srila prabhupada said...!!!

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

In New Jersey there were many gardens and by taking short japa walks I discovered that everyone had rose gardens. Never had I seen so many roses. Often there were small statues of Virgin Mary or various saints in the neighbouring yards, surrounded by colourful fragrant, ruby-reds, sparkle-pinks and bright yellows. I began to ask the various gardeners if I could pick a few roses and found they were very friendly. They let me pick as many as I liked. So I began to make a regular route of gardens on my daily japa walk, always asking politely, and never being refused. The people seemed happy that I was appreciating their gardens, and if they asked I would tell them the roses were for my dear grandfather who was ill and recovering nearby at a house at the seashore. Daily, I would bring two or three grocery bags full of roses, and finding vases and bottles here and there I began decorating Srila Prabhupada's room with bouquets of roses. Deity worship had not yet begun but I was happy to serve Srila Prabhupada as my Deity. He loved roses, and I loved to bring them to him. Usually, I made six or seven vases full in his room and a couple more in the living room. Later, he would compare the scents of various roses. "I think yellow is the most fragrant", he sometimes said. Srila Prabhupada said that roses were medicinal and put them on his head and face, inhaling their fragrance deeply. His room smelled always like sandalwood and roses, and my daily chore of gathering roses was my greatest delight. I would chant and sing Hare Krsna as I was walking so all the bugs and slugs could hear, and I would have the joy of carrying bags of flowers to my dear grandfather. Once while returning with my booty, Srila Prabhupada heard me singing Hare Krsna as I approached our bungalow. He smilingly turned to Gaurasundara, nodding his approval and Srila Prabhupada said: "Govinda dasi is very simple hearted". Gaurasundara told me this later. At the time, I never really understood what simple hearted meant. Now I can understand more what is meant to be simple-hearted. Krsna wants this simplicity and the youth are often more simple-hearted than adults. I believe it is possible to retain this freshness of spirit, this simple-heartedness even in the midst of difficulties and complexities of life. When things get complicated I try to remember that incident. I try to return to that fresh, young mood of simply wanting to shower my spiritual father with flowers and that lifts me above the maze of illusory complexity.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving me the opportunity for serving you in this way. I am eternally grateful and I long to bring you baskets full of roses in Goloka.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 8- Roses Everywhere-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for "Back to Godhead". I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji's clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all. So it was a big shock one day when Kirtanananda had gone away to do some errands, Srila Prabhupada came into the kitchen and asked me if I could make him a baked potato. I was stunned. I had no idea how to make a baked potato. I politely explained to him that I had no training and no idea how to cook even a baked potato. He was surprised but Srila Prabhupada said very kindly: "That's all right, never mind. I shall wait till Kirtanananda returns". I still remember the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I had failed to keep him comfortable by giving him the food that he requested. At that moment I resolved within my mind to learn cooking. During out three weeks resident at New Jersey, Kirtanananda did all the cooking and then when Srila Prabhupada went to India for six months I hung around kitchens and watched and took notes on every form of cooking. I watched Acyutananda, Mahapurusa, Upendra, and whoever was cooking, so that six months later I was able to serve Srila Prabhupada dhal, rice, chapatis and subji according to his wishes. Then he used to exclaim that "Oh, the Goddess of Fortune has taught Govinda dasi how to cook", when I would bring him his meals and indeed I believe it was true. My prayers to be able to cook for him were fulfilled. When I remember this it is with some pain, yet it also shows that Krsna can teach us everything when we sincerely desire.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for guiding me in your service and allowing me to make up for that baked potato. Even now, I mentally always offer kachories and laddhu, your favorite dishes, and hope you will come and enjoy them in the temple of my mind. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 9-Baked Potato-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

