srila prabhupada said...!!!
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
During the 1966 days Umapati dasa and Hayagriva dasa stopped attending the temple for a while because they thought Srila Prabhupada wasn't "liberal" enough in his attitude toward some of the well-known Mayavadi monks and toward the Buddhists. One day they were sitting around their Mott Street apartment discussing this, when Kirtanananda walked in. Seeing their mood, Kirtanananda began to bait them.
"I have decided to leave the Swami," Kirtanananda said, "because I don't like what is going on."
"That's just what we've been talking about!" said Umapati.
"You fools,” said Kirtanananda. "Do you think I would ever leave the Swami? If there is a problem on your mind, then you have to go and see him."
"But he doesn't really speak English well enough," said Umapati.
"No, that's not true," said Kirtanananda. "He will understand."
So Umapati and Hayagriva went to see Srila Prabhupada to reveal their minds.
"Why haven't you been coming?" Srila Prabhupada asked.
"We don't like all these things you've been saying," Said Umapati, "about the Buddhist and the Mayavadi monk."
Srila Prabhupada said that they should not have thought they could not ask him about their doubts. Then he explained, first about the Buddhists. Srila Prabhupada said that he had never said anything bad about Lord Buddha. "I always call him Lord Buddha," Srila Prabhupada said. "But the Buddhists say there is no soul, and God is never mentioned in the Buddhists' writings."
Then Prabhupada explained about the Mayavadi monk. "I say, and I have always said," Srila Prabhupada said, "that he is nothing but a crazy priest." Prabhupada then exposed the monk's discrepancies. According to this Mayavadi, one can worship Kali and go to Krsna. But, Srila Prabhupada said, this is a direct contradiction, because in the Bhagavad Gita Krsna says that if you worship the demigods you will go to the demigods, and if you worship Krsna you will go to Krsna. So the Mayavadi is contradicting the Bhagavad Gita. To say that one can worship Kali and go to Krsna is like saying you can buy a ticket to Chicago and go to California.
Then Prabhupada told them the story how the Mayavadi monk met his chief disciple, and when he touched his disciple on the head both guru and disciple felt electric shocks and fainted. Srila Prabhupada said they had read the Bhagavad Gita where Arjuna saw the universal form, but where does it say anything about electric shock? According to the Mayavadi monk, when he and his disciple woke up, the guru was crying. The disciple asked, "Why are you crying?" and the Mayavadi monk replied, "I have given you all my power; now I have none left." Prabhupada scoffed at this and Srila Prabhupada said, "Is spiritual knowledge something like money, that if you give it away you don't have any left? No. That is not the nature of spiritual knowledge."
These explanations convinced Umapati and Hayagriva. They were satisfied because Prabhupada had convinced them with logic and reason. Prabhupada then invited them to take prasadam in the next room and they happily accepted his offer, grateful to be back in his camp.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-"I Have Given You All My Power; Now I Have None Left."-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
The scene: Mayapur Gaura-Purnima festival, 1976. Prabhupada is seated in his room, talking with Prajapati dasa and his wife, who are leaders of a Krsna conscious dance and theatre group. They are showing Prabhupada pictures of one of their performances in a temple.
"Why are their backs to the Deities?" Prabhupada asked.
"Because Jayatirtha said ...”
"Jayatirtha?" Srila Prabhupada said it in a way that obviously rejected their reply. He then asked that whatever GBC men were nearby should come at once to his room. When the men had gathered, Srila Prabhupada began lecturing to them on the point of not turning ones back to the Deity. "Rupa Gosvami has said, ‘Do not turn your back to the Deity,' but now they say someone has said it is all right." Prabhupada looked around heavily to the devotees in the room. "This is the problem," Srila Prabhupada said. "We have so many big, big acaryas."
When a devotee began speaking and mentioned another one of Srila Prabhupada's leading disciples, Prabhupada immediately cut down, with a few words, both the devotee in the room and the person he had referred to. Then everyone was silent.
Finally a devotee asked, "Srila Prabhupada, what about women dancers onstage?" Earlier that day, a group of young women from a Bengali village had been dancing and playing mrdanga in the temple and some of the devotees had questioned whether it was proper to watch them.
Srila Prabhupada replied that women should not appear onstage for dramatic performances. Men should play the women's roles. Srila Prabhupada said that in India it was done that way previously; women's parts were played by boys. Only later were women introduced in the women's roles. Srila Prabhupada said no respectable woman would do that, so they used prostitutes. Prabhupada continued speaking, outlining the history of Bengali drama.
