Page 29 - MMOSP (English)
P. 29

My Memories of Çréla Prabhupäda


             unknown to most of the devotees, increased their excitement
             and eagerness to hear it.
             Just as Prahläda Mahäräja had done, Çréla Prabhupäda spoke
             strongly, fearlessly, and with full realization, intricately
             analyzing the  position  of the  material  world  and  scything
             away at all anarthas. The temple room was filled with blissful
             and enthusiastic devotees. During the lecture, whenever Çréla
             Prabhupäda  chanted  the  Hare  Kåñëa  mahä-mantra  or  the
             “harer näma, harer näma” verse, all the devotees would chant
             jubilantly along with him.

             Throughout  these  classes, Haàsadüta  Prabhu would  stand
             behind and to the left of Çréla Prabhupäda, whisking him with
             a cämara, and other leaders, such as Puñöa Kåñëa Swami and
             Brahmänanda Swami, would stand around the  vyäsäsana.
             Çréla Prabhupäda looked like an emperor surrounded by his
             ministers.
             At the beginning of the class given on 11 March, after chanting
             the Sanskrit  çloka  responsively with the devotees, Çréla
             Prabhupäda exhorted all to individually chant the Sanskrit
             verse. I felt pleased and encouraged by that, because I always
             enjoyed chanting the verse in classes. Later in that lecture
             Çréla Prabhupäda said, “I am very glad that you European and
             American boys have taken so much trouble to come here”—
             which made me feel happy. He continued, “But you’ll be
             benefited if you come here and try to take lessons from Caitanya
             Mahäprabhu as He taught Sanätana Gosvämé.” I inferred that
             Çréla Prabhupäda was cautioning us not to misuse our time or
             act frivolously while in Mäyäpur. I also wondered how we could
             go about taking lessons from Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Although
             I did not immediately realize the answer, sometime in the future
             it became apparent to me that to hear from Çréla Prabhupäda is
             as good as hearing from Lord Caitanya.


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