© 2002 VNN
|
EDITORIAL  Praises Of Srila Prabhupada BY JAYO DAS EDITORIAL, Nov 8 (VNN) — Please accept my fallen dandavats at your collective feet, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. As many of us may remember from Prabahupada's Lilamrita or from their personal remembrances, Srila Prabhupada was a 'chemist' in his previous householder life. Of course, this word for chemist is British-Indian English for what we would call a pharmacist. In that capacity Prabhupada has left us many remedies, including his famous Bramastri juice. At one point in my devotional odyssey, I read in the Nectar of Devotion that one should offer praise onto the spiritual master. I decided to try to perfect this devotional principle into a fine art as my 55th Street temple roommate Sarvabhauma prabhu can attest (Alas! He had become a mouse again, when last I saw him in L.A.) But he has done so much great service to Srila Prabhupada; at one time he was a great book distributor and later he became the Orange Juice King of New York.) Frequently, he would hang on my latest praises of Srila Prabhupada. It was in July of 1976 at the Potomac temple that I offered perhaps my greatest praise to Srila Prabhupada. It was after a morning walk darshan with Srila Prabhupada, after a discussion in which the subject of alchemy was brought up. I was sitting alone with Prof. Shailagram Shukla right next to Prabhupada's dais, and I said to Srila Prabhupada that in your previous life you were a chemist, but I think that you are actually the greatest alchemist, for you have taken leaden karmis and turned them into Golden Vaishnavas. Professor Shukla praised my words and coming form him, a man of such eminence and such eloquence, my heart became very glad. I don't remember if it was in Los Angeles or Potomac that there was a discussion on the Vedic literatures.At one point, I asked why wasn't Krishna's name mentioned in the Vedic literatures? He answered Shiva's name is in the Vedic Literatures, Shiva means auspiciousness, is not Lord Krishna the most auspiciousÉ In July of 1976, prior to Srila Prabhupada's coming to the Potomac temple, seven devotees had contracted Hepatitis A, by taking the remnants of Brisyakapi prabhus's (temple president) Maha plate. He had been back six weeks from India but obviously not fully recovered. This included his two best male sankirtan devotees at that time, Pallika prabhu and myself. I endeavored to try to go on and serve in spite of the physical impediment. I was placed in charge of the morning darshan. At the time, of course, there was the great nectar in the presentation and exchanges between Srila Prabhupada, Svarup Damodar and Sadaputa prabhus ( I was in ecstasy over these exchanges.) At one particular morning walk I dashed out of my vehicle, at the very first possible moment and asked Srila Prabhupada, Is the speed of light constant throughout the universe? He answered me in a very grave tone, There are certain physical laws that govern the universe. Srila Prabhupada nor anyone else spoke another word during the rest of the morning walk. My heart sank. From this experience, I learned the meaning of the word 'Gravity' in all its force, and how the spiritual master embodied this. I also learned an even more important lesson, that one should not use the spiritual master to serve one's desires. But that he should be cognizant of the spiritual masters mood: kala and desa. These are three examples from my own experiences why the so called ritvik philosophy is untenable. Having said that, it seems a lot of these devotee godbrothers are doing a better job of preaching than some in ISKCON. My fervent prayer for everyone reading this who are Prabhupadanugas in whatever capacity or camp is that they serve Srila Prabhupada's goals and desires, key amongst these were his goals for the Bhaktivedanta Institute, and to love one another. Anyone reading this desiring to help Prabupada's Bhaktivedanta Institute should contact dinaanu@com.org. I beg the forgiveness of all my godbrothers for all my offenses. As you might have read on PAMHO, I have had heart failure since early July and could leave my body at any time. Your very fallen servant, Jayo das Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
