Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Realizations

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Realizations

 

 

Srila Prabhupada had a way of speaking so gravely that

even when he said something simple, his words had

significance beyond their immediate, apparent meaning.

I experienced this several times that I can remember.

 

For example, the second time I met him in Surat,

India, I was following the devotees on a photographic

assignment from Asia Magazine, so I entered his room

to take more pictures. As I sat by his side,

Prabhupada suddenly turned to me and said, "So, are

you going to become a devotee?" At that time, I still

had a mustache and wore long hair. Although I was very

attracted to him and Krsna consciousness, I said, "I

don't think so."

 

Prabhupada said, "Then you have to leave."

 

I had gone to much trouble and expense to go to India

from New York City, so I was completely flabbergasted

by Prabhupada's comment that I had to leave. I didn't

leave, and he never said anything else about my having

to leave. Therefore, I came to the conclusion that

Prabhupada was making comments that transcend time and

were not necessarily meant for that particular moment.

I took his comment to mean that if one is not a

devotee, then he cannot stay in the association of

devotees in the long run.

 

Another time a similar incident happened with

Prabhupada and myself, where he said something that

seemed to be connected with the present, but also the

future. It was at the installation of the Radha-Krsna

Deities in Paris in 1973. I was photographing the

occasion, and a big kirtana was going on. Just after

the actual installation, I put down my camera and went

to join the kirtana. I was dancing for a few minutes

and when I turned to dance in front of Prabhupada, he

motioned that I should come and speak to him. This was

unusual because it was right in the midst of a loud

kirtana with many people. I went beside Prabhupada and

put my head very close. I heard him say, "You should

never put down your camera." I immediately went to get

my camera and start taking pictures. Naturally, I took

his words as immediate instructions for the present,

but as I thought about it, I realized that he meant it

also for the future, that I shouldn't give up this

work. I should never put down my camera.

 

-- Yadubara dasa Adhikari

 

Yadubara dasa, interview.

 

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

 

 

 

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