He then told the devotees about the time he had played in a drama about the life of Lord Caitanya. It had been directed by a prominent figure in Bengali theatre. Prabhupada described how when the play was finished, all the actors stood there but there was no applause. They looked out at the audience to see why there was no applause, and they saw that everyone was so moved by the story that they all had tears coming from their eyes.
"That's because you were in the play, Srila Prabhupada" remarked a devotee.
Prabhupada shook his head and made a typical wave of his hand, as if to dismiss the notion that the play was important because of him.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-"Why Are Their Backs To the Deities?"-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
Srila Prabhupada repeatedly instructed that in a Krsna conscious marriage there is no divorce. This was based on the authority of Vedic injunctions, and he intended his own disciples to strictly follow the rule. One time, however, Srila Prabhupada received a written request by a disciple for permission to divorce his wife and marry another. In his reply, Srila Prabhupada somewhat reluctantly gave his permission. Srila Prabhupada's servant at that time, Srutakirti, was bewildered by Srila Prabhupada's action in this case, and he waited for an opportunity to inquire. Srila Prabhupada can do anything he wants, thought Srutakirti, but I can't understand why he would do this.
Finally, in the evening, while massaging Srila Prabhupada in his bed, Srutakirti asked, "Srila Prabhupada, this devotee who is asking about the divorce?"
Srila Prabhupada replied that he had told him he could do it.
"Yes, I know," said Srutakirti. "But I was wondering. You always say that divorce is against the Vedic society. There can never be any divorce."
Prabhupada replied that in "your society" these things are accepted.
"But in Western society," said Srutakirti, "they also accept meat-eating and intoxication, so why aren't any of these things allowed?"
Srila Prabhupada then replied that whether he gave permission or not, the disciple in question was going to get a divorce. Prabhupada explained that if he had told his disciple no and the disciple had gone ahead and done it anyway, the offense would have been greater. Srila Prabhupada said that he had given permission since he knew the man was going to do it anyway. In this way, the offense was not so great.
Srutakirti immediately appreciated that Srila Prabhupada knew just what to do in each individual case for the benefit of his disciple.
Srila Prabhupada demonstrated that he wanted to deal with his disciples in sensitive and particular ways. This even applied to the case when a disciple would fall down or go away from devotional service. On one occasion when a prominent sannyasi disciple fell down, Srila Prabhupada became disturbed when he heard that his secretary had broadcast the news widely, in detail, of the sannyasi's falldown.
"You may have made it impossible for him to come back," Srila Prabhupada said. Prabhupada explained that the event should have been a personal matter mostly between the spiritual master and the disciple, and perhaps a few others concerned could have been informed. Srila Prabhupada said if it had been treated in this way, and then there was more chance that they could rectify the fallen soul and that he would come back and be accepted by the devotees. By the wide broadcasting of his misbehaviour, however, the man's pride would not enable him to come back very easily. Thus Srila Prabhupada showed another aspect of his training and his compassionate, transcendental personality.
Srutakirti dasa, interview; Ramesvara Swami, interview.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar Little Drops of Nectar-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
Once Srila Prabhupada came to London when he was quite sick. He was next scheduled to go to New Mayapur, France. In anticipation of Srila Prabhupada's visit, devotees had gathered in New Mayapur from Germany, Switzerland, and other European countries. The Deities of Krsna-Balarama were to be installed, initiations were to take place, and for these events devotees had been laboring hard to prepare for Srila Prabhupada's arrival. Bhagavan dasa, as GBC man, had personally worked to get Prabhupada's rooms ready, buying chandeliers in Paris, having a bed and tables made in Italy, having a new marble mantle made for the fireplace, putting up wallpaper, and so on.
Then the word came that Srila Prabhupada wasn't coming, so Bhagavan got on the next plane to London.
When he met Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavan told him that many devotees had come to see him in New Mayapur. Srila Prabhupada said, "I will dictate a message for them." Prabhupada meant that he would do this instead of going personally.
After some more discussion, Bhagavan said, "It is hot there." Bhagavan thought that this would be appealing because of Prabhupada's bad cold.
"Actually, they are having a drought there," said Bhagavan. "It hasn't rained in weeks." Prabhupada appeared unmoved.
Finally Bhagavan said, "We have an elevator in Paris. You won't have to walk up the stairs."
Then Prabhupada said to his secretary, "Oh, an elevator! We should get this in Bury Place too." Finally Srila Prabhupada said, "Your invitation is a reasonable proposal," and he agreed to go. Prabhupada then turned to his secretary and Srila Prabhupada said, "Bhagavan is the supreme controller."