Once in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada called me into his room and asked me very nicely whether I was washing clothes in hot, soapy water. Srila Prabhupada said that normally so much soap is not needed, but because he was getting oil massages it was necessary to wash them with soap and hot water to cleanse them properly. He was very gentle and kind and loving, not harsh or reprimanding at all. He also then asked me about my clothing, whether or not I had other clothes. Since as an artist I still wear jeans. Saris had not been introduced as of yet. He commented, "I do not like these Western pants wearing with all parts exposed. Better for ladies to wear long dresses or saris as they do in India". I nodded and decided to find out about saris, since all I owned was jeans, and of course later we began always wearing saris and long dresses rather than pants. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for caring so much about us that you taught us how to dress, how to eat, even how to brush our teeth. You are the perfect father, so that even now when I can remember you in all my daily activities; and another time you commented on my short hair, recently clipped just over my ears and Srila Prabhupada said: "I do not like this bob tail. You should wear your hair long like Jadurani's in a bunch in the back. Jadurani's hair was pulled in back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. So from that day I let my hair grow and wear it as you requested. Another time you suggested I tied my hair in a knot - for catching Krsna. You explained that the brahmacari ties his sikha in a knot and in India, ladies also tie their bunch of hairs in a knot and always think of catching Krsna in that knot. That is the meaning of the sikha knot and also of the ladies' tradition of gathering their hair in a knot.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, that you are such a perfect father that you taught us how to look, how to dress and how to live. You are our eternal father. Thank you.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 10-Soap Suds And Duds-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

Jadurani had come to visit Srila Prabhupada at the New Jersey seashore and while talking with her I discovered she was feeling disturbed. She was feeling she could make no spiritual advancement due to being a woman. This was new information and some of the boys have been teasing her; the newly shaven brahmacaris were taunting her, so she was a little upset about this. After she left, I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that Jadurani was feeling like this and feeling somewhat sad. She felt discouraged by the talks of the newly shaven brahmacaris. Srila Prabhupada's eyes lit up and grew large and Srila Prabhupada said: "What is that? Why they are saying like that? Jadurani is more advanced than all of them. They do not know". He waved his hand for emphasis. So I told Jadurani later and she felt encouraged in a simple way. In these early days this war between the sexes had already begun. This was the earliest manifestation of it, that war between the sexes which has become so common in ISKCON today. Srila Prabhupada did not take it very seriously. He seemed to view it as kindergarten kids, teasing and pulling girls' pig tails and calling one another silly names. Srila Prabhupada saw only the heart, the sincerity, not the body. What do we know of the spirit in the heart? We should not be quick to judge for the truth may be far beyond the network of our minds and senses and political proprieties. Only the pure devotee of Krsna knows these inner workings. I am always reminded in my daily life to be kind and to be encouraging to even the most simple devotee for it is not possible that we know the heart. Srila Prabhupada encouraged everyone and never approved of the popular mood of criticizing, lambasting, and taunting. Only if a devotee mislead others did Srila Prabhupada become lion-like. His concern was for our protection and for our progress, and for this he encouraged everyone.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 11-Brahmacari Lessons-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

One day Srila Prabhupada was talking about his life as a gentleman householder in Calcutta. He described the various types of rice, eaten by different types of people, saying that the aristocratic class preferred the long-grain basmati rice and the servant-class preferred the short grained, cheaper type of rice. Basmati was new to us and Srila Prabhupada was expressing his appreciation of it. Srila Prabhupada said: "They like according to their nature", he explained, 'everyone has taste according to his nature. If you give a tiger milk he will not take. He desires blood to drink. That is his nature". Srila Prabhupada began to talk about his own experiences. When he was a householder he had a few servants, as was the custom in colonial and post-colonial India. "Because we were eating a very fine quality Basmati rice, which is long-grained and very flavourful, so I wanted to give the best rice to my servants also. I wanted to offer them the best prasadam and care, as it is said that even though one pays his servants, still one becomes indebted to them as they are rendering so much service". Accepting service is such a serious thing, he explained, as it can be very much implicating.

