Watering the Seed—Srila Prabhupada’s Ever-Fresh Presence

Giriraj Swami:

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Since the last time we met, I have published a book with anecdotes and articles that based on Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes and teachings. And several devotees suggested that as authors do read from their books and speak, I could also do the same. About three weeks ago, I attended the Prabhupada festival in Los Angeles. And one of the main parts of the program was, different disciples of Srila Prabhupada spoke about Srila Prabhupada for about ten minutes each. And although I had heard some of the stories before, I found they were fresh and new. And I realized that when we speak about Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada actually manifests himself and just as Srila Prabhupada was always fresh. So, when we speak about Srila Prabhupada, we also can experience Srila Prabhupada’s ever fresh presence. And one of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions to me which he repeated, was to write. I did write articles before but especially my service in India was very demanding and I couldn’t really give much time to writing. But in the last year or so, I have spent more time in the United States and I have had more opportunity to write and thus to try to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to me.

So, I will just read some selections and speak, and you also can ask any questions or add any of your realizations, or experiences, or thoughts as well. So, the book is called Watering the Seed, and I will begin with the introduction.

INTRODUCTION

First is the dedication to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who planted the seed of pure devotion in the hearts of his followers, who watered it with songs and talks and books about Krishna. And who even today protects and nourishes it with his divine instructions, the fruits of this book are dedicated with love.

COMMENT

And is the Foreword by His Holiness Radhanath Swami. Now, I will read a little from the Foreword.

FORWARD

In 1965 His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada embarked upon a mission which would fulfill an ancient, long-awaited prophecy. His spirit of selfless compassion will be forever imprinted on the pages of religious history. He spread the eternal message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the world. By his words and example, Srila Prabhupada established, that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that all living beings are His eternal servants, the ultimate perfection of life is to awaken pure love for Kṛṣṇa through the sublime method of chanting His holy names. With tears in his eyes, Srila Prabhupada would appeal to his followers to assist him in his divine service to humanity. Those illustrious souls who stepped forward to sacrifice their lives to help Srila Prabhupada became the dearmost recipients of his priceless blessings.

It is my great fortune to have the opportunity to write the foreword to this book, which is the first in a series of publications by my dear godbrother and friend. I pray that all who read Watering the Seed may be blessed with ever-increasing appreciation for Srila Prabhupada’s monumental contribution to our lives.

Your servant Radhanath Swami.

COMMENT

That was just an excerpt.

PREFACE

In April of 1969, I saw Srila Prabhupada for the first time. My Psychology professor James Klee had invited Srila Prabhupada to give a lecture in an auditorium at Brandeis University, where I was in my last year as a psychology major. Because of some arguments with my friends, I had arrived late, just in time for the last kirtan after the lecture. Still, I was able to see Srila Prabhupada and hear the devotees chant Hare Krishna. For some time, I had been looking for a guru. Someone, who could bring me to an enlightened state of consciousness. And I even had an image of what he would look like. I would travel anywhere and everywhere, even by car for a thousand miles to find my perfect master. But wherever I went, whomever I met, I found some imperfection.

So, I almost became hopeless. Where would I find my perfect master? Furthermore, all the Indian swamis and yogis I met had long hair and beards, and the spiritual master in my mental image had no hair. When I first saw Srila Prabhupada in Schwartz auditorium, two things struck me. He was so effulgent; I could hardly focus on his form. And he had no hair, he was clean-shaven. At the end of the program, Satsvarupa announced from the stage that if anyone was driving to Harvard Square or Boston, the devotees needed a lift. Since I was driving to Harvard square with some friends, I offered to take the devotees as well. Thus, Satsvarupa and the other devotees piled into my red Rambler station wagon and we drove to Harvard Square, discussing gurus and philosophy on the way. The next night, I went to the devotees’ temple at 95 Glenville Avenue in Allston Massachusetts. There for the first time, I heard Srila Prabhupada speak. And there I accepted him as my perfect master, the guru I had imagined and searched for.

There I asked Srila Prabhupada, my first question. I have met so many swamis and yogis and each advocates a different method of self-realization. So how do I know which is best? Srila Prabhupada replied with his own question. What is your goal? To serve God or to become God?

COMMENT

Now, actually I had read so many books and met so many teachers but they were all impersonalists. I would say, every single one of them was impersonalist. And by reading and hearing from them, I also was an impersonalist. So, when Srila Prabhupada asked, “Do you want to serve God or do you want to become God?” I was taken by surprise because no one had ever spoken of serving God. Everyone had always spoken of merging and becoming one with God or just becoming God.

PREFACE (continued)

Srila Prabhupada replied with his own question. What is your goal, to serve God or to become God? In the course of his answer Srila Prabhupada explained that if we sow the seed of service to God and water it with chanting, God will give us the sunlight to help make it grow. But if we want to become God, why should God help the competition. You can become godly but you cannot become God.

COMMENT

So, actually Srila Prabhupada’s answer is forever imprinted in my memory. First he said, what is your goal? Do you want to serve God or do you want to become God? If you want to become God that means you are not God now, and how can not God become God? God is always God. He doesn’t have to become God by yoga or meditation. God is God. He is substantially God. And then he said, Krishna is God. He is always God. He is God, when He is playing on the lap of mother Yasoda. He is God, when He is speaking Bhagavad-gītā on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. He is God when He is with the queens in Dvaraka. God is God and He is always God. He doesn’t have to become God. And then Srila Prabhupada said that God is in your heart and He is ready to help you. Actually, he said, if sow the seed of service to God, God will help you by providing the sunlight and other factors to make the plant grow. But if you want to become God, why should God help the competition? He said, you can become godly but you cannot become God. If you try to become God, you are only cheating yourself. Because God is in your heart, ready to help you. But if you want to become God, why should He help you to compete with Him?