Bhagavan Goswami, interview. As Vyasadeva is the only one to ultimately know the Vedanta, so Srila Prabhupada best knows the nature and potency of his own books. For example, he has stated, "If a person reads only one line, his life will become perfect." Others may not know how this is true, but Prabhupada, the author of the books, says this is true. We shall try to understand it.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-"We Have an Elevator in Paris." -Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
Srila Prabhupada said:
"This incident with one of our temple presidents is not good. He can't even maintain one wife. Just see how lusty he is. Now he'll dare to take another. Anyway, he cannot live in the temple. If he wants two wives he must live outside. He should maintain his family by working and giving fifty percent to the temple. He may not live off temple funds. Temple president is generally meant for sannyasi, but a grhastha may be if he is restrained. It is not good if he remains as president."
-- Letter of November 8th 1976
"Regarding the question of second marriage, it cannot be done. Neither the law will allow it, neither we can encourage it. If they want to marry more than one wife, they must live outside our temples in their own arrangements. We have no objection if he does it, but it must be done outside the temple. It cannot be done inside the temple jurisdiction. Outside he can work, earn money, and if he wants he can maintain 16,000 wives. But he must go outside the society. Within the society only one marriage can be allowed.
"I thought these boys and girls will be married and be happy. But I see they are not satisfied. In the Western countries they are trained up in a different way -- jumping from one to another. Another wife, another husband. This is the disease all over the world. Simply by agreement, then canceling, then another agreement.
"Everyone wants more than one wife that is human nature. This means their mind is not being diverted by Krsna. Because they are not madana-mohana, they are madana-dahana, they are in the Cupid's fire...
"They must go outside the society to do it. And, the sort of marriage where they are not satisfied cannot be allowed. Nor can woman with child, strictly she cannot marry again."
-- Letter of September 7th 1975
"Regarding your taking a second wife, you cannot do this. At least you cannot stay in our temple in Vrndavana. If you want to take a second wife, then you have to leave our Vrndavana temple. Whether you can maintain them and take some job and earn? Our temple cannot support you and your two wives. You will then want three, four, and more. Anyway, as an American it is illegal for you to do this. We are trying to minimize sex and you are trying to increase it. Please give up this idea."
-- Letter of July 13th 1975
Letter to Rupanuga dasa, November 8th 1976; letter to Bhagavan Goswami, September 7th 1975; letter to Narottamananda dasa, July 13th 1975.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-Srila Prabhupada Said: On Polygamy in ISKCON -Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
Srila Prabhupada told a story about an insensitive worshiper of the goddess Kali. Srila Prabhupada said, the "devotee" went to the temple and prayed to the goddess in a materialistic way, typical of a demigod worshiper. He asked for a material benediction. After his prayers and a perfunctory puja, he soon got the desired material result, but his puja included an obligation that when he got the result he would offer the goddess a sacrifice of a goat. After some days passed, the goddess in the temple spoke to the worshiper and asked him, "Where is the goat you promised?"
"It is very expensive," he said, "and I don't think I can afford to offer you a goat."
"All right," said the goddess, "but you have to offer something, so go and offer me at least a pig."
The worshiper went away, but neglected the goddess's request. Then on another occasion in the temple the goddess spoke to him again and said, "Where is the offering of the pig?"
This time the devotee again excused himself and said, "I am sorry, but I could not find any pigs anywhere. It is not so easy."
The goddess replied, "This is not very good. You have received your benediction and now you must give something in return. But just to make it easy for you, I request you at least to offer something that is available for you. So why don't you at least offer me a fly?"
"But goddess," said the worthless worshiper, "there are so many flies buzzing around you. Can't you just grab one yourself?"
Such is the attitude of materialistic demigod worshipers, whose hearts are completely devoid of a loving service mood.
Recounted from memory by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar- Srila Prabhupada Tells a Story-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
On a morning walk in Boston Srila Prabhupada told of a funny expression used in India. Srila Prabhupada said that if you see a fat man in India, you sometimes say to him, "Where do you get your merchandise?" The idea is that to become so fat, the man must be obtaining good merchandise. As Srila Prabhupada said this, Srila Prabhupada was accompanied only by a few disciples, walking down Allston Street near the old Boston storefront temple. Suddenly, a beer-bellied cab driver got out of his car just in front of the devotees. Srila Prabhupada looked directly at the fat man and Srila Prabhupada said, "Where do you get your merchandise?" The meaning of Prabhupada's words went completely over the cabbie's head, and Prabhupada continued walking and talking.
