrindavana and never come to the West?and we would all be rotting in hell.

Reference: Prabhupada Meditations Vol II
Author: Satsvarupa Das Goswami

Srila Prabhupada pass times :54- Lord Narasimha dev painting

From a BTG article By Yadurani Devi Dasi

IN NEW YORK CITY, 1967, in Srila Prabhupada's Second Avenue apartment, heasked me to paint a picture of Lord Nrsimha-deva, the half-man, half-lionincarnation of Lord Krsna who appeared many millennia ago. In a print Prabhupada's disciple Hayagriva Dasa had brought from India, Lord Nrsimha-deva had about ten arms, and He was ripping apart the demon Hiranyakasipu in His lap, tearing out the demon's intestines. Prabhupada told me to paint only four arms, and he told me the story of Lord
Nrsimha-deva.

I was already somewhat familiar with the story because Prabhupada had been giving lectures on Lord Nrsimha-deva and Prahlada, the Lord's pure devotee, whom the Lord had come to protect. Prabhupada asked me to do a big painting
of the killing scene. In fact, he posed for me to demonstrate the proper postures for the action. Imitating Lord Nrsimha-deva, Prabhupada stretched out his hands and then drew them back, spreading his fingers straight a little apart from one another, like delicate claws. I could almost see long
lotus nails protruding from his hands. As Prabhupada drew back his hands in a mock menacing way, he glorified Nrsimha-deva: "Your lotus hands have lotus
nails with which You rip apart the demon Hiranyakasipu."

As Prabhupada was pulling his arms back, he opened his eyes wide and crossed them in an inimitable way. I could feel Nrsimha-deva manifesting through His pure devotee. Srila Prabhupada then dropped his arms, and his face at once
gained its former composure.

In order to remember his expression for the painting, I asked Prabhupada, "Could you do that again?" He did it again, exactly as before.

Prabhupada then had Gargamuni (the temple treasure) and Brahmananda (the temple president) act out the death scene to show me the essence of the composition. Prabhupada was the director. He had one of them lie across the other's lap to mimic the way Hiranyakasipu was pulled into the Lord's lap
and torn apart. I studied the scene and then set about to paint it.

I painted the blood sparingly, applying only a little on the floor and on Hiranyakasipu's body. Prabhupada looked at the painting and told me, "Paint blood everywhere." He saw the look of surprise on my face and posed a hypothetical question: "If God is not ferocious, then from where does
ferocity come?"

Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:51-Swamiji is there a stage in advancement

Later when I was a little more advanced to talk to him one-to-one and was alone with him in his room, I asked a personal version of the same question. I was thinking of my own bad habits and my attempt to get relieved of them. I said, "Swamiji, is there a stage in advancement where you don't fall down again?" He said, "Yes." That's all he said and I was very pleased to hear it. Actually, from the first night I saw him I broke all my bad habits or they went away by themselves. He and the chanting had a powerful effect on me.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 3
Author: Siddhanta Dasa

Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:53- Realization by H.H.Radha Govind swami

*Radha Govinda Swami*: 

I was in Benares at that time when Srila Prabhupada was touring, traveling India with his 40 disciples. I read in a newspaper in America Krishna-bhakti is preached. Naturally, I was a devotee of Krishna so I liked this topic. So I went there. Then there was a procession from Dashashvamedha Ghat to Tapan Misra’s house that is now in Benares. When the procession finished, I approached Srila Prabhupada and I spoke in Hindi, “When you went to America, and how you preach?”Prabhupada said, “You see, I just chant Hare Krishna and give some lecture.” He said, “They need this Vedic knowledge. So just see how they are happy and they are chanting.” Then I asked, “Where is your program after Benares?”Prabhupada said, “I will go to Gorakhpur.” So I wrote down the date.

Then I went to Gorakhpur, and Prabhupada was there. He was staying in Krishna Niketan. I went there, I was waiting. Prabhupada was at that time alone, so I did not recognize that he is Prabhupada. “Where is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami?” I asked Prabhupada. So Prabhupada asked me, “Why you want to meet with him?” I replied, “Because he is my guru. I like him very much.” So Prabhupada asked me, “Why you accept him as your guru?”I said, “Because he is the servant of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” Then Prabhupada asked me, “Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?” So I said, “He is Krishna Himself.” So I was talking and Prabhupada asked, “Why you accept Lord Chaitanya as Krishna?” “Because I read Chaitanya-caritamrita Krishna Himself came as a devotee to preach.” Then Prabhupada said,“No, no, no, He’s not Krishna, He is devotee of Krishna.” I said, “No, He is Krishna Himself.” But Prabhupada insisted, “No, He is devotee of Krishna, He is not Krishna.” Then I spoke very hard words to Srila Prabhupada. I said, “Just keep quiet, don’t speak anymore.” Then Prabhupada laughed very loudly, very loudly he was laughing.

