Srila Prabhupada's Tree

[Guest guest]

SRILA PRABHUPADA'S TREE

 

Talk by HH Giriraj Swami

Prabhupada Festival, 27 May 2001, Los Angeles

 

 

Srila Prabhupada had to struggle very hard to build the Juhu temple. The

first struggle was to get the land; the next struggle was to get the

permission to build the temple, and last struggle was to actually build the

temple and install the Deities. And we had worked very hard to get the

permission, but the Indian permits often include many conditions. So

although they give permission, the permission is not actually valid until

one fulfills the conditions.

 

One of the conditions was that we had to have an internal access road of a

certain width according to the length of the road. And it just so happened

that right where the access road was supposed to go there were some palm

trees. Once when Srila Prabhupada came to Juhu after being away for some

time he noticed that one or two of the trees had been cut and he was very

concerned--I would say upset--and he asked, "Why did you cut down the

trees?" We thought we had the perfect answer: We had to build the temple,

and to get the permission for the temple we had to cut the trees in the way

of the road. Srila Prabhupada said, "No, you go to the Municipality and tell

them it's against our religion to cut down trees." So we had no choice, and

we did it. And of course the Municipal officers argued.

 

But one thing that really struck me about how concerned Srila Prabhupada was

for the trees was that the next time he came back to Juhu after a world tour

practically the first thing he said was, "I was in Tehran and I have seen

they have trees in the middle of the streets. So we can also have trees in

the middle of our street." In other words, it was not so strange. So on

Srila Prabhupada's order we held our ground with the Municipality, and in

the end they gave us the permission to keep the tree. And even today we can

see that tree that Srila Prabhupada protected is still standing there with

asphalt all around it.

 

So I am thinking that if Srila Prabhupada has so much concern and care and

even love, I would say, for a tree, then what to speak of us--how much care

and love he must have for us. And it's just because of Srila Prabhupada's

care and mercy and protection that we are able to stand in Krishna

consciousness--no matter what else is around us.

 

All glory to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Hare Krishna.

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for this text. Receiving it was literally a Godsend. It

is always amazing how Krsna reaches out on a daily basis even to the most

insignificant and this text is an example of that. It was so timely I got

goosebumps when I read it and all of the fear, anxiety and anger about my

current situation melted away.

 

There have been so many problems for the past 3 months with repairing the

roof on my house. It had partially collapsed during the heavy rain after a

recent hurricane, and because I live in a historic district the city wants

control over all aspects of building or repairing anything. Even paint color

has to be approved first. For roof repairs official licensed contracters have

to be hired ( at exagerated expense) and inspections, etc have to adhered to.

Such an ordeal to even get permission to repair! I did what many do, I tried

to avoid the whole thing and just hire an able carpenter to fix it without

notifying the city at all, hoping they wouldn't notice.

 

A palm tree from the neighbor's yard had damaged my roof in the first place

and rather than being helpful in this regard he called the city. I was so

frustrated with the city building officials and the meddling neighbor who

called them to report my repairs, thereby involving me in the permitting

procedure I had hoped to avoid, that I contemplated cutting down this tree in

the middle night. That day I received this text and remembered the major

obstacles devotees overcame in building the Juhu temple, and heard of Srila

Prabhupada's concern over preserving the trees there. Such a transcendental

endeavor and still there were problems, what to speak of my foolish concerns

over a roof.

 

In this new light, my petty bureaucratic problems paled in comparison. I was

reminded that my neighbor is not in control, that the building officials are

not in control and that even though there may be problems in life,

contemplating revenge is an ignorant response to all of them. But best of all

I was reminded that Krsna is in control, not me. Whether or not my personal

insignificant desires are fulfilled is not up to me or even my endeavor, so

why be anxious about what we cannot control? That is what is so easy to

forget when entangled in mundane affairs, but so wonderful about the

association of Vaisnavas and this conference for reminding. Can we be

grateful enough for the mercy we have received .....? From my obscure corner

of the world, I thank you all for being part of the journey, yhs, Kanti dasi