While speaking at Harvard University one time, Srila Prabhupada told the students the story of how the Himalayan Mountains once gave birth. When the word spread that the world-famous, huge Himalayan mountain range was going to produce offspring, hundreds of people began to gather in the foothills of the mountains. In anticipation, crowds waited, and finally they saw hundreds of rats running out from the Himalayan Mountains! Srila Prabhupada linked this strange story to the student population of Harvard. Srila Prabhupada said that it was expected that from the greatest university in America something wonderful would come out, but unless they became Krsna conscious, they would be like the offspring of the Himalayan Mountains.
" ... If one has got their own philosophy, then let them preach their own philosophy. But do not do it in the name of the Gita. This is our protest to all the interpreters of the Bhagavad Gita. If they do not believe in God, Krsna, and they don't want to surrender to Him, and then let them preach atheism. Everyone has got the right to do this, but why through the Gita? This is like the man who wants to smoke ganja, but he does not want to be caught. So he takes a friend's hand and smokes it in his hand, and then when the authorities come, he says, "Oh, I have not smoked ganja. See, my hands are clean!" The idea is that if one wants to preach the Gita, then he must preach it as it is; otherwise don't go through the Gita."
-- Letter of June 6th 1976
According to a Bengali story told by Prabhupada, a deaf man used to call his wife. She would reply, "I am coming," but the deaf man could not hear her. He used to think, "This woman is deaf." In actuality he was deaf, but he accused her of being deaf. Srila Prabhupada said this was similar to the condition of the mass of people who are actually "brainwashed" by material illusion and yet who accuse the Krsna conscious persons of being brainwashed. In this connection, Prabhupada stressed that only a Krsna conscious person knew the science of the soul and of changing bodies, whereas other religionists had little or no idea of this. Yet they criticize from their position of blind faith.
Rukmini-devi dasi, interview; letter to Giriraja Swami, June 6th 1976; Ramesvara Swami, interview.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar- Prabhupada Tells Short Stories -Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
No matter what else he was doing, Srila Prabhupada put it in his schedule, even when he was ill. Wherever he traveled, he lived with the devotees and joined them to give the morning class.
Here was the opportunity to watch his gestures and expressions as he spoke, absorbed in Srimad-Bhagavatam. A dull student might think that Prabhupada was saying the same things, using the same repertoire of verses, but Prabhupada was always quoting the verses to prove different points in different contexts. He was always discovering new lights. He also said that repetition was necessary to learn. For most devotees in the later years, this was the one sure time to be with him in his personal form, to sit and hear. It was formal, and one might wish for other situations in which to ask personal questions and to have a reply just for oneself, yet the lectures were great mercy, and to the receptive student they were very personal. Devotees have testified how in a large audience, when Srila Prabhupada said, "Distribute books," they took it to heart and formed their lives on that order. Many have testified that they found Prabhupada looked at them and spoke especially to them in his lecture, even though they knew he was speaking to everyone else as well.
This was the time for all to be with him. Each morning without fail he would begin, looking at the verse and speaking As if he was entering a sacred river, he immersed himself at once in Srimad-Bhagavatam. He hardly ever chose another literature to speak from in the morning. What an example, that the Srimad-Bhagavatam contains all else and is perfect for all our days!
He sat in one place in the traditional posture of the guru -- legs crossed, sitting on the vyasasana -- with spectacles, book in hand, microphone, gesturing and looking up. He was a hundred percent Vyasadeva's representative, giving us the transcendental wisdom. Seeing Srila Prabhupada's personal example even today by means of movies or tape recordings, all the devotees of the Krsna consciousness movement may adopt the same procedures and do as he taught. Like him, we can precede the class by singing "Jaya Radha-Madhava" with karatalas. Then we can recite om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, then the Sanskrit, synonyms, translation, purport. We have no need to invent something new. After he showed us hundreds and hundreds of times, how can we fail to grasp the instruction -- that we should continue the morning tradition of sitting together and hearing and speaking?
