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PLEASE NOTE, *THIS DOCUMENT IS AT DRAFT (NOT PERFECT) STAGE. IT IS

20200604 JAYAPATAKA SWAMI GURU MAHARAJ, FALL BACK THURSDAYS, PASTIMES OF

HG Iksavaku das prabhu: audio started abruptly How much time do I have? Because
sometimes have to come and get a repetition because they cannot understand. This is
something troubling me. How can I have a peaceful sleep when I know one of disciples is
struggling. She even thought that was is the point of living. You know how I feel? We were
shocked. Because we were all kind of playing with him. No guru maharaj, you have to go
to bed. We were not taking it seriously. But I remember the moment, everyone froze,
everyone was so silent, and guru maharaj seriously was so moved! And I remember
Mahavaraha prabhu, he is very humble and special, unique relationship with guru
maharaj. He touched guru maharaj’s chest and said, guru maharaj, your problem is that
your heart is too soft! He said that! And guru maharaj was like – my understanding is that
he appreciated what Mahavaraha prabhu said. And it is true! Guru maharaj’s heart is so
soft. As you know, I am sure you have heard Ekanatha prabhu, Mahavaraha prabhu,
describing so many pastimes in the hospital. Basically, he is staying back because he wants
to help us. He says there is still so much to do. That is his point.

I remember one of those emergency situations, I believe it was in Delhi. It was my turn to
look after guru maharaj at night, with Marici prabhu. So we were sitting across guru
maharaj’s bed in the ICU and they had allowed us to stay there, spend the night there. At
some point guru maharaj opened his eyes and he saw us, he called us. So then they told
us, the nurses, that only one can go at a time. So I told Marici, let me go. So I went and
guru maharaj told me – this is so surprising to me – he said, what is going to happen with
the aspiring devotees in Perth? I have lived in Perth for around 13 years. And we have
tried to develop a little congregation there and some training programs for the
congregation. So he told me, what is going to happen with them? Why did he say that?
Because two days ago guru maharaj was struggling to be alive. You know they were
deciding to intubate him again as he couldn’t breathe, his oxygen levels were low and his
life was at risk. So as soon as he opened his eyes and he saw me, he knows I am in contact
with Perth, I am in Perth right now, by the way, the first thing that comes to his mind! I
thought he was going to ask me water, I thought he was going to ask me to move him,
sometimes he is uncomfortable being laid in bed for so long, because hospital beds are
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not the most comfortable ones! Anything! He asked me what is going to happen with the
aspiring devotees in Perth?! I was stunned, I was speechless! I said guru maharaj, we are
taking care of them, we are sending prayers, Sitarama prabhu the temple president and
other senior devotees, they are taking care of them, they are cultivating them, don’t
worry, we are trying to help you by taking care of the new devotees. So that is guru
maharaj! That is another aspect that I wanted to mention – his compassion to the
devotees. And the last one that I want to mention is – his loyalty – I chose three, so, his
loyalty to Srila Prabhupada. He is, Srila Prabhupada often said, a transparent medium of
the parampara, transparent medium of Krsna – so I have seen this so many times. In
everything that guru maharaj wants is to bring us to the shelter of Srila Prabhupada. In
fact, I remember, the first instruction or comment that he said, which I took as an
instruction when I was a young bhakta, when I went to the airport, the first time he came
in early October or September 1984, so we were there and I was one of the few ones in
the temple that could speak English and I was a young bhakta, newly shaved hair and all
that. And he was sitting there and there were empty seats on both his sides. And he told
me come and sit here. He signaled, come and sit here. I was shivering internally, although
I spoke English, because I studied in America when I was little, I just couldn’t talk, I was so
nervous. And he was so kind. And he put his arm slightly around me, not like a hug but
slightly on my opposite shoulder and he asked me this – do you like this movement? And
I said, yes, guru maharaj, I really like it! And then he said, never leave this movement, That
was his first instruction. Never leave ISKCON. First thing he told me. And I understood
what he is trying to protect me, trying to keep me in the association of Srila Prabhupada’s
devotees, Srila Prabhupada’s movement. So his loyalty to Srila Prabhupada is incredible!

