4:00 P.M., Snapshot
Here comes Srila Prabhupada walking toward us on the part of the parikrama trail where it looks bare and devastated. He looks very gentlemanly, holding his cadar with one hand and the cane under the cadar, the sannyasa robes flowing as he walks. Surprisingly, he is only with two “unimportant” devotees and a Western-dressed Indian man. He is walking in Vrindavana. It’s a distant shot. In this photo, everyone is chanting japa. Srila Prabhupada hardly went anywhere without his japa beads …
Prabhupada, we fulfill Rupa Gosvami’s upadesa for ideal chanting by following you. Rupa Gosvami says, “One should reside in Vraja and serve Krishna under the guidance of devotees.” One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees who are anuraga, rupanuga. If the eyes can only see a rubble-strewn Yamuna bank and deteriorating temple buildings, then those eyes do not see with inner vision.
This photo is a bit of a mystery to me. But then you did so many things I am not able to understand. You are not my pet that I should be able to see into you; you are jagad-guru who can expand into many svarupas, appear with many persons, and help conditioned souls by giving them your association. We see you walking and we bow down, touching all eight parts of our bodies on the sacred earth.
Prabhupada: “Jaya!”
“Jaya Srila Prabhupada!”
“Now, is your japa-yajna finished?”
“It will never be finished, Srila Prabhupada. I realize better now that I will always chant Hare Krishna under your shelter. Please let me come with you or send me wherever you think I should go to help preach in your movement.”
“Very good. Chant Hare Krishna.”
Just a dream? But he actually came here. He is still here, and he will be back.
(_Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name_)
JAPA POEM
This quote is a long one
about a snapshot
of Prabhupada taking a morning walk
on the bank of the Yamuna
in Vrindavana. I say I
cannot fully understand
Prabhupada, but accept him
as jagat guru and bow down.
“Touching all parts
of the body on
the sacred land.”
I imagine a conversation
with him in which I promise
to always chant. He
replies, “Very good.
Chant Hare Krishna.”