Page 27 - MMOSP (English)
P. 27

My Memories of Çréla Prabhupäda


             At the end of one darçana, I gave a little gift to Çréla Prabhupäda.
             I had noticed that many devotees were presenting him gifts and
             had read in The Nectar of Devotion that one should offer to
             the Deity something that is dear to himself. Besides minimal
             clothing and toiletries, I barely had any possessions. But I
             happened to have a small unframed photo of Londonéçvara, the
             Kåñëa Deity in our temple in central London, and it was dear
             to me. So I decided to give it to Çréla Prabhupäda. Actually, I
             should have framed and nicely wrapped it, but I did not know
             such things. Nor did I, a brahmacäré, have any personal money.
             (In those days, for a brahmacäré to have his own money, even for
             buying a gift for Çréla Prabhupäda, was considered improper.)
             Devotees were standing in line at the end of the darçana room
             to offer obeisance to Çréla Prabhupäda. A devotee ahead of me
             offered a flower. When I approached, I gave the photo and paid
             obeisance. I hoped that Çréla Prabhupäda would acknowledge
             my gift, but he simply touched it to his head without saying
             anything.

             On 25 July, Çréla Prabhupäda visited the temple of Çré Çré
             Rädhä-Londonéçvara at Bury Place, in central London. On the
             way back to the Manor, he stopped at the home of his disciple
             Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu Prabhu, in North London. News of this
             outing was deliberately withheld from most of the devotees,
             since both venues were too small to accommodate many
             persons. I learned about that event at the last minute, and
             although I did not care about the stern warning not to go, I
             had no means to do so. All the vehicles were full and I had no
             money for a taxi to the tube station.
             After Çréla Prabhupäda returned from central London, I heard
             that he had approved the purchase of a building in a prime
             location  just  off  Oxford  Street  as  the  new  abode  of  Çré  Çré
             Rädhä-Londonéçvara. This was another significant step forward




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