And I like another pastime also that a young teacher, girl from New Zealand, new devotee,
wasn’t initiated, came to see guru maharaj, a few years ago, I don’t know when exactly.
So there was a long line of devotees waiting for darshan and there was this lady. I was
helping the devotees with entering into guru maharaj’s room for a quick darshan. So the
servants were saying, no, no, there is no time, it is getting a little late, he had given
everyone prasadam and touched everyone with the Jagannath stick, etc. But this lady was
there and she was intent on seeing guru maharaj. So I entered and asked guru maharaj,
there is this girl, I think she is serving in the SMIS, and she wants to talk to you. Guru
maharaj asked me what is the matter? I said, she is wanting to talk to you about initiation.
She is not sure about whom to take as guru and she says that you are the only person
who can answer that question. He asked me, is she wanting to take initiation from me?
No, she is not sure. And then he said, ok, bring her in. She came in, paid obeisances and
spoke to guru maharaj. Guru maharaj in his usual way of being very personal, he started
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asking questions like what do you study, where do you study, what are your plans, etc.
etc. So the crunch time came when she said, guru maharaj, I don’t know who to take
initiation from. He said, who have you been thinking of? She said, I have been thinking of
this very big guru and very famous and popular, another name, another guru, very
successful, preaching all over the world, big big names. And so guru maharaj listened and
said, very nice. And then she said, you. Guru maharaj placed his hands close to his chest
and said, thank you very much! So what is your question? She said, I don’t know how to
choose a guru. I don’t know how to choose one of you three. When I read about this one
I think, ok this is the one. When I read about the other, then I think he is the one. When I
hear about you, when I see you, I think you are the one! So I don’t know, I want you to
help me decide. So guru maharaj said, many things can be said, but I don’t have much
time because it is late. I just want to say something, and I could see that like someone
pulling his high beams and he really stopped the world that time for this young devotee.
And he said, choose whoever you feel will connect you with Srila Prabhupada the
strongest. Choose whoever will connect you strongest with Srila Prabhupada. That is all
what he said. And we had to repeat it for her to understand clearly. And then she started
crying, some tears, not sobbing. And then guru maharaj asked, why are you crying? Then
she said because I have been praying to Prabhupada to please allow me to find someone
who can help me to follow you, your instructions, who can lead me in being a devotee in
this movement, I have been praying to Prabhupada for this. As soon as you said these
words, it was a confirmation that you are the one. Guru maharaj is very innocent and he
says, oh! I didn’t know. He makes his hand movement, I just felt that I wanted to say what
Paramatma or Krsna wanted me to say. I didn’t plan. Then she calmed down. And he said
so, who do you choose? She said, you guru maharaj!