So, at the time I had an apartment near the university. And on the wall in my room I had placed a sign that I had inscribed with my own hand in very ornate letters. And the sign said, “You are God.” So, as Srila Prabhupada was speaking, I just got the impression that he was seeing through me, through the walls of the temple, through the city of Boston, and the suburbs, right into my apartment, right into my room, right to the wall to the sign, ”You are God.” Then at the end of the answer, Srila Prabhupada again asked. So, what is your goal? Do you want to serve God or do you want to become God? Well by then, I knew that I couldn’t become God. But I also knew that Srila Prabhupada knew everything about me and I couldn’t cheat him. But still because of the cheating propensity, I began by saying that I want to serve God. But I knew, I couldn’t cheat Srila Prabhupada. So, then I said but actually I realized, I wanted to become God. Srila Prabhupada said, Yes. So, then I knew that Srila Prabhupada was the perfect master I had been looking for. And I bowed my head to the floor and I accepted him as my spiritual master.

PREFACE (continued)

By Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, we received the seed of devotional service, and since then we have tried to water it by hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa.

The present volume is a collection of my efforts to water this original seed Srila Prabhupada gave me when we first met. Several disciples and friends suggested I publish a collection of anecdotes and articles about Srila Prabhupada and Kṛṣṇa consciousness, including already published as well as new material. We have endeavored to glorify Kṛṣṇa and His devotees for our own purification, to water my own bhakti-latā-bīja. At the same time, if some spray or droplets of water touch the devotional creepers in your hearts—the hearts of the readers—we will consider our efforts to be supremely successful.

Hare Kṛṣṇa

Your servant,
Giriraj Swami.

COMMENT

I will read an anecdote—

IF I TELL YOU I AM GOD WILL YOU BELIEVE ME?

Every Sunday in Boston we used to go to Cambridge Commons to do kirtan. Different rock bands used to come and perform, and thousands of young people used to come and hear, dance, picnic, flounder around and mingle, or just sit. So on Sundays Satsvarupa would lead the devotees to an area in the commons where they would chant and dance in a circle, joined by other young people. And some devotees used to wander around the crowd to distribute books and get donations.

At the time, 1969–1970, there was a lot of interest in spiritual life, and one boy I approached was especially friendly. He said he was interested and had an Indian guru who was God. I said, “How do you know he is God?” The boy replied, “He says he is God.”

Just because he says he is God you believe him?”

“Yes.”

“So If I tell you I am the President of the United States you will also believe me? Being President is not as great as being God.”

“Yes, I will believe you.”

COMMENT

He didn’t want to admit the defect in his philosophy or his teacher.

IF I TELL YOU I AM GOD WILL YOU BELIEVE ME? (continued)

“Very good. So if I am the President you have to do what I say.”

“Yes.”

So I said, “Take all your money from your pocket.”

He took out all his money. There was a lot! In those days young people didn’t have much money but he pulled out ninety seven dollars.

COMMENT

And that was a lot of money then especially for a young person.

IF I TELL YOU I AM GOD WILL YOU BELIEVE ME? (continued)

“You accept that I am the President?”

“Yes.”

He was stubborn; he didn’t want to admit his philosophy was wrong. Just to maintain his false prestige, he insisted, Yes.

So I said, “Okay, give me all your money.”

He gave me his money, and in return I gave him a book, invited him to the temple, and disappeared into the crowd.

About two hours later he found me, still distributing.

“You know,” he said, “I just gave you my whole pay, and tomorrow I have to pay the rent. Could you give me twenty dollars?”

Poor God. He had to come, begging for the rent.

Later, Srila Prabhupada heard about the incident and was pleased. He even mentioned it in one conversation in Los Angeles quote:

“Our Giriraj took some money. Yes. Somebody said, ‘Everyone is God.’ So Giriraj said, ‘I am God?’ ‘Yes, you are God.’

‘Then I can take your money?’ ‘Yes.’ And he gave him some money, all the money. Out of sentiment, whatever money he had in his pocket, he gave him.”

When one devotee commented to Srila Prabhupada that the boy was caught in his own philosophy Srila Prabhupada agreed, “Yes.” Srila Prabhupada preached vehemently against the impersonal philosophy, following his own spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and he appreciated his spiritual master as follows:

Absolute is sentient, thou hast proved,

Impersonal calamity, thou hast moved.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in turn appreciated how Srila Prabhupada had understood his mission. We can similarly be recognized by our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, if we understand his mission and execute it nicely.

So this is our line, paramparā, and this is our mission: to demolish the Mayavada philosophy and establish the Bhaktisiddhanta—the conclusion of pure devotion through Srila Prabhupada’s books.

COMMENT

I will read one from India—.

REMEMBER PRABHUPADA’S INSTRUCTIONS AND DISTRIBUTE

The Birla family had traditionally been the richest in India. Srila Prabhupada called them “the best organized family in the world” and said, “Nobody can measure their wealth.”

