'Watering the Seed' by Giriraj Swami

[Guest guest]

"Prabhupada told me that if I simply study the character of Lord Caitanya in

Caitanya-caritamrta--even apart from His being the Supreme Personality of

Godhead--just by studying Him as a Vaisnava, I will become perfect. So in

the same way, if people study Prabhupada, apart from what his inner identity

might be--which even we don't know--if they study him just as a Vaisnava or

as a great acarya or as a great personality, they will benefit." -- from

Watering the Seed

 

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Recently released, His Holiness Giriraj Swami's first book, 'Watering the

Seed' has been receiving favorable reviews from devotees and lay people

alike. Included below are comments by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami, His

Holiness Radhanath Swami, His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, His Holiness

Indradyumna Swami, His Holiness Giridhari Swami, His Holiness Bhakti

Vikas Swami, Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi ACBSP and others, as well as

extracts from the book.

 

* * *

 

"His Holiness Giriraj Swami had so much association with Srila Prabhupada,

more than most leaders. He has started writing and sharing some of his

experiences and realizations. It is so wonderful that devotees are beginning

to write more and more about the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. It's very

special for the devotee community as well as the world. As the years go by

some things will not be quite as distinct. Sometimes essential things become

confused or even lost, or, worse, people begin to interpolate, speculate,

etc., causing a lot of confusion. Sometimes it becomes ambiguous what the

great acaryas actually did and said, and those who had personal association,

who were given personal instructions, have a special responsibility to share

that literally with the world. The life of the acarya is his message and in

'Watering the Seed' we find some of the amazing glories of Srila

Prabhupada." -- His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

 

"In 'Watering The Seed' we will be given entrance into Srila Prabhupada's

private quarters to see the beautiful human qualities of a world acarya from

behind the scenes. We will witness his gentle fatherly love toward his young

and sometimes perplexed spiritual child. Srila Prabhupada's innocent

childlike humor will bring intimate joy to our hearts. Giriraj Swami

candidly shares with us his priceless realizations as he recounts how Lord

Krsna's beloved gardener had taken such personal care to water the seed of

devotion within his heart. -- from the Foreword by His Holiness Radhanath

Swami

 

"Thank you for 'Watering the Seed'. We read it through within hours, and

have passed it on within hours. We can only look forward to the upcoming

proposed volumes with a focus on specific time and place pastimes.... The

beginning and end were especially powerful, as was Radhanath Swami's part.

Please, please share your wonderful example to all who need it so--new and

old." -- Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi ACBSP

 

"I just got a copy of 'Watering the Seed' and read excerpts to some devotees

gathered at the Manor. Very nice. You are a gifted writer (and I am not

saying that to flatter you)." -- His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami

 

"'Watering the Seed' allows all of us to share the close association Giriraj

Maharaja had with Srila Prabhupada. His remembrances capture a unique and

historic period in ISKCON, when Srila Prabhupada was personally guiding his

disciples in their daily spiritual lives. The instructions and inspiration

that Giriraj Maharaja received from Srila Prabhupada will no doubt benefit

all readers and what's more, will help us to appreciate Srila Prabhupada in

a deeper and more personal way." -- His Holiness Indradyumna Swami

 

"I just finished reading 'Watering the Seed' and wanted to thank you for

sharing all the wonderful memories and instructions of Srila Prabhupada

with us. I found the book spiritually uplifting and inspiring in ways too

numerous to mention. I look forward to reading more of your work in the

future." -- His Holiness Giridhari Swami

 

"I appreciate the deep Krishna conscious insights." -- His Holiness Bhakti

Vikas Swami

 

"Thank you for 'Watering the Seed'. We read it through within hours, and

have passed it on within hours. We can only look forward to the upcoming

proposed volumes with a focus on specific time and place pastimes.... The

beginning and end were especially powerful, as was Radhanath Swami's part.

Please, please share your wonderful example to all who need it so--new and

old." -- Yamuna devi ACBSP

 

"I am very much impressed by the serious quality contents and the nice

presentation. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful front

picture. Srila Prabhupada's expression is so absolutely charming. It is

amazing that this is the first time I have seen this picture!" -- Sriniketan

das ACBSP

 

"I relished reading "Watering the Seed" so much. It was like the fullfilment

of a long lasting desire, that of hearing Srila Prabhupada katha from your

holy lips, you who had that extraordinary privilege of being so close to

him.... Please kindly keep churning out the nectar with more and more books.