"So for some time the servants were eating this very nice Basmati rice". Then, one day, Srila Prabhupada described, one servant came to me very humbly and requested 'Sir, you are very kind and respectable and I have no complaints in your service. I am very satisfied serving here in your household but only one thing, sir, this rice which you are giving us to eat, is very difficult for us to eat. We are not accustomed. Is it possible we may have to eat that short grain variety". Srila Prabhupada burst into smiles, chuckling and shaking his head from side to side, eyebrows raised, his eyes half-closed Srila Prabhupada said; "Just see, I am giving him first class rice, but he is unable to tolerate. He desires third class rice, cheaper quality because his taste is for that. These are the modes of nature, such a subtle thing. So I gave them as they wanted". Srila Prabhupada gave such a profound explanation of the modes of nature. It takes it out of the books and into our lives. We can look around everywhere and see how people have tastes according to their modes of nature in food, music, environment, everything, and we can also see how by association with pure devotees and devotional service it changes; our tastes, our preferences become more refined and more sattvic. Srila Prabhupada also gave a cautionary statement about accepting service from others, how entangling it can be and thus how important it is to reciprocate, to give them some prasada, some Krsna conscious blessing and opportunity for that will help prevent us from becoming entangled in the karmic cycle of receiving service. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving us your service so that we may become purified and our tastes will change from the desire to serve dogs to the desire to serve God. You used to comment that 'dog' was "God' spelled backward and it indicates the backward mood of the modern civilization. Rather than worshipping God, they worship and serve the dogs. Dogs are seen as the repository of the lower modes of lust, anger, and greed and unbridled senses. Dogs are the symbol of degradation. Though they themselves have the good quality of faithfulness, the problem arises when one replaces God-seva with dog-seva. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for teaching us the difference between serving the dog and serving God and for purifying our consciousness so that our modes of nature slowly change and we develop a taste for serving Krsna. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, we are eternally indebted to you.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 12-Serving Servants-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