In 1971 one of the devotees in Calcutta made an appointment for Srila Prabhupada to meet Mr. L. N. Birla, the first son of the senior Birla, G. D. When the devotees informed Srila Prabhupada about the appointment, he called me to his room. “They have made the appointment, but I want you to go.” I inquired why. “In Bombay recently I asked some big men for help, but they refused. If he refuses also, it won’t be good for him and it won’t be good for me.” I replied, “But what if he refuses me?” “Oh, you are just a young boy! That doesn’t matter.”

Mr. Birla received us cordially. We showed him Srila Prabhupada’s books. Immediately he asked, “How much do I pay for these books?” I thought, “He can’t just buy the books. He has to do more.” So I replied, “We don’t actually sell the books. We only give them to life members.” “What do I have to do to become a life member?” I explained and gave him the form. He called his secretary, issued the check, and enrolled as a life member. Then I came to the real point—Mayapur. But he replied, “Presently we are building hospitals.” And that was the end of the meeting.

Back at the temple Srila Prabhupada asked for the report. I thought I had been clever enough not to allow Mr. Birla to just buy the books, but when Srila Prabhupada heard the story he said, “You did wrong. When he asked how much the books cost, you should have replied, ‘These are our presentation to you. Now we are building one temple in Mayapur. Kindly help us.’”

Years later in Bombay I got an appointment with Mr. G. D. Birla, L. N. Birla’s father. My assistant, Purīdāsa, and I took the special lift to the top floor of the Birla office building. The floor was laid with spectacular swirling green marble, and the walls were lined with mirrors so everything looked like marble. One could not distinguish between marble and glass, horizontal and vertical. It was bewildering.

Mr. Birla’s secretaries were expecting us. A few minutes later Mr. Birla came in.

Mr. Birla began by confessing that for many years he had held some prejudice against us. “I don’t know why. I just had some prejudice. But now it is gone.” Suddenly an important overseas call came, and Mr. Birla left the room.

I started to think, “What to do now? What to do?” Then I remembered I had some sets of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta in the back of the car.

It was the third day of December, and we had just begun our annual book distribution marathon. For two days I had gone out on the street to distribute books and was relishing the nectar of saṅkīrtana. But I also began to consider that with so much effort I had distributed one or two hundred small books but that with much less effort I could meet a big man and with his donation distribute so many more books. Finally I concluded, “Anyway, it is the marathon, so let me meet some big men with sets.” Thus the trunk of the car was filled with sets of Prabhupada’s books.

“Purīdāsa! Quick! Run and bring the sets of books. Don’t worry how many boxes there are. The Birla people will help you.” (In those days the Bhāgavatam was thirty volumes and the Caitanya-caritāmṛta seventeen.) I was anxiously waiting for Purīdāsa, fearing that Mr. Birla might return first. Finally Purīdāsa came rushing in with five large cartons of books, just moments before Mr. Birla.

As soon as Mr. Birla took his place I started showing him the books. And he was perusing them and appreciating. After some time he said, “How much do I owe you for these books?” His words suddenly called to mind my previous meeting with the other Birla and Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. “Oh, no! These books are our presentation to you. We can’t take anything for them.” Mr. Birla countered, “These are such beautiful books. I can’t take them for free. I must pay you.” “Oh, no! These are our presentation to you. We can’t take money for them.” He was insisting. And me, I was still relatively young and inexperienced. How could I argue with Mr. Birla? But still I stuck to my point. “No. In our mind we have already given these books to you as our gift. We cannot take payment for them under any circumstance.” He relented, but still he was not satisfied. So I added, “But we are building a gurukula school in Juhu. If you like, you may help us.” I explained the project and showed him the plans and budget. He said, “All right, you leave these with me and we will see what we can do.”

Two days later Mr. Birla’s secretary phoned, “Mr. Birla would like to meet you. He has something for you.” We were pleased to return to his office and accept his kind and generous donation.

We can thus see how perfect and potent Srila Prabhupada’s instructions are. Ten years after the original incident, the same instruction worked wonderfully. And we can see also how just by distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books, everything else follows, including Lakshmi. Thus we should faithfully remember Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and distribute his books as he desired.

COMMENT

Shankar Pandit Prabhu, would you like to say something?

Shankar Pandit Prabhu: Yes.

Giriraj Swami: You are a book distributor, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Oh! Bus Stop. Okay, turn to Bus Stop. Well, I start to review, different exchanges of with Srila Prabhupada at different points of beginning, traveling with Srila Prabhupada in India, and then coming to Juhu. How many of you have seen Hare Krishna Land in Juhu?

So, Srila Prabhupada had a very difficult time to get the permission to build. In fact, he had a very difficult time to get the land because the landlord actually tried to cheat Srila Prabhupada and keep his money and the land. And Srila Prabhupada would always tell him, “Either you give me my money back or you give me the land.” And he wouldn’t give Prabhupada’s money back and he wouldn’t give the land either. So, it was a big struggle and actually at the end Srila Prabhupada said, someone should write a book about it. So after the present volume, I am writing a book about Srila Prabhupada in Boston where I first joined and served. Then one volume about Srila Prabhupada traveling in India. Because in the beginning, Srila Prabhupada just traveled throughout India, going practically wherever he got an invitation and only later did we get some small premises as rented temples. And then eventually, we got the land in Juhu, and Vrindavan, and Mayapur, and began the big projects. So, we will come to Bus Stop but we will start on the page before. All of the anecdotes here are from Juhu.