Srila Prabhupada's books will save the world, and books about Srila

Prabhupada will save his devotees. Tadiyanam samarcanam. -- Arjuna das ACBSP

 

"'Watering the Seed' is a first class publication. I was very impressed with

the printing and layout. The actual production of the book was surpassed

only by the contents of the book--Giriraj Swami's realizations.

Congratulations on producing such a transcendental gem. I read from it at

the Sunday program in the Durban temple." -- Partha Sarathi das ACBSP

 

*

 

The Marginal Position

 

After I joined in Boston Srila Prabhupada formed the GBC, and somehow I

thought the GBC members were in a different category from the rest of us.

Then one of the GBC members fell down. Still, I thought it was a fluke and

tried to discount it. Later, when another GBC member fell, I had some doubt.

So I asked Srila Prabhupada:

 

“Srila Prabhupada, you know everything about us—you know us better than we

know ourselves--yet sometimes we see you put someone in an exalted position,

and then he falls down. How is that?”

 

Srila Prabhupada replied, “The living entity is always marginal, so whatever

position he is in, he can use it either for Krsna’s service or for personal

sense gratification.”

 

Thus the spiritual master places the disciple in the best position for

devotional service, but the disciple can always misuse the position for

personal gratification and fall down. (Extract from 'Watering the Seed')

 

*

 

This book is not just a memory of past events, but a vital principle for

being alive spiritually. With this exhortation, Giriraj Swami draws a very

subtle dramatic picture of the hard times in ISKCON but also brings back

memories of a time where determination was the key to a successful mission

in the world... What could be appointed as a fault, turns out to be a big

virtue of the book which has a stimulating effect on the reader since it can

be read by many people as it is not directed to a specific kind of reader.

Wherever you open it, the spirit of the reader embarks on a voyage with

course and compass: Srila Prabhupada, the conduct line to Krishna... This is

a reference book to read and (re)read slowly. This is not a story of a life

but a life with many stories--some of them merely circumstantial anecdotes,

but always showing characteristics of Srila Prabhupada’s great sense of

humor and his ever renewed endeavors to give Krishna consciousness to the

world. -- Maria Fernandes, poet and teacher, Lisbon

 

On the surface, this is a book of anecdotes and articles from the pastimes

and teachings of Srila Prabhupada. It says so on the cover. But Giriraj

Swami's wonderful collection is a lot more than this modest description,

taking the reader as close to Prabhupada as a roti in a pan. The joy of

Giriraj Swami's writing is his ability to add ingredients gradually and

allow the story to piece itself together chapter by chapter, starting off

with some delightful anecdotes and ending with a poignant epilogue.

Sandwiched in between are six chapters titled Spiritual Solutions to

Material Problems, Appeals and Messages, Lectures, Advice, Prabhupada's

Books, Srila Prabhupada and Krsna and His Devotees. And because they were

written at different stages of the author's path in Krsna consciousness,

each one is a separate gem which finally make up a sparkling crown for his

spiritual master. -- Andrew Whitlock, journalist and writer, Johannesburg

 

"I found the book exceedingly easy to read. It has a simple and effective

style and provides a clear insight into some of the very personal teachings

and experiences of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. So exciting to

share the thoughts and ideas of one of the greatest spiritual leaders in

history. -- Justin van Rensburg, advocate, Cape Town

 

*

 

Bus Stop

 

Even after Prabhupada got the permit to build the residences for the

devotees [in Juhu, Mumbai], he still had to get 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’ll make Hare Krishna Land into a bus stop. We will

have many buses and we’ll send devotees out to do sankirtana 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. (Extract from Watering the Seed)

 

*

 

Available in the USA from Krishna Culture, Hare Krsna Bazaar (BTG) and major

temple gift stores, or from krishna.kirtan.grs (AT) pamho (DOT) net. Available in

Europe from Bhaktivedanta Library Services. Otherwise contact

cape.town (AT) pamho (DOT) net.