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Memories of Srila Prabhupada
Submitted by Krpa Moya Gouranga das
ISKCON, New Dwarka, LA. Ca.
Today my wife, Kusa devi, my son, Mayapuracandra, and I took a small sparrow that was in the backyard bird feeder and placed it in a spare cage with food and water. It looks sickly and might be dying but we couldn't let it happen without trying to give it some special attention. We put it next to a continuous play Hare Krsna CD in case he was leaving his body. We will see if he gets better by living or dying.
Sometimes, we devotees may not respond in this way. I always heard that it is better not to get entangled in the affairs of other living entities. After all we are not our bodies. We are spirit soul, constitutionally part and parcel of Krsna and His servant. If we serve the bird perhaps we may have to take birth again to get the pious benefit of serving birds. The following story may explain why we did it.
July 16, 1972
It is spring of 1973 at New Dwarka, Srila Prabhupada rang his bell. I immediately went to his room and paid obeisances. When I sat up, his eyes widened. Looking at me with great concern he pointed to the floor near my legs and said, "Do you see that bug?" Looking around for a few moments I finally spotted the small insect. I nodded in agreement having no idea what was to come next.
In a very serious voice His Divine Grace said, "I have been watching that bug for some time now and he has not moved. I think he is hungry. Get a prasadam flower and take him outside. Put him on a plant so he can get some nourishment." I immediately did what my most merciful Guru Maharaja asked and returned to the servant's quarters.
Neither of us spoke of the bug again. It was just another wonderful occasion in which he showed me just how indiscriminately merciful a pure devotee is. His Divine Grace didn't feel it was a waste of time to transcendentally mitigate the suffering of even the smallest of living entities. Now, just seeing the smallest of insects, I am forced to think of my beloved Srila Prabhupada. However insignificant we maybe, if we are fortunate to get the glance of the nitya-siddha, our life will be immensely benefited.
- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
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Excerpt from letter dated October 7, 1972
This morning, while walking in Merit Park, downtown Oakland, we passed a small zoo with a large sign in front of it. It read: Children's Fairyland. Prabhupada read aloud "Children's Fairyland." Then pointing to the skyscrapers he added, "Adult's fairyland".
- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
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September 12, 1972, Dallas, Texas
These last few days have been the most wonderful days I have had in Krsna Consciousness, despite the fact that I don't know what I am doing. I have given Srila Prabhupada three massages, his only comment after them was "Thank you very much". Yesterday he came into the kitchen and showed me how to prepare his lunch in the cooker. He made dahl and vegetables using the same chaunce and showed me how to roll chapatis without a pin. He said they are better that way -- if you can do it. Today he again cooked his lunch for my benefit. He made three vegetables, dahl, and rice in the cooker, and I made the chapatis. For his other meals he said he desired a little fruit with milk in the morning and fruit in the late afternoon -- nothing more. He stressed the fact that he only wants small portions on his plate.
- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
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