NEVER FORGET GOD

Another time Srila Prabhupada explained to me the purpose of gurukula in Kṛṣṇa conscious children’s education. He said, we cannot expect that many of the students will stay in the temple. But they should be so nicely trained that no matter what they do later in life, they will never forget Kṛṣṇa. Then Srila Prabhupada told how he and his sister used to fly kites and pray to God to make their kites fly higher. They should be trained in such a way that no matter what they do in life, they will never forget God.

COMMENT

It is like even when he and his sister were flying kites, they were praying to God to make their kites fly. So, even though they were just flying kites, they were remembering Krishna. So, he made the point that most of the students will leave the school, and leave the temple, and lead lives in the world, in society. But they should be so nicely trained from gurukula that whatever they do in life, they will always remember Krishna. Of course, we should remember Krishna favorably because one can also remember Krishna with other attitudes. When the devotees first began the center in New York, or I should say, when Srila Prabhupada first began the temple in New York, one man named Mr. Price, well, actually his name was Mr. Payne but in Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, he was called Mr. Price. He was also a cheater and he took all the money that the devotees had at the time, five thousand dollars as a deposit against some property. And actually, he just wanted to cheat them and keep the money. Meanwhile, Srila Prabhupada had gone to San Francisco and he had told the devotees, not to give any money to Mr. Payne unless there was a written agreement. But somehow Mr. Payne bewildered them and got them to give the money without any agreement.

So when Srila Prabhupada heard, he was very alarmed and concerned. And then, when he got back to New York, he himself tried to get the money back. So, at one stage, Mr. Payne phoned and Srila Prabhupada answered and Srila Prabhupada was very gracious and charming. So, Srila Prabhupada answered and said, “Oh! Mr. Price, I am always thinking of you.” And after the phone call, one of the devotees asked Srila Prabhupada, “Is it true that you are always thinking of Mr. Price?” And, Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes. like Kaṁsa was always thinking of Krishna.”

So, we should think of Krishna all the time but favorably with love. There is one story that I heard in India, sort of a joke you could say. Actually two that shows how people in India do think of Krishna although not always with pure devotion. But let me see if I can remember. But I remember the one that I was going to mention first.

So one man went to the deity. Even today so many people go, especially to the deity of Venkateswara (Balaji) to make deals with the deity, or get some profit from the deity. So, one man went to the deity and he was going to bet on the horses. So he went to the deity and he said, “Lord if I win one lack of rupees, I will give you half.” So with that promise, he went to the horse races. He bet and he won fifty thousand rupees. So, He went back to the deity, prayed, “Lord you didn’t trust me, you took your half first.”

So they think of God, but sometimes they want to do business with Him. Sometimes, they want to cheat Him. Some demons want to kill Him. But we of course train our children, and our friends, and ourselves, to think of Krishna favorably in a mood of loving service. The next one is called, Service is Important.

SERVICE IS IMPORTANT

Eventually Srila Prabhupada’s friend and staunch devotee Mr. P. L Sethi obtained permission to build one story on top of the apartments at the rear of Hare Krishna land to serve as residential quarters for the devotees and he personally oversaw the construction.

COMMENT

Actually, Mr. Sethi is a very staunch devotee of Srila Prabhupada. He is still there in Bombay, although quite old now. And he was like Hanuman. He was a very strongly built Punjabi. I think he was actually Sikh or part Sikh. But he was a devotee of Krishna, he is a devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Anyway, when he finished the construction, he wanted to show Srila Prabhupada the quarters before the devotees moved in. So, he took Srila Prabhupada up and Srila Prabhupada was so pleased with Mr. Sethi. He said that “Just as you are building these quarters for my disciples here, Lord Krishna is building your quarters for you in Vaikuntha.” And then eventually of course, we did get the permission to build. And, we built the temple, and the guest house, and the auditorium. But in 1977 when Srila Prabhupada came to Juhu, after Gaura-purnima in Mayapur, He wanted to move into his new quarters which were not really finished yet.

So, we drove him to his old quarters at the back of the property, and stopped the car, jumped out, open the door. And Srila Prabhupada wouldn’t move. So someone said, Srila Prabhupada we are here. Srila Prabhupada wouldn’t move, said No. You take me to my new quarters. “But Srila Prabhupada, your new quarters aren’t really ready yet.” “I don’t care. I am not staying anywhere else except in my new quarters.”

So, we drove the car back and I think, the lift wasn’t even working. But we did have a palanquin for Srila Prabhupada because the last time he had visited, he wasn’t well. So, we made a palanquin for him to carry him up to the second floor at the back where he stayed. Now, we had to carry him to the fifth floor. So he had to go to the fifth floor and we had to carry him because the lift was not ready yet. So the quarters were a mess. More or less, the construction was finished but the quarters hadn’t been cleaned and nothing was really ready. So, Srila Prabhupada moved into one corner and he said, “Okay, you can begin, do whatever you have to do.” So, we are bringing buckets up the stairs, and throwing water everywhere, trying to clean the marble. And Prabhupada did stay there. But we had arranged a pandal program for Srila Prabhupada at Azad Maidan in downtown Bombay and we had a life member, who had an apartment closer to the city where Srila Prabhupada often stayed.

