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THE LETTER THAT SADDENED SRILA PRABHUPADA

9/25/2013

19 Comments

 
One day while in Kaaawa, I walked into Srila Prabhupada’s room, and he looked quite troubled.  His mail had arrived, and he was holding a letter in his hand, shaking his head.  Feeling concerned, I asked, “Srila Prabhupada, what’s the matter?  Is there some distressing news?  What has upset you?”
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Srila Prabhupada shook his head slowly, and very sadly said, “This letter is from our Janardan.  He has been working to translate my ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ into French.  Now, he is asking me, so how much money for me, how much money for my wife, for doing this translation work.”   Srila Prabhupada almost tearfully said, “His wife has now spoiled him.  This is not devotional service, this has become a business.  To take money from the Guru is not good.”

He shook his head sadly and placed the letter on his desk.  I was wide-eyed with disbelief by now, as Janardan was our dear friend, and I also knew he loved Srila Prabhupada very much.  We had just spent three months in Montreal, and Janardan came almost daily to meet with Srila Prabhupada.  He too was a scholar, and so he spent much time with my husband Goursundar, also a scholar, who was by then translating Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Janardan das was working daily to translate Srila Prabhupada’s Gita into French, since he was a French resident of Montreal.  While we were in Montreal, he would visit almost daily to discuss various philosophical points with Srila Prabhupada, in order to fully understand the purports.

Unfortunately, however, Janardan was married to a pretty lady who had no interest whatsoever in Krishna consciousness.  She once told me pointedly, “All I want from Krishna is plenty of money eternally!” and she sat down on my small altar, that was nothing more than a bench with a picture of Krishna on it.  I found her very difficult to understand, but tried to always be friendly with her.  When the couple would sometimes visit together, she would refuse to sit on the floor in front of Srila Prabhupada, and would instead sit above him on a nearby couch.  This always bothered me, but since my job was to be polite to Srila Prabhupada’s guests, I never said anything.

But now, Srila Prabhupada was aggrieved at what seemed to be the loss of his dear disciple Janardan.  Srila Prabhupada loved each and every one of his disciples in a way that is not even known or understood in this material realm.  Our loves tend to be selfish, and self-interested.  Srila Prabhupada’s love for us was full of concern for our welfare, and for our ultimate deliverance from this world of samsara.  There was no tinge of selfishness.  And we understood this, we felt this, each and every one of us, even if we happened to meet him only once, or even if we never had the chance to meet him personally.  He was there for us, always. And he continues to be there for us, in his books, and his videos; his presence is a spiritual presence that continues to pervade our existence in this material world.  He guides us every step of the way.

Srila Prabhupada sighed and softly muttered, “Hare Krishna.”  It was his surrendered way of saying, “whatever Krishna arranges.”  He then explained to me that if one takes money for devotional service, that is all he will get--the money.  But not Krishna bhakti.  He said it is better to do some business and make money separately than to serve Krishna and Guru and expect to be paid.  That will not give the desired result of Krishna bhakti; one will get only the money.  And, moreover,  to take money from the Guru is considered to be a very bad thing.  One should give to one’s guru, not take.  There is a saying in India, “The Guru’s money is Bad money.”  This saying says a lot.  In India, there is an age-old understanding that to take from one’s guru ultimately brings great misfortune.  Instead, out of gratitude for the loving instructions and grace coming from the Satguru, this great and illumined personality Srila Prabhupada, one should offer one’s mind and heart, as well as one’s wealth and time.

This meeting with Srila Prabhupada left a very deep mark on my consciousness.  Over the years, I have always been amazed at how often this tendency is repeated. Perhaps it is one of the last traps of the conditioned soul. That day Srila Prabhupada explained to me that whatever we accomplish is by the grace of Guru and Krishna.  He communicated to me the understanding that devotional service is indeed a greatly fortunate opportunity, not one to be taken lightly.  To think that “I am the doer,” “I have done all this, it is to my credit,” “I should be paid money for my devotional accomplishments,” “I did all this, I deserve to be paid,” are all poisonous misconceptions of devotional service.  Such poisonous perspectives lead to eventual falldown and the loss of the opportunity to perform devotional service in this lifetime. These attitudes lead to a hardened and selfish mentality where the pure bhakti of Krishna consciousness cannot reside.

Srila Prabhupada never considered himself to be the “doer” of anything.  Rather, he always said “I have simply tried to follow the orders of my Spiritual Master, and if there is some little success, that is due to his mercy only.”  He never laid claim to name and fame, though it was certainly his.  He always remained humble, and expressed gratitude for his Guru’s guidance and the blessings of Lord Krishna.

19 Comments
MD
10/24/2013 08:29:00 am

PAMHO-
All Glories To Prabhupada!
I like reading you stories about Srila Prabhupada. Great site!

Hare Krishna.
MD

Reply
vandanam link
10/24/2013 08:30:27 am

thank u for sharing this instructional anecdote prabhu…thank u very much…

Reply
Satish Rane
10/24/2013 08:31:13 am

Hare Krishna. Thanks a lot for sharing this pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. The behaviour, words and action of these acharya are manifestation of SB teaching in action. Thanks. Hare Krishna.