So those are three things – one is his capacity to be personal, and I am sure all of you have
that experience, even if it is one instance that you have been in close proximity to him. I
know many devotees who just heard about him and became inspired to take initiation
from him. They may never have seen him, and they may never have interacted with him,
just by hearing about his glories, or reading about him, seeing him , I know, sometimes
devotees have seen him on a video and they were impressed with his powerful spiritual
personality, so much energy, so much shakti, he is literally an empowered representative
of Krsna. So the capacity to establish personal relationship, his compassion for the
devotees, and his loyalty and transparency in representing Srila Prabhupada. So these are
three characteristics that I wanted to mention about him.
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So let me tell you some early pastimes of guru maharaj. I don’t know, I wish had more
capacity to know, if you want to know something specific but I will tell you whatever I
think is relevant. Especially because nowadays, all of you are very fortunate, every lecture
is recorded, every lecture is transcribed, every lecture is video taped, so you have the
access to guru maharaj, 24x7, any day of the week, you can go to Facebook, you can go
to YouTube, you can go to Sound Cloud and he is there. Those days, the early days, we
didn’t have that. Sometimes he will bring a record and sometimes we will record some of
his classes. But normally it wasn’t as available as it is right now. So, we very much surviving
in our spiritual life from one visit to the next. In the beginning he was coming maybe twice
to South America and he will be three days. We say three days but the way that guru
maharaj, I am not exaggerating, the way guru maharaj counted his three days in our yatra
was, he landed one day, doesn’t matter what time, 7, 8, 10 o clock at night, that is one
day. He says that is the tithi, I was here on this day, I stayed next day the full day with
initiations, classes, morning program, all sorts of outings and meetings and everything,
full on, and he would leave the next day. So he would say, I stayed three days with you.
He stayed barely for 48 hours or something like that but guru maharaj was always like a
hurricane, that was our expression. Guru maharaj was like an hurricane and he came,
everyone would practically not sleep, he was doing all kinds of intense preaching
programs, travelling here, travelling there, bringing the television, bringing the people in
government, people in office, bringing a priest in radio, university students, I remember
those days, it was so ecstatic. Guru maharaj was thriving. I remember he was still shining.
The more preaching, the more service, the more activities that we organized for him, the
more he would enjoy. I remember once, I had some responsibilities in Ecuador, in the
yatra in the temple, and so one of my responsibilities when he came was to organize this
visit and make schedule and make a list of devotees who wanted to see him. Organize
some things for him, what he needs, some things for him to have a program. So he had
chastised us the previous time he came and he said we were disorganized and I need to
have a list, I need to have a schedule and all that. So this time I was ready, we had typed
everything, we had arranged the devotees he was going to meet and we had decided
what we were going to do. So, he comes and takes darshan and then he gives a welcome
speech to all the devotees. This is in the 90s early 90s, when I came back to South America.
So when he was going back to the room, I showed him very proudly the schedule typed
up and nicely printed and all that. Guru maharaj reads, and then I see his face, little
serious. He was upset, something upset him. I said oh, he was always on my case when I
wrote wrongly, English is not my first language. He said that, he didn’t write, he discussed
it, you didn’t write proper English. I thought maybe I committed a mistake, type over,
grammar, spelling or something. So he said, that this is an aparadh. So I looked at him and
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he jokes a lot you know, and then I see that he is serious. This is an aparadh. And I am
thinking what did I do? An aparadh? An aparadh? What have I done? He said, you see I
am coming to Ecuador, Ecuador is famous for being a tropical country, we have the beach
just one hour away and you haven’t included a beach outing? And then, I understood. But
that is guru maharaj, he always see an opportunity to make Krsna consciousness the most
fun. We think that the materialists are having fun. But with guru maharaj, the fun never
ends. Even in a room, you see sometimes 10 or 12 people in the same room, it is because
everyone is like a bee in a beehive, trying to get the honey, trying to be close, gives some
special pleasure in our hearts. I said guru maharaj, ok, we can arrange for that but maybe
we can take you, you can have your swim and bathing. He said, you see, you are an
aparadhi. I said, why guru maharaj? I don’t understand! I am confused here! And he said,
how do you think that I am going to go to the beach on my own? When do I do things on
my own? What kind of nonsense you are! I said ok, guru maharaj, we have arranged
initiation here, interviews here, programs here, these people come here, we have an
action packed program. Going to the beach, it takes one hour to get there, by the time
you swim and all that, if we bring more devotees, it would be very difficult. He looked at
me and said, I want everyone, everyone who has come to this festival to go to the beach.
Arrange for buses, arrange for prasadam. I said guru maharaj, it will be very difficult. He
said in India we arrange programs and up to 30,000 people come and you cannot arrange
for a 100 or so devotees to go to the beach with me? So sure enough we arranged the
program and we had a wonderful program, and everything just manifested because it is
his sheer enthusiasm to live Krsna consciousness in the best way he can, the best way he
knows. Many, many memories of these pioneering days in Ecuador. Just a few things, we
don’t have much time. In Ecuador we have two farms – one is called Giridharidesh and
the other is Nova Mayapur, which means New Mayapur. So in 1986 we bought this
beautiful land, with a river, a stream, near the beach. So we called him, he had come to
Atlanta – today is the Panihati festival – all glories to this famous festival. We told him
about the form. He said, ok, I am coming. And then he asked me, are there crocodiles
there? We said, no, no, guru maharaj, this is just a stream. This is safe. So he came. We
arranged for him to come to Ecuador. As soon as he came out of the van, we had buses
of devotees, and we had painted a sign which read, Nova Mayapur. And there was this
tree with yellow flowers, and somehow by Krsna’s arrangement, I swear we didn’t arrange
for that, the tree had dropped these yellow flowers and the flowers were decorating the
entrance of the temple like that. Devotees were stunned seeing this. And devotees were
saying, guru maharaj, look even the places itself is welcoming you! We didn’t arrange for
this, we just observed. Guru maharaj said, this is very auspicious! This is actually an
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expansion of the original Mayapur! So of course, our hearts melted. We still have the farm
there. Some devotees are trying to develop it more and more.