A devotee once told Srila Prabhupada that many disciples slept during classes and Srila Prabhupada replied that he knew. Srila Prabhupada said his classes were for advanced students. Srila Prabhupada gave untiringly as the loving instructor, but it was up to his disciples to benefit. I confess that I was one of those who sometimes slept in Srimad-Bhagavatam class. Once I even asked Srila Prabhupada what to do about my sad plight. At first he replied by making a joke. Srila Prabhupada said there is an atheistic joke in India, "Srimad-Bhagavatam is a sure cure for insomnia." When Srila Prabhupada said this, I laughed, but I didn't want it to be true of me. Sometimes when Prabhupada found a devotee sleeping in his class, he would tell him to stand up and go to the rear. Srimad-Bhagavatam class was for his advanced students, but he kept giving us chances to become more advanced.
Srila Prabhupada spoke with rhetorical power and emotion, straight from his deep convictions. He had great oratorical skill, emphasizing his points with aesthetic effects, but none of it was done for show or with lack of realization, not like the rasa dance talks of bogus Bhagavatam reciters. Srila Prabhupada wrote Bhagavatam purports and he lived the life of the Bhagavatam. He was also the Bhagavatam's ideal preacher; when he spoke, the emotions were always right.
Srila Prabhupada kindly gave all of those classes, and now, by tape recording, we hear them still, even as we wake in the morning, while taking prasadam, driving the car, flying in the plane, in sick bed or death bed; these matchless gifts continue in our ears, to cleanse our hearts and remind us that we are his sisya. We are followers of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
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chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
For a while I was the headmaster of Vrndavana Gurukula when it was a fledgling gurukula. At that time, Srila Prabhupada's Vrndavana friend, Bhagatji, was often going in to see Prabhupada. Bhagatji was also like the sugar daddy of the gurukula; he was helping me out in different ways. When he used to go in and see Prabhupada, I was thinking, "Well, maybe I can go in with him when he goes." So Bhagatji used to let me tag along, go in, and just sit in Prabhupada's room and hear the different talk. A lot of times it was in Hindi or Bengali, so I couldn't really understand much, but it was nice to just sit and be with Srila Prabhupada.
Then I got a little puffed up, thinking, "This is great. Now I have this position. I can go in and see Srila Prabhupada." With that contamination in my mind one night, I went in to see Srila Prabhupada while he was sitting out in his garden speaking to a couple of Indian guests. As I entered, the Indian guests were sitting there and Srila Prabhupada said to me, "Go and get some asanas." I ran out and tried to get asanas, but I realized, "I don't know where to go to get asanas." Then I was in a quandary. I didn't know what to do. I thought "Well, I guess I'll have to go and ask Prabhupada." I went back in and said, "Srila Prabhupada?" Srila Prabhupada said, "Yes?" "Where should I get the asanas?" Srila Prabhupada said, "Go and see Hari Sauri. He will show you." Then I ran and found Hari Sauri. "Hari Sauri, Prabhupada wants some asanas for the guests. Can you give me some?" He said, "I don't think we have any." Then I said, "Oh no!" He said, "Let me look." Then he rummaged around in his closet and he came up with one crumpled-looking asana. I thought "I've only got one asana. What am I going to do?" Then I went back out and the guests were getting up to leave.
Srila Prabhupada said, "Get them some prasadam." So I ran back and found Hari Sauri again. I said, "The guests are leaving. Prabhupada wants me to give them some prasadam." He said, "All right, here is some prasadam." Then I came out and gave them each some prasadam. At this point I was thinking, "Well, at least I did one thing right." But I still have this one asana, so I went back to the garden.
As I came in, Prabhupada was talking to Bhagatji and no one else was around. It looked like Bhagatji was already sitting on something and Prabhupada was sitting on his own raised seat. I stood there with the one asana, and I didn't know what to do with it. I couldn't understand whether Prabhupada meant for me to use the asana, or Bhagatji, or whether it was for the guests or what -- I didn't know. I was completely bewildered. As I came in, Srila Prabhupada said, "I have several times asked you to get asanas. What is the difficulty?"
I said, "Srila Prabhupada, I could only get this one asana."
Prabhupada replied by just saying, "Hmmm."
"Srila Prabhupada?"
"What?"
"What should I do with the asana?"
Srila Prabhupada said, "Take your one asana and sit down on it!" Then he began to laugh. I felt like a complete fool as he began to laugh. Bhagatji also started laughing, and I also started to laugh. I could understand at that point how I was so puffed up thinking I was a big personality that I could go in and see Srila Prabhupada, but he had just revealed to me what a complete fool I was -- an incompetent bungler. They were both laughing and I was also laughing. I couldn't even quite understand why I was laughing, but somehow or other, by his chastisement in making me look like a fool, I felt completely relieved, because I could understand my actual position. I was just an insignificant, foolish servant who couldn't do practically anything right. Somehow it was a great relief just to know that, so I sat down, and they went on talking.