The upheaval of the 60's and the war in Vietnam was a fearful reality to many. Gaurasundara, my husband had lived in constant anxiety and fear that the draft board would call him to war. Though he was raised in a military family who fully supported the Vietnam War and they wanted him to become an airforce pilot, Gaurasundara had other ideas about his destiny. Until late November, Gaurasundara was an art student at the University of Texas, and due to his student status, he was not likely to be drafted but in late November, Gaurasundara and I had left the university in our search for truth, and in December of 1967 we had become students of Srila Prabhupada. Even in Gaurasundara's first meeting with Swamiji in San Francisco, he had expressed his anxiety about being drafted to fight in a war he did not believe in. Only about six months later, his fear became a reality. He had received a notice from the New York draft board to appear. The fateful day had arrived. We were then staying in New Jersey with Srila Prabhupada at his seashore retreat, and Gaurasundara had to travel to New York for his draft board appointment. He would receive a physical exam and very likely be drafted into the army. We expressed our severe anxiety to Srila Prabhupada who also did not endorse the war in Vietnam. Srila Prabhupada reassured us that Krsna would take care of everything. The day came for Gaurasundara's appointment and almost tearfully bid good-bye to Srila Prabhupada and me. He did not know what lay ahead; his future was uncertain. On a silk rope around his neck he wore a small murti of Lord Jagannath, and also along with that his huge red wooden chanting beads, the beads given at his initiation. He was full of anxiety yet calmly bowed down to say good-bye to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada stood calmly in the hallway as Gaurasundara offered his last obeisances and prepared to leave. Srila Prabhupada raised his right hand in blessing and Srila Prabhupada said to Gaurasundara: "Krsna will protect you. I will request him. Do not be afraid. Krsna will take care of everything". His voice was sure and strong. He smiled compassionately. He knew that everything would be all right and he conveyed that feeling of faith to us in that fragile moment. Then, Gaurasundara left for New York by train. Gaurasundara was gone the whole day. Everything went on schedule at home. Srila Prabhupada had his noon meal after Kirtanananda gave him massage and I did my usual duties of cleaning & washing Prabhupada's clothes and tried to do some art work. I was unable to concentrate, as my mind was full of thoughts of Gaurasundara. I prayed to Krsna constantly. Srila Prabhupada mentioned Gaurasundara several times, so I knew that he was also thinking of him. Evening came and he still had not returned from the city, so we were worried. Suddenly we heard him chanting as he climbed the stairs. I rushed to the door to greet him, giving him a big hug and noting the big smile on his face. Srila Prabhupada called him into his room and asked: "So, what happened?" Gaurasundara described the visit, that because of his strange appearance, sporting big red neck beads and a colourful Lord Jagannath on his chest he was sent to a psychiatric doctor. The doctor asked Gaurasundara questions and Gaurasundara answered as simply as possible, continually chanting Hare Krsna out loud on his wooden beads, and rolling his eyes upward in yogic fashion, focusing on Krsna's form in his mind. The psychiatric doctor had not seen this before and he apparently concluded that Gaurasundara was not suitable for military service. He gave him a 3-Y status, not as good as 4-F, but it certainly reduced his chances of being drafted, and Gaurasundara was never drafted. I wept for joy as Srila Prabhupada chuckled and wagged his head side to side. "Just see, Krsna has protected you. If we are sincere, Krsna will always protect. He sees everything. You have chosen his service, not the army service, so he has arranged everything". It was a joyful evening. So much stress that had been there for so long was no more and Gaurasundara could concentrate now more fully on service to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada. Krsna had saved him from a great danger, perhaps from his destiny to go to war and he was deeply grateful. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for continuously saving us from the great dangers of the material world, the cycle of samsara. You are called the military general of Lord Caitanya. Indeed, you led an army. Like Rama led an army of monkeys, you led an army of American youth. You had your mission and we were drafted into your army, Lord Caitanya's army. That was our greatest good fortune. We were unqualified, yet you so kindly protected us, infused us with your shakti and sent us out to do your work. May we always remember and be grateful for the opportunity to serve in your army and may we never forget that you are the commander in chief and always be obedient to you.

Srila Prabhupada, you changed our destinies. Perhaps Gaurasundara had been destined for Vietnam as so many other American youths, but you "requested Krsna" and He re-arranged our lives. Often Srila Prabhupada would say to me when I had a cold or flu: "Yes, Krsna is checking off your account. He sees you sincerely desire to serve. You may deserve to die at this moment but instead he is giving you little cold". He would often say: "Krsna is watching us. When we are sincere to serve him he begins closing our account or checking off our account, meaning that he reduces our karmas from our stay in the material world". You, Srila Prabhupada, would remind me of this and still when I catch a cold I remember that maybe Krsna is checking off my account. May we always remember our precarious situation and constantly remember that you are watching us and checking off our account.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 13-Draft Board-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

The days went by quickly at the New Jersey seashore and soon three weeks were up. Each day was filled with joy of living with Srila Prabhupada. It was a peaceful and spiritual environment and the sweetness of his devotional mood sank deep into my heart. By the end of three weeks I was hooked. I had completely fallen in love with Srila Prabhupada. He was my whole life. I had no greater desire than to go on serving him daily, hearing him, seeing him speak, and hearing his enchanted talks about Krsna and His friends, and living in the Goloka environment that surrounded him.