So many things like that, he really inspired us to take on this pioneering spirit. I remember
in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, we also established a temple. In those days we couldn’t
afford to bring – nobody had been to India at that time – so when we opened the temple,
although we could afford, there were no deities, we did a nice altar, we got a Panca Tattva
photograph and we blew it, there was a bhakta who was working in Kodak, he made a
huge poster of the Panca Tattva deities. They were not deities, they were paintings of
ISKCON Panca Tattva. So guru maharaj arrived in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and we
took him to the temple, it was around 4 or 5 in the afternoon or later, we played
Govindam, guru maharaj paid obeisances. And then I saw, I was next to him, I could see
his eyes moistening. I was thinking to myself, we don’t have deities, this is the best we
could get, there were other temples. Peru I think was installed or about to install Radha
Krsna deities. Few temples had deities, maybe in Brazil, Colombia I think, may be everyone
had chota Gaura Nitais. And I could see that he was very moved and of course the program
ended and guru maharaj was about to give his speech. Then he turned around and said,
this is the most beautiful altar in the world! It was Panca Tattva. I remember many, many
years, may be 25 years after that, I told him in Mayapur, when I came to stay there, may
be eight or seven and a half years ago, when I returned to Mayapur to live, I told him
about this and he said I know, I know, Panca Tattva, this is the most beautiful altar in the
entire universe. He said like that. So these little drops of nectar are so powerful, nectarean
emotions that guru maharaj sometimes shows us is incredible.

Another thing that I wanted to talk about is that when I came to live with guru maharaj in
1987, as I said, those days, there were maybe two or three people serving him. Prema
Vikas prabhu, … prabhu, myself, and the night is Badrabalaram prabhu. There were
Ganga, Phaniswar prabhu, Arjunanath prabhu and some others serving guru maharaj in
different capacities. We were living with him day in and day out. There are many, many
things but a couple of things I remember, which I want to share is that one of the most
pastimes, and when I am given an opportunity I like to tell about this, is when the flood
came. I believe it was 1988, if I am not mistaken. A huge flood. Guru maharaj, every day
would go on a boat, motor boat, and distribute khichdi for the villagers. It was so flooded,
I don’t remember Mayapur so flooded. There was a zoo there, with deer and some
peacocks, birds and things like that. I remember seeing the deer floating away in the
Ganga. So every day guru maharaj will go and distribute khichdi to the villagers and some
of us would go with him. One night we were coming back to Mayapur and the devotee
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who was responsible to put petrol, now this Mayapur flood, no light, dark night, I think
we had one torch light and in the middle of the Ganges we ran out of petrol! We were
not in the middle of the Ganges, we were kind of near the shore but there was no shore
– the whole thing was entering Mayapur, totally. The currents were so strong and we
steered into the back of Mayapur. Otherwise the currents would have taken us. So we
were coming back and it was scary at some point, because guru maharaj was there and
maybe three or four devotees and so we were concerned about his safety because there
were snakes, because they don’t have place to take shelter. So we were concerned and
at some point, it was like, you are out in the river in the night, you feel this calmness,
everybody is taking care, this river is not ordinary, it is special. So we were there. Guru
maharaj said that Prabhupada said, we can live or die in Mayapur, it is all the same. All
we could hear was the sound of the Ganges flowing and we could see the Long building
there, some lights and some devotee was chanting, he was chanting his japa. I remember
feeling at that moment, so much bliss, guru maharaj just next to us in a tiny boat, and no
petrol. Of course we were calling the devotee but he could not hear. Guru maharaj
shouted in Bengali, kaimon acho? Ki korcho? The devotee then looked at us and threw
some ropes and we made it. There are many, many stories about the flood we had that
were very intimate.