So, Srila Prabhupada agreed to stay there during the pandal, which gave us a few days to get his quarters ready. But Srila Prabhupada was like a lion. He was very frail by then, he really was not in good health. But he was like a lion, when he spoke. One night we all felt it was like Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva was just manifesting Himself in Srila Prabhupada. So, that was Mr. Sethi, so now we are back to earlier in the struggle at Juhu.

BUS STOP

Even after Prabhupada got the permit to build the residences for the devotees, he still had not gotten permission to build the temple, and the government seemed determined not to give it. Sometimes, when things looked really bad, Srila Prabhupada almost appeared to become hopeless. But even when he seemed hopeless, he would always see the positive side. One day he said, “Even if we don’t get permission and build the temple, never mind. We will make Hare Krishna Land into a bus stop. We will have many buses, and we will send devotees out to do saṅkīrtana and distribute books, and every now and then they can come back and refuel.”

Srila Prabhupada had an amazing way of turning something that appeared to be negative into something positive. Srila Prabhupada was always a fighter, always a hero.

STILL YOU MUST DANCE

After serving Srila Prabhupada as zonal secretary for India for more than three years, Tamal Krishna Goswami returned to America to preach, and soon Goswami Maharaja formed the Radha-Damodara Traveling saṅkīrtana party, which made devotees, distributed books, and sent money to India. In the meantime, Bhagavan dasa, who was GBC for France, came to spend some time as GBC in Bombay, and almost every day he and I would go to the city to work on the permission for the temple. In fact, Srila Prabhupada had decided he would not leave Bombay until he got the permission. During this time, he was lecturing every evening on the teachings of Lord Kapila to Devahūti, and Bhagavan and I would usually return just in time to take some prasāda and attend Srila Prabhupada’s class and kirtan.

Srila Prabhupada was so concerned about the work that sometimes he would call us to the vyāsāsana during the program and ask us for the news. Still Srila Prabhupada wanted us to be happy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So one evening during the program, he announced from the vyāsāsana, “You must always dance in kirtan even If you don’t get the permission.”

COMMENT

Because we would come back, we would be in the city all day. We take a bus to the train station then we take the train very hot and crowded to Church-gate. And then we would walk around downtown Bombay and the most we would eat, would be usually peanuts roast, dry roasted peanuts that they sell. They had little pieces of newspaper and they roll them up like a cone. So, we would get a one or two of those peanuts or chickpeas and that would be all we would eat. And we would come back, we would be tired. But sometimes, we would just be discouraged because we were not getting any success with the permit. So, I remember once in particular, usually in front of Srila Prabhupada we did feel happy and we wanted to dance, but I remember one evening in particular, we were so tired, and exhausted, and discouraged. I think, we didn’t dance and then Srila Prabhupada noticed. And from the vyāsāsana, I think right in the middle of the lecture, he said, “You must always dance even if you don’t get the permit.”

In fact, these are two pictures of the little temple we had for Radha-Rasabihari at that time. There is Srila Prabhupada standing in front of the deities, praying. And here is Srila Prabhupada speaking from little vyāsāsana there. And just about two blocks from the temple was Juhu beach and Srila Prabhupada used to walk on Juhu beach every morning. There is another one of Srila Prabhupada on Juhu beach.

PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE

Almost every day Haridasa Prabhu would go to the city to make members and collect donations.

COMMENT

Haridasa was actually the first Indian disciple to join in Juhu and he is still there. After all these years, he is still there. And the second was His Holiness Lokanath Swami. So Haridasa was from Bengali family. So he could speak with Srila Prabhupada in Bengali and they had nice exchanges very like intimate in a way.

PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE (continued)

Almost every day Haridasa Prabhu would go to the city to make members and collect donations. One evening after a long hard day in the city, Haridasa returned to Juhu. Unfortunately, nobody had saved prasāda for him. Frustrated and upset, Haridasa went upstairs to see Srila Prabhupada. He went into Srila Prabhupada’s room, threw his beads on Srila Prabhupada’s desk and told Srila Prabhupada, ‘I quit.’

“What happened?”

“I went out all day to make life members and no one was interested.” “Don’t worry,” Srila Prabhupada replied. “Just be patient, when the new temple opens people will stand in queue to become life members.”

COMMENT

Actually, that happened many years later after the temple opened and also, we decided to increase the life membership fee. So, we announced that for the next one month, you can become life members at the old rate. Otherwise, the fee will increase and people were literally standing in queue to become life members. They were phoning us to become life members and Srila Prabhupada’s prediction became true. And Haridasa, I don’t know how many life members he made, but he would just sit in his office and people would wait outside, waiting to come inside to sign up, and become life members.

PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE (continued)

“Don’t worry.” Srila Prabhupada replied. “Just be patient. When the new temple opens people will stand in queue to become life members.”

Then Haridasa began to complain about the foreign devotees, how he was going out to preach all day and they didn’t even save prasāda for him.

COMMENT

I think this was part of why Haridasa wanted to quit. He was going out, they weren’t becoming members, and the foreign devotees, he couldn’t deal with them. They weren’t even saving prasāda for him.

PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE (continued)

Srila Prabhupada replied, Practically, only they have come forward to help me. They are giving service, so we have to tolerate. Sometimes, when you go to milk a cow, the cow kicks you. But you tolerate because you want the milk.