Srila Prabhupada was charming, enchanting, sweet, humourous and loving. The love that radiated from his presence healed my heart from all the wounds inflicted by material life. That was my experience. I was after all a child who grew up in a home without my father since my parents had divorced when I was a small child. At two months I was sent to a wonderful, religious aunt, yet I did not really connect with my dad until I was ten years old. So Srila Prabhupada was the perfect father. He knew everything about everything. His protective presence surrounded me. When the day arrived that he was to fly to San Francisco, I was in emotional shambles. I remember so clearly kneeling by the car window just before he left, tears coursing down my cheeks as I looked up into his beautiful glowing golden face. I did not know when or if I would ever see him again. He was going to San Francisco to try to regain his health and from there he talked of going back to India. I was unable to speak very well, being very young and shy, yet somehow I expressed my intense pain at his leaving and my desire to serve him. I wanted him to get well, and if San Francisco or India would help, that was my great hope. Srila Prabhupada looked down from the open car window at a tearful young American girl with no spiritual qualification, yet he knew my heart. He raised his hand in blessing, his face was full of kindness and compassion and seemed to say: everything will be all right. He reassured me with an understanding that and told me: "Chant Hare Krsna. Krsna will arrange for everything". As his car drove away, a part of my heart went with him. Though I resumed my duties of cleaning my apartment, packing the pots and pans and household articles, my desire to see him and serve him grew and grew. He was going to San Francisco only for two or three weeks and then would return to New York. I hope he would return strong and well. Time passed and Srila Prabhupada returned to New York. He was somewhat disappointed as the San Francisco weather had been cloudy and cool, and he felt he needed the warm atmosphere of India. His plans for India were confirmed. When he arrived in New York his stay was brief. He told us he would return to Vrindavana either to get well or to leave for Krsnaloka. We desperately wanted him to get well. We continued our daily prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva as instructed by him on that fateful night of his stroke. We begged Krsna to bring him back to us. As we gathered at the New York airport and sat on the floor, through my tears I heard the various talks. Srila Prabhupada commented on the Air India wallpaper designs that showed Indian ladies carrying water vessels on their heads. He found the pictures very beautiful. They reminded him of his beloved India. "Just see how graceful. They are wearing saris, carrying water pots. They are looking just like gopis in Vrindavana" Srila Prabhupada said. Srila Prabhupada turned to Hemavati who was wearing a sari she made from a piece of cloth: "Just see how nice Hemavati looks in her sari. Hemavati you may also learn how to carry water vessels, water pots, just like the gopis, and you will look even more beautiful" Srila Prabhupada said. Himavati was smiling radiantly, her long blond braid hidden underneath the silky sari.

There was a soft and sad kirtan, and the flight was called. We clustered around Srila Prabhupada as if to keep him with us for as long as possible. Here he was - surrounded by his children; most of us in our early twenties, some even younger. This was the final moment. I looked around. Jadurani was in great pain. She loved Srila Prabhupada so much; she could barely open her eyes and could barely breathe. Everyone was sad. I was crying, focused on his face, drinking in every last moment and filling my mind and heart with the desire to see him well and to serve him again. Then he left, he was gone. We watched late into the night as the plane took off. Brahmananda and I kept watching, as the jet streams grew faint; drizzly rain blew in our faces mixed with tears. It was the end of Srila Prabhupada's first lila in the USA. We knew little about Krsna but we knew a lot about loving Srila Prabhupada. Brahmananda and I agreed the rain felt like gopis' tears and the separation set in. It must be similar to the way the gopis felt when Krsna left for Mathura. It seemed to us like the whole world was crying when Srila Prabhupada departed for India.

I remember it also well. Most of all I remember, Srila Prabhupada, your compassionate glance as you looked at all your children just before departing for India. This has always been my favourite mood: your mood of love, concern and compassion. Thank you for coming here, for taking so much trouble and thank you coming back again and again and for dealing with all the headaches of starting a big organization. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving us your love so that we may learn to open our hearts and experience love.