Also, another thing with guru maharaj in the early days in Mayapur was that he was
writing at that time, the Vaisnava Ke? Book, Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur’s poem and
he was commenting on it. So every night at 3 o clock, he would put his alarm before 3,
2.55 or so. And every night he would wake up and start writing. By the way, some may or
may not know this, guru maharaj was a superfast typist, not only a typist but superfast, I
forgot how many words per minute he could type. I remember him just being in front of
his typewriter and he also had a computer, it was not like now those days. Guru maharaj
will sit and type, type, type away and the sound was amazing! Just like a Lamborghini,
flying, typing away! Guru maharaj says we have to use whatever best we can for the
pleasure of Krsna. So he had the habit to buy or whenever devotees came to Mayapur, to
bring specially the American devotees, to bring alarm clocks, and some alarm clocks had
I remember, animal sounds, some alarm clocks had people talking different languages. It
was a joke! All the alarm clocks were there. Guru maharaj was always concerned about
getting up, I have been sleeping for too long! So it was going a few weeks, I forgot now,
that he had been waking up 3 o clock and working on this Vaishnava Ke? Book. I think
they gave him sort of a deadline and they were producing in Malaysia, one devotee from
Indonesia was helping. So anyway he had to complete the book. So one night after many
of those days, I put two or three alarms, I am not exaggerating, and I had the alarms. I
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was sleeping in the darshan room where he gives classes. That is where sometimes some
of the servants will sleep. I was sleeping there and I was totally, totally immersed in tama
guna. I did not know I existed. I was sleeping so soundly. Then in the middle of the night,
I felt that I was moved. So I thought that maybe one of the other servants, was waking
me up. And I hear this alarm going and the sound, and I see guru maharaj is standing, tall,
it is all dark, and he was standing and with his foot he was moving me. He said, I never
have seen, I never have known anybody who could sleep over 3 alarm clocks. They have
been going on for the last 20 minutes, and you don’t even flinch! I paid obeisances and I
stood up and I was dizzy. He said, it is ok, you go to sleep for another hour and then you
come in and help me. And then he went and I switched off the alarms.

So these sort of pastimes, at least for me, they are the most precious because, yes, in
those days there were not so many facilities and so many servants, no YouTube, no
Facebook, online classes. He was there and alone. So many nights, I had the opportunity
to be serving him prasadam and I was practically on my own. Now when I look back I
think, jee! I was so fortunate, he was so kind and so merciful to me!

I remember one night, he was taking his dinner of puffed rice, he would not take sweets
at night. He would take some fruits and some hot milk. He told me how to cool the milk,
like how they pour it like that in India. He said, bring me my, he had a special radio, and
he wanted to hear what was Fidel Castro, the Cuban dictator saying, because he always
knows what is going on around the world. I think Fidel Castro was giving some kind of
speech or something like that. He wanted to hear and because I spoke Spanish, he wanted
me to translate or interpret what he was saying. So you know these special moments for
me are incomparable. They have no value.