THE SAME ABC

Once Mr. Seti approached Srila Prabhupada in his quarters in Juhu. (These are the old quarters in the back). He told Srila Prabhupada, he had some ideas for devotees to make money for the temple. Srila Prabhupada replied, “Your ideas may be good, but if I tell my disciples, they will think, ‘I have come for bhajana, and now he wants me to do the same business again.’”

Then Srila Prabhupada told a story. Once, a boy was learning algebra and his mother saw him write A+B=C. Seeing the letters A, B and C, she exclaimed, “Oh you have grown so much, and still you are doing the same ABC?” She could not understand there was a gulf of difference between this ABC and that ABC, there was a gulf of difference between a child’s learning to write the alphabet-ABC-and an adult’s doing algebra-ABC.

Prabhupada continued, “I can give my disciples so many ideas, but they will think, ‘I have come for bhajana, and again I am doing the same business?’ They cannot understand there is a gulf of difference between this business and that business-between working for Kṛṣṇa and working for maya.

Srila Prabhupada was so intelligent and kind. He knew our consciousness; he knew our understanding was wrong, but he did not disturb us. He allowed us to continue in our devotional service, and he maintained faith that the process of hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa and serving Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee would purify us and enlighten us in proper understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

COMMENT

Well, I think I will just skip over to the conclusion. But first, I will read an excerpt from the incident, not the incident but the time that Srila Prabhupada gave me the first very serious instruction to write.

INSTUCTION OF ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA

In 1971, we went to visit Gorakhpur with Srila Prabhupada. Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar, the renowned head of the Gita Press, invited Srila Prabhupada and the devotees to stay at his largest state, Sri Krishna Niketan, his former residence. There, Srila Prabhupada received the latest issue of Back to Godhead, which included an article I had written in Boston before I had left for India—The Genuine Spiritual Master, the first article I had written. Srila Prabhupada was very encouraged by the article and asked to meet me. “I saw your article Back to Godhead, it was very nice, you should write.” The room was dimly lit. Only some narrow shafts of light pierced through the slim openings and the wooden shutters along the side of the room. Srila Prabhupada sitting on his raised cushion, at the far end of the temple room was the image of the eternal spiritual master and his voice resonated with the truth of eternal time. Alone with my spiritual master, my eyes and ears wide open, I sat at his feet. You should write. This is your first business. Go on writing, we require many many such articles about Krishna consciousness. So you should devote yourself to writing.”

“I will try. But why are you asking me? I have no qualification.”

“We require many to do this work and we need you also. So you travel with me and I will guide you. You come and stay with me.”

I felt thrilled and honored. Srila Prabhupada had never given me a direct instruction before. Yet I wondered how it would work. I hardly ever spoke with Srila Prabhupada, and now he was inviting me to stay with him. I felt a little intimidated. Also, I always worked under my authorities; who would tell them about Srila Prabhupada’s proposal. So I asked, how will we decide whether I should travel with you or what I should do?

Prabhupada answered, “By mutual consultation.” Srila Prabhupada also instructed, “See that my books are accepted in the universities by the scholarly class.” Then he asked, do you ever think of getting married? I replied, No, I never think of getting married and after a moment added, “The only time I ever thought of getting married when I saw all the GBC’s were married.”

COMMENT

Because in the beginning, Srila Prabhupada had the idea that the management should be done by the householders. So, the GBC’s who he appointed were householders. And then, there would be another category which were the sannyasis, who would travel and preach. But I guess, we felt that GBC was the highest and they were all married.

INSTRUCTION OF SRILA PRABHUPADA (CONTINUED)

So I said, “No, the only time I ever thought of getting married was when I saw all the GBC’s were married.” Prabhupada replied, “You will never be GBC. It is best to avoid marriage. Sex desire is like an itch. If you have an itch and you scratch it, it just becomes worse. Similarly, sex desire is there and if you try to satisfy it, it becomes worse. So it is better to tolerate, not only sex desire, all the demands of the senses; eating and sleeping also, better tolerate. So you remain brahmachari and after two or three years I will give you sannyasa.”

In a matter of twenty minutes, Srila Prabhupada had given me my whole life’s program in Krishna consciousness. Sri Krishna Niketan was a grand old house surrounded by fields. I was always thinking of Prabhupada and sometimes I couldn’t sleep at night. I would just be thinking of how wonderful Prabhupada was. I would stand at the balcony near his room and look out over the fields at the stars on the bright moon. I was in so much ecstasy that Srila Prabhupada had read my article and invited me to travel with him. And I felt the awakening in my heart of a type of love I had never felt before.

COMMENT

Hare Krishna. Well, I won’t read the conclusion because there is no conclusion in one sense. I think we will give you a chance to ask any questions or make any comments.

Shankar Pandit Prabhu: Maharaja, you would often quote anecdote of Prabhupada talking about different types of intelligence like, [Unintelligible 01:01:57–01:02:01].

Giriraj Swami: Yes. Shankar Pandit Prabhu was asking about the different types of intelligence Srila Prabhupada described.

So he mentioned four types of intelligence: lazy intelligent, active intelligent, lazy foolish, and active foolish. So, Srila Prabhupada said that lazy intelligent was the highest or the best. The person is intelligent but he is lazy in the sense that he doesn’t do the work himself. But by his intelligence, he enlightens and inspires others to do the work. Then the next category is active intelligence. He has good ideas which he personally executes. the lazy intelligence has good ideas but inspires others to execute them. Then the third category is lazy foolish. The lazy foolish person has bad ideas but he is too lazy to do anything about them. So he is better. And the worst is active foolish. He has bad ideas but he is active in pursuing them.