Thank you for teaching us to love and for giving us the experience of divine spiritual love without which our hearts are like empty pumping machines. Please remain always on the altar of my heart where I will serve you always with my thoughts and deeds.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 14-The Day You Left-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

In San Francisco in early 1967, Gaurasundara and I met Srila Prabhupada. Early on in our relationship we already felt we had known him eternally but there were of course many things we did not know about him. After all, we were children, as he would often say, only 19 or 20 years old. Once while walking back from a rip-roaring kirtan in Golden Gate Park we were walking alone with Srila Prabhupada, just the three of us. The kirtan was still going on but it was getting a bit late, so Srila Prabhupada had expressed the desire to go back to his Frederick Street apartment. Gaurasundara and I volunteered to walk with him, one of us on each side, eager to hear him speak and to get know him better. Srila Prabhupada walked silently. Softly sounding his eternal japa, occasionally it became audible. The path was winding and just as we rounded a bend Srila Prabhupada stopped short. He pointed to a bunch of trees on his right; it was considerably off from the path, and Srila Prabhupada said: "Gaurasundara, can you bring some small branches from that tree, about this thick," and held up his little finger to demonstrate the size. Gaurasundara nodded eagerly and thrashed into the bushes to reach the selected tree. After a few minutes of scrambling in the bushes we saw the big tree shudder slightly as Gaurasundara pulled off some branches. Srila Prabhupada stood patiently waiting on the pathway, watching quietly as Gaurasundara clamored through the bushes, his arms full of small branches. Long pointed leafs stuck out here and there and Gaurasundara's smiling face was visible just above them. Srila Prabhupada was clearly pleased, so we felt pleased. We had no idea, however, why he wanted those branches. We were dying to know but he was silent and we were too timid to ask. Quietly we walked on, and while walking, Srila Prabhupada plucked the leaves off the twigs, one by one; the small branches were only about three feet long, so as he walked the plucked leafs scattered the path behind us. Then he began the branches into eight inch pieces and gathering the bundles in his hands. I was dying of curiosity but still just watched quietly. We had no idea what he was doing. Suddenly, just was we were leaving the park, Srila Prabhupada smiled brightly and Srila Prabhupada said to us: "These twigs will be my tooth brushes. This tree has a very medicinal sap. It has very antiseptic properties". He turned to us, flashing his bright smile and perfectly white teeth and Srila Prabhupada said: "If you want to have teeth like mine at eighty, you can not use a tooth brush, you must use these tree twigs. It will keep your teeth very healthy". We were stunned, and then we courageously asked him how he used them. Srila Prabhupada said "simply, I shall show you", and some time later he showed us how to chew the one quarter inch end of the twig until it became like a brush, then how to scrub the teeth and gums side to side, cleaning the plaque from them and stimulating the gums and leaving them feeling cleaner than a dentist's office visit. Srila Prabhupada later told us the best twig was eucalyptus, but mango was also very good, and on the East coast, where eucalyptus was not available he used birch. Srila Prabhupada, you taught us everything, even how to brush our teeth, and more over you taught us how to serve unquestioningly and eagerly without reservation. If you wanted twigs from a tree we eagerly gave them to you. Krsna tested our service mood in so many ways, even if we did not know or understand we trusted you anyway. That was the key. Krsna wanted to see how much we sincerely believed in you. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for still watching over us, for giving us the faith that you are still here, watching, guiding and waiting patiently for us to bring the twigs of our devotion to your lotus feet. Even now, just as then you stood patiently on the forest path, watching and waiting, and even now you still stand quietly in our hearts, guiding and waiting for us to invite you to sit down and remain there eternally, guiding and teaching us from within. There is no limitation on your mercy. You were kind and powerful that you can sit in the heart of everyone who calls to you.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 15-Neem Toothbrush-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