Another thing that I want to mention also is that guru maharaj, in general, I see it as a
playful person. I have told also this pastime. I remember once he was working on the
Vaisnava Ke? Book and my job was to not allow anybody to come. In those days, not many
people would dare to go and we would close the door of the roof. But sometimes some
special people will come. So I was there guarding the door, around 3 or 4 in the afternoon,
something like that. And then guru maharaj was typing. And I could see, sometimes his
temples, part of the head are moving, when he is really concentrating. So he was really
typing away! So I was there and chanting my rounds and pacing back and forth and
checking if he needed anything up there. The windows were open. And then I see this
gigantic devotee, Brahmananda prabhu, the first temple president, the famous
Brahmananda prabhu, Prabhupada disciple. He was wearing white, very tall, very big. So
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he comes in and then I see him, he is an imposing personality and I just froze! I had read
about him, I am a fan of Prabhupada’s pastimes, biographies and of course Brahmananda
prabhu is one of the main personalities in characters, but in Prabhupada’s pastimes. So
when I saw him I couldn’t believe my eyes. Finally, I get to meet him. I couldn’t even say
anything. And he just did like this, don’t say anything. So he just walked by and went
around, and guru maharaj is just typing, typing, typing. So I just go next to him and
Brahmananda prabhu enters, stands tall behind guru maharaj and starts massaging him.
Guru maharaj knows, I mean specially at that time I was very, very careful not to cross the
line, you know familiarity breeds contempt. So he always kept me, the boundaries of guru
disciple was always there. Maybe two or three, they are quite familiar with guru maharaj
because guru maharaj allows them. In my case, he always kept me at bay. Now I am a
little bit more daring but I am always afraid to commit an offence due to familiarity and
mundane mentality. So guru maharaj knew that I wouldn’t go in and give him a massage
straightaway. I will give massage when he asked me, and at a certain time. So then guru
maharaj kept typing and he started saying, in his joking way, I can feel some powerful
personality has entered into the room, and he kept typing. He didn’t stop typing. Who is
this? So I was thinking if you knew actually who was there, or maybe he thought it is
Ganga or some other devotee, Ganga, you know, the Italian devotee, and sometimes he
is very close to guru maharaj and I was thinking maybe he is thinking somebody else. By
the way Brahmananda had just arrived in Mayapur and guru maharaj did not know that
he was there. So then, guru maharaj, at some point, Brahmananda prabhu rubbed and
really massaged him hard, so guru maharaj started grabbing his hand and prabhu was
massaging but he wasn’t allowing guru maharaj to – I didn’t know there was a background
story to this – they seemed to have a tradition of wrestling. Now guru maharaj is tall, big.
And Brahmananda prabhu is as tall or even taller than guru maharaj and bigger than guru
maharaj. So I didn’t know this, but the servants told me afterwards. To make a long story
short, guru maharaj started grabbing Brahmananda’s hand and wrist and all that, he
realized when he saw the big hand, then he twisted, tried to turn Brahmanada’s arm and
Brahmananda grabbed, and guru maharaj stood up, and believe me, this is with no
intention of committing any offence, it was like two elephants fighting right, it was the
same size of guru maharaj’s bedroom, not so big, the desk is there, the chair was there,
just a meter and a half or so, and they started wrestling, both wrestling. You know these
are big people. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know what are they doing. They wrestled
so much that they went on the floor and this is a competition, which I did not know at
that time. The competition was to wrestle to the point that they could touch each other’s
feet and when they touched the feet they would try to put it on their head and I saw that
scene in front of me and I thought, wow! What a special mercy is this! Anyway finally after
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sweating and almost tearing their clothes, they hugged and laughed like little children,
playing. But that is something I wanted to conclude with.

One time I asked Ekanath Prabhu, they came here to Perth and we had a retreat next to
the beach. So we went for a boat ride with Ekanath, and I asked him. Because I served
guru maharaj closely as a servant for five years, day in and day out. But you know Ekanath,
Mahavaraha, they have served him for decades I think. So I asked Ekanath, what made
you stay with guru maharaj for so long? And Ekanath did not even think for half a second,
he said, guru maharaj is the most fun person I ever met in my life. And that is something
that really has struck me as unique of guru maharaj. Because I know many sannyasis, all
days, every lunch, he wouldn’t have lunch unless there were a number of sannyasis
invited to take lunch with him. So everyone, all the big swamis from the old days, will
come and lunch with guru maharaj every day. Some group some day, some another day.
Leaders, GBCs, temple presidents. But I never saw anyone who was so fun, so
enthusiastic, so energetic like guru maharaj, almost like a child – swimming, playing,
wrestling, ball at the beach, then at night doing kirtan, preaching, serving prasadam,
travelling, he is really a spiritual warrior, that is the impression I had when I first met guru
maharaj. He looked to me like a warrior from the Vedic times, the Mahabharata, no, I am
not exaggerating. I saw him so tall, standing there, shining, silk clothes, with those blue
eyes, and that vision that big shikha, big japa beads, I thought this is a transcendental
warrior, this is someone totally special! I was a young bhakta with Marici in the early days
with so many others, and all of us, many more, were touched by that shakti. It was like
you put your finger into the power socket, you will feel electrocuted, somewhat, if you
take it out, you won’t die but it is there, exists. You don’t have to be an electrician, you
don’t have to be a physicist, you don’t have to be a scientist, you just touch it, it will kick
you. In the same way, my realization is that guru maharaj has this power, some shakti.