Then some bhaktas came and they were offering obeisances. So I realized that he is Guru Maharaj, he is Srila Prabhupada. So when they offered obeisances, I also offered obeisances. So I said, “Please forgive me, I offended at your lotus feet. I did not recognize you. Please forgive me.” Then Prabhupada caught my hand like this and said, “Come to my room.” Then three disciples were sitting there and Prabhupada was laughing, laughing. His smile was not stopped, and then he told that “He knows that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself.” He said, “You chastised me, I like that. I am very happy with your words.”

👏👏👏

Srila Prabhupada passtimes:50- meeting with Lord Krishna

Wonderful pastime of Srila Prabhupada with Krishna:

Srila Prabhupada’s first disciple, Acarya Prabhakar Misra, was a respectable Sanskrit scholar and teacher, who held an MA and PhD title. In an interview for the Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita in the 1970’s, conducted by Bahushiras das, Acarya Prabhakar stated in 1954 that he was with Srila Prabhupada on Krishna Janmastami in Jhansi. He related how he woke up at 01:00 am and heard Srila Prabhupada ecstatically playing mridanga in the temple room upstairs. When he went upstairs and saw Srila Prabhupada dancing around the temple room performing kirtan.

Prabhupada was wearing a kadamba flower garland that went all the way down to his feet. Kadamba flowers are very rare in Jhansi and when they are available they are usually the size of a golf ball.

But the one’s Prabhupada were wearing were the size of tennis balls. The entire room was surcharged with the fragrance of the heavenly planets.

Acarya Prabhakar asked Srila Prabhupada, “Where did this garland come from? It is not available from the market.” But Srila Prabhupada would not answer. His Divine Grace just kept on performing kirtan, chanting and dancing around the room.

The next morning Acarya Prabhakar asked Srila Prabhupada, “Where did you get the garland?  Why does it have such a rich fragrance?  And why were you feeling so blissful?”

Srila Prabhupada replied,  “I was chanting to Krishna and feeling some love for Him. And He appeared and gave me this garland. I went to touch His feet and He disappeared. Because of that I was dancing around the temple room.” Srila Prabhupada then began crying.

Acarya Prabhakar also related that sometimes Prabhupada’s mood was to perform kirtan very intensely. He would chant on and on and on for three days straight.

Such are the pastimes of a pure devotee, immersed in love for the Lord.

Some of us might have heard or read this pastime but it is worth reading it or hearing it millions of times. It is faith-giving and nourishing to our souls.

Srila Prabhupada Passtimes:48-Prabhupada was always magnanimous.

Only devotion is reality in spiritual life. At the end of his letter, Prabhupada mentions Jadurani. For some reason I no longer remember, she thought she had committed an offense to Prabhupada and she asked me to write to him for forgiveness. Prabhupada was magnanimous: "I do not remember when she committed offenses, and even though she might have done so, I excuse her 100 times, without any hesitation. So she has nothing to bother about it." Prabhupada was always magnanimous. whatever offense we committed in the execution of our duty, he automatically forgave. We treasure such statements.

When Lord Brahma prays to Krishna after stealing the cows and cowherd boys, he says that a mother tolerates the kicking of the baby in the womb and does not become offended. Similarly, although Prabhupada's disciples made so many mistakes out of ignorance, Prabhupada tolerated them all and simply blessed us. It's not that Prabhupada was unaware of our mistakes. In one lecture, he addresses this point. He says that because his disciples don't know how to pronounce Sanskrit, they call Prabhupada goru (cow) instead of guru. "Sometimes you say goru.' 'Goru' means cow, and guru means spiritual master. So the difference of meaning is vast. The spiritual master is not a cow. Or a bull," he laughed, " . . . it is not your language. But that doesn't matter." (Lecture, June 10, 1969, New Vrindaban)

Reference: You cannot leave Boston
Author: Satsvarupa Das Goswami