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Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita - Aug 09

Entering Srila Prabhupada's quarters was always an enlightening experience. Sometimes Srila Prabhupada sat and read His books. Whenever He read it seemed as if someone else had written His books because He didn't read with the mind of an author who might be looking for editing mistakes or grammatical errors. He read them with the relish of a pure devotee reading the pastimes of the Supreme Lord to whom He was completely attached.
One day in Los Angeles I went into His room to perform my duties and He was sitting and reading "Bhagavad Gita As It Is". After I offered obeisances He looked at me and said, "If you just read this one book and understand, you will become Krishna Conscious in this very life." A few months later when I went into His room, He was reading "Nectar of Devotion". He looked at me and said, "This book is so nice. Just by reading this one book you can become Krishna Conscious." Srila Prabhupada teaches us by example. He does everything He asks us to do. He requests us to read His book and He does, too.

- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter 1972, India

On my first tour of India, fall and winter of 1972, Malati devi did some cooking for Srila Prabhupada. She was the wife of Shyamasundar dasa, Srila Prabhupada's secretary. They had a daughter named Sarasvati who was about 3 years old at the time. She was the most fortunate little girl. She was the only person I knew who was able to go in and out of Srila Prabhupada's quarters unannounced.
She seemed to pop up out of nowhere, like a tiny Narada Muni, in different temples around the world. She would always wind up in Prabhupada's room for a few moments, then as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared. He enjoyed her company. Sometimes she would sit on his lap. Other times he would give her some difficulty, teasing her affectionately like a grandfather might. One thing about her, she always had prasadam in her hands or mouth. Srila Prabhupada observed this and sometimes he supplied her with sweets from a container on his desk. One day she walked into the room as I was massaging Srila Prabhupada. As usual she was eating. Srila Prabhupada started laughing. He said, "You are always eating. You know what you remind me of Sarasvati?" She looked at Him with her mouth full of food and shook her head indicating she had no idea. "You remind me of New York City-- the garbage trucks." He said, "Do you know the garbage trucks in New York City? She nodded yes. Prabhupada continued, "In New York City they have these big garbage trucks. They go down the street and workers put the garbage in." At this point Srila Prabhupada stretched His arms out wide, one over head and the other towards the floor. "They go down the street and put garbage inside the big mouth of the truck and then the truck goes
zzzzzzzzuuuuummmmmmmmmmm and it closes and the truck eats it. Then it goes iiiimmmmmmm and opens back up. Like this."

Exclaiming this, He imitated the up and down crunching movement of the jaws of the garbage truck extending His arms in an opening and closing motion. "Your mouth is just like that. You are always putting things in. Just like the garbage trucks in New York."

He amused her, but just as quickly as she appeared Sarasvati disappeared. Perhaps she went to get more prasadam from her mataji. I continued massaging Srila Prabhupada, amazed again by His greatness. I wondered what pious activities she must have performed to be able to play with His Divine Grace on such an intimate level. My getting to witness Srila Prabhupada's lila was certainly a sign of His causeless mercy. Srila Prabhupada's affectionate playfulness continues to soften this stone heart.

- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
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August 1973, Bhaktivedanta Manor

I have been with Srila Prabhupada for one year. I have become accustomed to Srila Prabhupada's transcendental rhythms. At times as I sat in my quarters I would hear the sweet sound of the harmonium coming from Srila Prabhupada's room. I knew I could invite any devotees who happened to be nearby into Prabhupada's room while His Divine Grace sang, but today no one else was around. So I went into his room and offered my humble obeisances. As I sat up I was filled with the nectar of Srila Prabhupada melodious bhajan. Everyone was put into ecstasy just by hearing him play the harmonium adding the sound of his voice softened my heart of stone. I sat there quietly listening to him, not moving. I didn't want to create any distraction when he was in these moods. It amazed me how he could have so many responsibilities but was always able to sit in his room and chant rounds, do bhajans and read his books.

After a minute He looked up from the harmonium and nodded to me. I knew that meant to get His karatals and accompany Him. He continued for some time. When He was finished I said, "Srila Prabhupada, your kirtan and bhajans are always different from any others I have heard." He started laughing and replied, "Yes, I have my own style of chanting."
Of course Srila Prabhupada's style was sometimes imitated but never duplicated. After all who could create an international society by chanting under a tree.

- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa
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September 12, 1972, Camp: ISKCON, Dallas
(Excerpt from a letter)

The other day Srila Prabhupada rang his bell to call me. I went into his sitting room and paid obeisances. When I sat up he smiled and said, "Srutakirti, your name is too long. I will call you Sruto." The next few days His Divine Grace playfully called me "Sruto". My affection for him increased immensely. Srila Prabhupada's personalizing my name was so relishable.
Last night Srila Prabhupada stayed up until 11:30 at night enlivening a few of us philosophically. I felt tired but was unable to pull myself away from such nectarine talks.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!

- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa

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