Now this last thing, some of you may be thinking that now guru maharaj is in this
condition, everything is different, and things have changed, and this is also something
that I try to share with others. For me guru maharaj hasn’t changed, the amazing thing to
me is that it proves that guru maharaj is a spiritual person, every time I walk into that
room, in his rooftop, I feel exactly the same that I felt when I was sitting next to him, when
I was a young bhakta, in 1984 and he put his arm around me and he told me, don’t ever
leave ISKCON. Exact same feeling, the same person, the same vibration, the same
enthusiasm, guru maharaj hasn’t changed. As I said, some of you may have seen him when
he was prior the stroke, but some of you may think that guru maharaj has changed a bit
but he is the same experience. All of you and I am surprised at the number of devotees,
 11

you are all here because you know there is something special, some things we may
understand or we not understand at all, or we may understand a little, that goes beyond
material understanding, and that is spiritual shakti or the energy that guru maharaj has.

So what is the time? Are we good on time? Anadi prabhu, I don’t want to offend you or
the devotees, please tell me if we have more time. Questions?

HG Anadi prabhu: There is a question.

Question: Pritimayi Radhika mataji: Hare Krsna prabhuji. My question, is how to really
please guru maharaj?

HG Iksvaku prabhu: How to please guru maharaj? How many times devotees ask that
question! And how many times they ask him and he laughs! He has this special – He has
this half laugh, half cry, have you heard it? It is amazing! How to please guru maharaj? I
don’t know! If I would know I would tell you. But whatever has worked for me I could
share. I have noticed, I don’t want to make it about me, but I noticed because I am there
sometimes helping with the interviews in the past, whenever Mahavaraha prabhu kindly
asks me to help him, I try to go there and help Acintya Caitanya prabhu and other servants.
What I have noticed is that guru maharaj likes when a devotee or anyone, has the humble
attitude. I have noticed that. I have seen devotees who have left the movement, stopped
the practice, fall down, break the principles, fight with the devotees in the temple, so
many horrible things. But when I see them after years, when they come back to guru
maharaj, repenting, apologizing, asking for blessings, guru maharaj, like he never counted
about what wrong they did. He is just, you are here, I value your attitude.

One time guru maharaj was giving a talk in South America and he was talking about this.
I believe somebody asked exactly the same question. And guru maharaj said, this answer.
He said, one time Prabhupada was giving a class and someone asked Prabhupada exactly
the same question – what is most pleasing for you? And then Prabhupada asked around,
what is most pleasing for me? He asked people to answer. One said, book distribution,
loving Krsna, chant the holy names, all sorts of answers. And Prabhupada said, the mood
of the spiritual master, to understand the mood of the spiritual master, he said, and I
heard this from guru maharaj, and I think this is the essence of guru maharaj’s glories, the
mood of guru maharaj is the mood that he took from Prabhupada. One time I asked him,
he was about to initiate someone who had some problems in personal life, so I told guru
maharaj, you cannot initiate this person guru maharaj, I don’t think he or she said, we will
 12

mend his or her ways, but you cannot initiate him or her at this point. Guru maharaj said,
and this is what I remember, he or she who was the person, I don’t remember, his voice
choking, his voice choked up when he said, how can I reject someone, how can I reject
anybody, when Prabhupada did not reject me! I was stunned because I was seeing how
choked up he got, how emotional he got. I said, guru maharaj, you do as you like, you
know better, I don’t know anything! So the mood, the attitude, from what I have seen,
that is what guru maharaj values and pleases him the most! Yes, you can and should be
strict, chant your rounds, attend the morning programs and study the books, worship the
deities, everything, but if he perceives and I have seen that, of course my eyes are limited,
and my brain is nonexistent almost! But I have seen when people have that attitude of
humility and being a good person, being a good human being, that is something that guru
maharaj values. He really appreciates when devotees get along with devotees. I could say
all the things he likes – preaching, he likes devotees to worship the deities properly, today
I understand he was organizing the Panihati festival, my wife was involved in doing that
and guru maharaj was like in the old days in Atlanta, organizing every single pot and how
to do it all, I may say many things. But what I have seen and if there is one thing that I can
conclude is if your attitude is humble and devotional, submissive, friendly, there was a
devotee, there was the spiritual master, there was everybody, then he is pleased. What I
have seen. All the things I don’t think impress him that much, that I think is the essence
of pleasing guru maharaj. So that is my limited answer. Thank you.

HG Anadi prabhu: We have three questions. If you have the time.

Question: Sarvavyapi prabhu asks and that is also my question, did gurudev find and could
meet that mataji he was searching?