This is with all due respect of course, but once when His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami was GBC in Bombay. Of course, he did have a hernia operation so he was sick. Sometime around the same time but not because he was sick, he would just stay in his room. And Srila Prabhupada had been there for several days and he asked about Tamal Krishna Goswami. “Where is he? I don’t see him.” So I said, I will ask why? So, I went to Goswami Maharaja’s room and I asked him. And Goswami Maharaja said that, “I am being lazy intelligent.” So, I went back to Srila Prabhupada and told him, what Goswami Maharaja had said. He said, “Oh! I know he is lazy intelligence. Once, he rode in the car with me to Mayapur and the whole time [SNORING]. I know his lazy intelligence. So you tell him, I want him to be active intelligent.” Any other questions? Yes.

Devotee: Maharaja, did Srila Prabhupada ask you to stay in Bombay [Unintelligible 01:05:36–01:05:44]?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. In fact, it is described here. I will read it and then I will comment. It is almost a continuation of what I was just reading. Because Prabhupada had suggested I take sannyasa. 

So in Juhu in 1975, a wave of devotees wanted to take sannyasa, Sridhra Swami, Lokanath Swami, Nav Yogendra Swami. Sridhra Swami and Lokanath Swami especially were dear friends. And I was happy Srila Prabhupada was pleased to award them sannyasa. But I was senior to them, so devotees naturally suggested I should take sannyasa too. Somehow within my heart I felt reluctant but Gopal Krishna Prabhu the GBC for Bombay at the time, mentioned the idea to me and then took the initiative to speak to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada called for me.

“So you want to take sannyasa. Gopal Krishna says, you want to take sannyasa.”

I was stunned. I never said I wanted to take sannyasa. I never expected Gopal Krishna would ask him. But I didn’t want to contradict my authority. So I said, Yes.

“Why?”

I knew the answer. “So I could have more facility to preach.” I looked at Srila Prabhupada with nervous anticipation.

Srila Prabhupada asked, “You cannot preach as a brahmachari?”

“I can.”

Srila Prabhupada peered back at me. “Is there any other reason you want to take sannyasa?”

The only other reasons that passed through my mind were, well, the devotees will offer obeisances to me and I will get mahā-prasāda. But I could not present those reasons to Srila Prabhupada. So I said, “No.”

COMMENT

Actually, I believe now in retrospect that Srila Prabhupada knew that I had another reason which was not even clear to me at the time consciously. But I think unconsciously, there was another reason which was that I actually didn’t like being stuck in the management at Juhu. I actually wanted to travel and preach. But it wasn’t conscious because I knew Prabhupada wanted me to stay in Juhu. But I wasn’t conscious. So I just said, No.

Somehow Srila Prabhupada did not seem to want me to take sannyasa. So I left to go to the city to preach. In the evening, when I returned to Juhu and went upstairs to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters, one of Prabhupada’s servants approached me. Boy, Srila Prabhupada really didn’t like your idea of taking sannyasa. 

(The servant was telling me, Prabhupada said while I was away). “What does Giriraj think that by taking sannyasa, he will sprout four arms for preaching.” Then Prabhupada said, “Giriraj can never leave Bombay.”

I could understand, Srila Prabhupada was concerned that if I took sannyasa, I might prefer to travel and preach and leave the management in Bombay.

COMMENT

So, I was based in Bombay until two years ago and then I became quite ill and I came to America for four months to recuperate. Then I went back in say October. And I planned to visit America like for about eight or ten days in December and then go back. But on the way, I had very severe symptoms of Angina. If you know what that is? It is a heart condition. And when I got to America, it was very serious and I went to a cardiologist. And he said it was Angina and I shouldn’t travel, and I did change my lifestyle, and so on.

So, although Srila Prabhupada had instructed me quite strongly to write, I never really had the time and then when I developed the heart condition and realized I wouldn’t be able to travel like before, I thought, now is the time to write. But I always thought of the same instruction that, “Giriraj can never leave Bombay.” But then I realized that by writing about Juhu, I am serving the Juhu project. And I can probably do more now, by writing about Juhu than just by going there and sort of being sick. So that is the answer.

Devotee: Would you be healing to travel for some time?

Giriraj Swami: Well, I will be here till Wednesday. I plan to come back tomorrow for the Sunday program and spend the night. And I guess be here for the program Monday morning. But I hesitate to take on too many commitments yet because of health. But I will come for the Sunday program, and spend the night, and I guess be here for the morning program on Monday. But I will come every year. God willing, I will come every year and visit you all. Yes.

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:13:09–01:13:13]

Giriraj Swami: When is Ratha-yatra?

Devotee: [Unintelligible 01:13:15–01:13:17]

Giriraj Swami: I don’t think, I will be. I hope I will be around on the planet still but I don’t think I will be around here. Yes. I am actually based in Southern California. It is just where the whole thing happened and the doctors are there and for various reasons, it is better for my health and I am set up to work there. But I will come back every year at least once.

Devotee: Maharaja, you must have served in Bombay, India for twenty-five years.