Reply
Rasanandini dasi link
10/24/2013 08:32:15 am

PAMHO, AGTSP Mataji,
Thank you and all your vaishnava team for revealing an insight into Srila Prabhupada and your devotional life, then and now,
ys

Reply
Dhira dasa
10/24/2013 08:33:04 am

Thank you for sharing this wonderful and instructive pastime Govinda dasi. It’s a lesson that all devotees need to hear and take seriously. Hare Krsna – ys

Reply
Bhayahari Das
10/24/2013 08:33:50 am

Let’s see them try to talk their way around this one, You only get the money, better to be a businessman and GIVE TO THE GURU ! This is so very very clear …..but they have NO CONSCIENCE, who are you Govinda Dasi to find fault, Don’t you know how expert and intelligent I am ? Srila Prabhupada is gone NOW It’s MY turn to make the RULES and whatever me and my CRONIES agree upon THAT is what IT IS…..VERY VERY SAD INDEED.

Reply
John Stapp
10/24/2013 08:34:55 am

Reading your story of Srila Prabhupada grieving over the actions of his disciple and friend brought tears to my eyes. My heart was at first saddened by Prabhupada’s grief. But then, I was filled with admiration for him because of his loving reaction to such unjust and cruel treatment. His reaction was that of a truly enlightened Saint. Thank you for posting this look into the life of my beloved Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna.

Reply
Anirban Chakraborty
10/24/2013 08:35:25 am

very absorbing and nothing but the truth………..

Reply
Halayudha Dasa
10/24/2013 08:36:09 am

In Krishna consciousness one has to be so careful of the traps of maya. After many births we have got a nice association of a pure vaishnava- Srila Prabhupada we shouldnt squander it. Srila prabhupada be merciful unto us

Reply
Meenakshi Madhavi Dasi
10/24/2013 08:36:52 am

PAMHO-
All Glories To Prabhupada!

Sirla Prabhupad reminds the grip maya has on us that we forget our position and even start demanding money for the spiritual work that we do.. As Prabupad reminds us it is our priviledge to serve our guru and follow his orders. May he shower his mercy that we may seve our Guru always.

Reply
Mohanachandran
10/24/2013 08:37:26 am

Hare Krishna !
Jai Srila Prabhupada !
We are fortunate to have such a great Spiritual Master .
With out His Purports and Mercy how can we get into Krishna Consciousness !

Reply
Bhakti-lata dasi
10/24/2013 08:38:05 am

I have a question regarding this anecdote, as Prabhupada was expert at applying a principle according to time and circumstance.
A devotee who does full time service, like temple president, or on a preaching project, still needs to have his needs met, his bills paid. When is it considered being paid for a service and when is it a stipend to cover the bills so his time if freed for the service?

I would very much appreciate an answer to this question.

Thank you for sharing these stories; they are nectar.

your servant.

Reply
govindadasi
10/24/2013 08:40:18 am

Of course, in those days no one took a stipend. But nowadays it has become the common practice, and perhaps it is necessary, as we all have needs. I think there is a huge difference between asking to be paid to translate Prabhupada’s books, as was the case in this story (and being prompted by a materialistic wife)–and taking a stipend to keep your bills paid so you can serve. The basic principle is that you want to serve and take as little as possible–you want the sukriti, not the money. Not that you become greedy for money and live lavishly at the expense of Srila Prabhupada’s temples, as has become the fashion in some places. There is a difference between paying basic needs, and traveling all over the world on first class tickets and staying in five star hotels at the expense of Iskcon, or devotees. It has to come from the heart; a devotee must be more desirous of the sukriti to help him grow in his bhakti, than desirous of an important position that gives him a cushy life in the material world at Prabhupada’s expense.
Govinda dasi

Reply
Bhakti-lata dasi
10/24/2013 08:39:31 am

Thank you so much, Govinda, for taking the time to reply to my question. Your answer is in line with what I felt, but I wanted confirmation.
I love your speech at the Prabhupada festival. I feel that as the most senior devotees speak up, it lends more power to the truth that so many feel must be addressed.
Pranams!
Bhakti-lata dasi

Reply
Jaya Madhava das
10/24/2013 08:41:34 am

When I met devotees,,in 1970
it was unheard of to GET a Salary as a householder
in Iskocn….NOW,,its common place-so called
Service is a position of financial SECURITY.
and Im not talking maintenance money
but Hefty salaries,,,perks…etc….Vacations-HOMES/cars
What to speak of embezzling $$ from Iskcon
Its going on,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pray-to Lord Nrsimhadeva for Iskcon /gbc and guru Reform

Reply
gopinath dasa
1/25/2014 04:10:55 pm

Because of this the movement became the international Society for money conciousnes.

Reply
Deepak k
1/25/2014 05:39:02 pm

Thank you for sharing this very rare pastime of srila prabhupada.

Reply
satyahit das
1/26/2014 02:04:54 pm

thank you What finally happened What was Srila Prabhupada's response to Janardan ?

Reply
Vishnudas link
1/27/2014 11:36:34 am

This is truly an important lesson from our beloved Srila Prabhupada. Thank you Govinda Dasi for presenting it. I needed to hear this. Jai Srila Prabhupada's !

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