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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