Giriraj Swami: Yes. When we got the land in February of 1972 that is when Srila Prabhupada made me the temple president and then I was based there basically until April of 1998. At first I missed it a lot. First, India itself then so many friends in Bombay, Prabhupada’s friends, and then the Vedic culture, and then the holy places especially Vrindavan, Govardhana. I gradually come to accept my condition and service as I am and where I am. And for the next book which is about Boston, I have been interviewing devotees, who were there before I joined some of them, and some who joined after I joined. And it has really been wonderful meeting them and talking about Srila Prabhupada with them. But I do miss it.

Devotee: My speaking of health was maintaining good health in India ever an issue for you and if so did Prabhupada ever give you any direct instructions or suggestions how to maintain health especially in India.

Giriraj Swami: Well, let me just take a look here. This is back in Juhu around 1973.

One evening I came to Srila Prabhupada’s room after a long day in Bombay. As usual I traveled to and from the city in the crowded trains and to and from the train station in a crowded bus and as usual I had not taken any prasāda from the morning until the time I returned. Srila Prabhupada looked at me and asked, how are you feeling? I then noticed, how weak and sick I was. I didn’t even notice it until Prabhupada asked. Well, frankly speaking Srila Prabhupada, I feel a little tired. (Anyway Srila Prabhupada already knew).

Immediately, Srila Prabhupada ordered grapes for me. He said, grapes are very good for strength and energy. (I see we have some wise devotee here, already knew). He said, grapes are very good for strength and energy. Then he insisted, I eat the grapes in his presence. And soon he asked, if I was feeling stronger and yes I was. Finally he concluded, to work very hard for Krishna for two days and then to have to recuperate for three days that is not a very good proposal.”

So, I had forgotten the incident and the instruction for years. And, then when I got sick, I remembered it and I realized I had that tendency to work too hard and then have to recuperate from it. And there was another letter that Srila Prabhupada wrote me, in which he combined both the instruction to take care of my health and to write. The letter said that, “Your body is dedicated to Krishna service. So, you must take care of it. And the best cure is to rest and chant Hare Krishna along with the doctor’s prescription.” And then in the very same letter he wrote that, “You should write, that writing means expressing in your own words what you have realized about Krishna consciousness.

COMMENT

So, when after so many years, all the strain and stress I had endured actually caught up with me and I remembered Srila Prabhupada’s instructions about health. So now, I am trying to follow them. Any other questions or comments?

Devotee: Maharaja, did you bring more books with you?

Giriraj Swami: Yes. We have a few copies. You brought with you? Yes. There are so many people to be introduced, but this is Damodara dasa Brahmachari and he has been one of the leading preachers in Durban, South Africa. So, he is with me for a few months as assistant and my diet is very strict. So, whenever I get a chance, I bring him to a program so he can have some ghee and get the nourishment, he should have as a young man. So, maybe afterwards you could put out a few copies and if anyone wants, they can.

Devotee: How is the next book coming along; any progress?

Giriraj Swami: Well, I dictated a lot. He asked, how my next book is coming along?

So, I had dictated quite a lot of raw material and then I started to refine it and elaborate on it. And I had consulted some friends especially His Holiness Indradyumna Swami about the whole issue of interviews, to what extent I should include interviews or do interviews for material. He thought that along with writing about Srila Prabhupada, I should also write about ISKCON, about the history of ISKCON, which is also Srila Prabhupada. And that I should interview the devotees.

So then, when my health got bad, I again wondered, well, how will I do it? Because it will require physical effort to go and meet them. But I did one interview in Santa Barbara where I am based now, of Madhava Nanda Prabhu. And it was such a wonderful experience. He had such wonderful memories and realizations. And I think speaking together, he was inspired and I was inspired. And then I felt, I really must. And then at the Prabhupada festival, I met another godbrother who was actually in the Boston temple before I joined named, Vaikunthanath Prabhu. And I interviewed him in LA and again it was a wonderful experience.

So, when I go back, I will interview devotees in California. This is the first flight I have taken since the surgery, sort of experiment. We actually stopped over in Denver to change planes and I remembered, when I met you at the airport there once. But anyway, it is hard to fly. Even healthy people have a hard time to fly especially long distances. But I will wait a few months and then maybe I will fly out to Boston, New York, Philadelphia. I think, probably between Southern California and the northeast coast, catch most of the devotees. But I think, sometimes I got impatient but finally I concluded that the book will probably take on a life of its own and it will involve interviews. And even if it takes a while to do them, it is worth the time and the effort because many devotees were not interviewed for Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta and they have stories to tell.

And I feel at least in the case of many if I don’t interview them, their stories may be lost forever. And it is also that some of them were senior to me. They were there when I joined and they also go through different phases of life; get married and they have different struggles, and it is a nice way to reach out to them and revive our mood of service to Srila Prabhupada together. Like I said in the literature on the heart, there is what is called the Type A coronary prone individual. So the Type A, he is like the achiever now. Yes, I wanted to achieve, I wanted to do the interviews, write the book, get it out, begin the next, and I do. But I think, I just have to do it in its own time and in its own way, and I can’t force it too much. But it is very encouraging to do this service and pray to Srila Prabhupada, that speak to devotees about Srila Prabhupada, and hear from devotees about Srila Prabhupada. Any other questions or comments?

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Sri Sri Pancha-tattva, ki jaya!
Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra, ki jaya!
Nitai-Gaura premānande, Haribol!