In June, July and August, Srila Prabhupada, Gaurasundara and I lived at the Prince Arthur Street apartment in Montreal. It was a homey atmosphere since Srila Prabhupada did not travel for over three months due to visa requirements. Since his birthday was approaching in late summer, I debated what to do and I decided to surprise him with a birthday cake. Of course, there were other arrangements at the temple, no doubt but this was my personal contribution and at the time it seemed like a nice thing to do. In the morning on his birthday I carefully prepared a two layer cake and frosted it with sweet butter and cream frosting. Then I decorated it with candles, not 72 or 73 but about twelve or fourteen candles. Then, after Srila Prabhupada had completed his usual bath, and tilak and prasadam and he was sitting poised at his desk chanting, I carried the flaming cake from the kitchen to his altar as I did all the usual offerings. His eyes grew large and open wide. He exclaimed: "Oh, what is that?" as I placed the candle-lit cake on the altar. I replied: "Oh, Srila Prabhupada, this is your birthday cake. I've made it for you. This is how we celebrate birthdays in America". He wagged his head from side to side and Srila Prabhupada said: "Very nice", and smiled as I brought him the flaming cake; as I set it on his desk I explained: "Srila Prabhupada, now you make a wish and then try to blow out the candles with one breath". Srila Prabhupada quickly caught on and with one deep, big whoosh he blew out every flame on the cake. Then he laughed and Srila Prabhupada said: "I have done good?" "Yes", I laughed and said: "Now you will get your wish but you don't have to tell me or anybody what you wish for". "I wish only for Krsna", his voice deep, he said smilingly, 'for Krsna's service', he added. I, saying happy birthday to him as I carefully removed the candles and cut him a big piece of birthday cake and served it to him on one of his several plates. As he tasted it he smiled and Srila Prabhupada said: "Oh, this is very good." I brought him some warm milk also. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for honouring my simple American ideas of service. I innocently offered you a Western birthday party and you accepted it graciously as if it were the more natural thing in the world.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you this life and next and thank you for reminding me of your only wish. Please bless me that someday I may also wish only for Krsna's seva. When I see birthday celebrations I am always reminded of your bright surprised look as I carried in the flaming birthday cake and how kindly you were in accepting my innocent offering. Birthday celebrations always stir memories of your gentle face, wide-eyed staring at the flaming cake in wonder. What a wonderful memory and what a wonderful wish.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 16-Vyasa Puja-Western Style-Govinda Dasi

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

When we first met Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco, it was 1967, the Haight Ashbury era. There were only a handful of devotees, Mukunda and Janaki, Syamasundara and Malati, and Yamuna and Gurudas were just coming, and there were a few others such as Harsarani and Murari. Mukunda and Janaki were very close associates with Srila Prabhupada as Mukunda had come there from New York. Mukunda was doing all sorts of wonderful organizational preaching work, arranging programs for Srila Prabhupada and so forth. Srila Prabhupada had married Mukunda and Janaki and they had no children. However, Janaki had a pet cat that she dearly loved. Srila Prabhupada, seeing the affection that Janaki lavished on her cat would say: "Just see. In America there is no family life. Women have no children, so they place their love on a cat or dog. Everyone wants love, and everyone wants to serve. That is the nature of the living entity. In America they are serving the cats and dogs."

Later on, in San Francisco, when Janaki's cat somehow died and Srila Prabhupada was informed of this, Srila Prabhupada said simply: "Good". When asked about this, Srila Prabhupada told us that now Janaki can place her full love on Krsna, and factually we saw that Janaki became then more focused on Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. Srila Prabhupada encouraged us to place the focus of our love on Krsna because whatever we love we will think about, and especially we will think about at the time of death. He was sad when a disciple placed his love elsewhere; whether it was on a business, a pet, a hobby or even too much on a family. Just like he would say: "Oh, now such and such has been lost to business, or in Janaki's case when her beloved pet cat died, his only comment was 'good'.

Once when Gaurasundara joined him in Los Angeles, and I had remained in San Francisco due to illness, Srila Prabhupada said: "Oh you have come, even without your wife". Srila Prabhupada taught us that whoever or whatever we love other than Krsna and our spiritual master would lead us astray.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for teaching us who to love and who to serve. In our ignorance we place our love on so many other things: animals, people, careers, etc. but you taught us to focus our love on Krsna and by so doing we will thus come to love everyone: all the animals, all the people in a way that is on a spiritual level.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada Stories-Story # 17-Good-Govinda Dasi