-- Rupa-vilasa dasa Adhikari
Rupa-vilasa dasa and Candrika-devi dasi, interview.
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-Realizations-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)
Subhananda tells of a personal interview he had in Vrndavana with Srila Prabhupada when Prabhupada gave him permission and blessings to write a book on Vedic psychology.
Pusta Krsna Swami introduced them. "This is Subhananda dasa, and he is a writer for the BBT. He wants to speak with you about writing a book on Vedic psychology."
Prabhupada asked Subhananda if he had studied psychology.
"No, Prabhupada," Subhananda replied.
Prabhupada then turned to his secretary and Srila Prabhupada said, "How can he write a book on psychology?"
Subhananda felt somewhat heartbroken and tried to explain himself. He said to Prabhupada that the kind of book he wanted to write would not be a comparative study, comparing Vedic psychology to modern mundane psychology, but he wanted to write about psychology based on the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavatam.
"Have you read all my books?" Srila Prabhupada asked. "Have you read Bhagavad Gita? Have you read Srimad-Bhagavatam?"
"Yes," Subhananda replied.
"What is the psychology in these books?"
Subhananda replied that psychology is the study of the self. It comes from the word psyche, which means "soul." So in the Bhagavad Gita it is described that we are not the body, but the self is the spirit soul. "If one identifies with the body," said Subhananda, "he's crazy!"
Prabhupada widened his eyes, nodded his head, and turned to Pusta Krsna. "Very good, very good!"
Subhananda continued giving a little synopsis of what his proposed book would say, describing the dynamics between the senses, mind, intelligence, and false ego. All these things would be taken from Prabhupada's books and arranged in a literary way to show that Vedic literature contains a very profound science of psychology.
Prabhupada seemed to approve, but he asked further, "What is the goal?"
"The goal of the book, Prabhupada?" Subhananda asked.
"No, the goal of life."
"To surrender to Krsna," Subhananda replied.
"Why?" Prabhupada demanded.
"Because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead," Subhananda replied, "and we are His parts and parcels. It is our constitutional position to surrender to Him."
Prabhupada nodded, "Yes."
"So that should be the goal of the book," asked Subhananda, "that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead?"
Again Srila Prabhupada said, "Yes." He was then silent, and it appeared that nothing more was to be said. But Subhananda wanted to be sure that Prabhupada actually wanted him to write the book, and not that he was only humoring an attached disciple.
"Prabhupada," asked Subhananda, "do you really want me to do this book? Is it something you think would be important, and do you really want me to do it?"
Prabhupada nodded yes. Then Subhananda asked Prabhupada for his blessings so he could write the book.
"In some of your purports," said Subhananda, "you explain that one cannot write transcendental literature unless he is empowered by his spiritual master."
Prabhupada waved his arm and Srila Prabhupada said, "You're empowered." Subhananda had had a long, formal presentation in mind, but Srila Prabhupada had suddenly answered all his questions. To Subhananda, Prabhupada's gesture was on the one hand casual, yet it was very dramatic. He had moved his arm just as though it was a magic wand, and in one transcendental motion Srila Prabhupada said, "You're empowered." Subhananda wasn't sure whether to take it that Prabhupada meant that he was already empowered or that he was now hereby empowering Subhananda on the spot. Either interpretation meant the same thing, and Subhananda felt confident and humble. He knew that he had no personal qualification to write unless Prabhupada gave him the ability.
Overcome with joy, Subhananda stood before Prabhupada with folded hands and prayed out loud to him. "Prabhupada, I'm trying to advance in Krsna consciousness and I'm feeling that I need your mercy. Please benedict me with Krsna consciousness."
Prabhupada replied, "Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam. If the devotee is sincere, Krsna will bless." Srila Prabhupada then reached for an orange on his desk and handed it to Subhananda, who left, his mind swimming in an ocean of transcendental happiness.
Subhananda dasa, interview. Subhananda further explains what it meant to him to be empowered by Prabhupada:
"I never have interpreted Prabhupada saying ‘You are empowered' as meaning that from now on, Krsna will speak directly through you and everything will be very easy. But I take it that if I work hard and I am sincere and I try to surrender to Krsna and guru, and if I try to my service nicely, then Krsna will empower me."
Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada Gita-nagari Press-Srila Prabhupada Nectar-"If the Devotee is Sincere, Krsna Will Bless."-Satsvarupa dasa Goswami