Last night I dreamt of Prabhupada. He was gathering all his disciples together and asking them if they took his instructions seriously. Different devotees spoke up and gave proofs of how they had pleased him and done outstanding service. I showed a proof from a newspaper that I had done some good service. Prabhupada was very serious at the meeting and not easily convinced by the devotees’ proofs.
I don’t like it when I think of him as being so stern, but prefer his being pleased with us. Some of us think that Prabhupada will appear at the time of our death and speak up to Krishna on our behalf. I guess the idea comes from our knowing Prabhupada was very compassionate and grateful for the services devotees rendered to him. The Bhagavad-gita states that even a little service will never be lost and will save us from the greatest fear. The greatest fear is that the Yamadutas will come for us and punish us after death. We think of Prabhupada as a Visnuduta who will come and stand between us and the Yamadutas. Today I have to spend extra time chanting my rounds, but I will get all my journal writing done as well. There’s time for everything in a day, even if you get a headache.
(_Japa Transformations_)
I dreamt that Srila Prabhupada met with his disciples.
He was sober
and asked us how we had pleased him.
Prabhupada was serious
and not easily pleased
with the devotees’ proofs
of their good service to him.
“Today I have to spend extra time
chanting my rounds,
but I will get all my journal
writing done as well. There’s
time for everything in a day,
even if you get a headache.”