HG Iksavaku prabhu: No, no, not that night. She became a regular, she is ok now.

HG Anadi prabhu: You brought us to that situation, where we wanted to know what
happened to her.

Question from Rajeswari mataji asks, (the transcriber?) No not Jayaraseshwari. Hare
Krsna prabhu, is there any specific pastimes between him and His Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada? Has guru maharaj shared any specific pastimes between him and Srila
Prabhupada?
 13

HG Iksavaku prabhu: So many, so many, so many there! Let me tell you quickly a pastime
that he himself told me. For whatever reason, his causeless mercy. I am going to tell it
quickly. Because sometimes I take two hours to tell this pastime. I will try to make it short.
When guru maharaj joined the movement he saw Prabhupada briefly in San Francisco in
the Ratha Yatra. So talking to different devotees after that, Prabhupada wasn’t to be seen
as he had left immediately the next day or the same night to Canada. So he asked where
is Prabhupada? They said, he has gone to Canada. So he said, I want to go to Canada.
Anyway, few details in between, he went to Canada and he saw Prabhupada there. But
Prabhupada the next day he is giving class, and you can see the transcription, Prabhupada
asked in that class, who is that? Someone said, he is Bhakta Jay and Prabhupada said,
Jaya! Then Prabhupada ordered Brahmananda, bring him to take lunch with me. When
guru maharaj went to take lunch with Prabhupada, this was the first time guru maharaj
was talking to Prabhupada. He had something in his mind. He is my guru. He had already
shaven up, he had already worked for the Ratha Yatra in San Francisco. He had already
surrendered. He had told me this pastime, it is a long, long pastime, but I will make it
short. He said, he is my guru, I will never say no to my guru. Why? Because Prabhupada
kept saying, give him more chapatis. And guru maharaj did not want to have more
chapatis, he had had enough. In those days he was very skinny. But he said, no, no, I
cannot say no to Prabhupada. Prabhupada said, more chapatis, and so more chapatis,
more chapatis. And guru maharaj was thinking I will never say no to Prabhupada. Then
years go by and guru maharaj had the intention, he said to Prabhupada, after a couple of
years, that I was thinking of going to India. You have engaged me here in Canada and
everything. Prabhupada said, don’t worry, I will train you here and then I will send you to
India. And the blessed day came when Prabhupada called guru maharaj and told him
come to Los Angeles, I have some plans for you, you are going to India. So guru maharaj
arranged everything and again the thought came, I will never say no to my guru maharaj,
to Prabhupada. So he goes and Prabhupada gave him the mission to establish the
movement in India, again the thought, I will never say no to Prabhupada. He goes and
does everything there. There are just two devotees, him and Acyutananda. They were
doing kirtan in the streets, sleeping in the Gaudiya matt, like travelling mendicants. And
Prabhupada had told him to secure a place in Calcutta for ISKCON. Prabhupada arrives
and guru maharaj was there welcoming him. And there was some problem. Some people
had been criticizing Prabhupada and they had written letters to the American disciples.
Prabhupada was very angry and he called another devotee into the office and chastising
him. Guru maharaj was standing outside and listening, he was saying, how could you dare,
how could you be so offensive! This is poison, you can destroy the whole society. It is
poison! And anyway the devotee comes out and he looks at guru maharaj, and he says it
 14

is your turn, he is going to call you. So guru maharaj very afraid, he enters and he is
shivering, because Prabhupada was very angry. He asked guru maharaj, are you also
contaminated? Are you also infected with this poison? And guru maharaj said, I don’t
know anything, I haven’t heard anything. In that mood Prabhupada, guru maharaj didn’t
go into details, Prabhupada said, tomorrow I am making a ceremony, do you want to take
sannyasa? The thought came again, I will never say no to Prabhupada. He said, yes,
Prabhupada! The next day was Radhastami. Guru maharaj took sannyasa! So that is the
story. And that is the commitment of someone who sees the order of the spiritual master
as his life and soul. Guru maharaj ki jai!

Last question for the day: From Phaneswari mataji. Sometimes I feel sad not to be able to
be with guru maharaj. How did you deal with this when he went infrequently to South
America? Also, some of the bad times and bad histories of ISKCON, guru maharaj is
forgiving, how can we have this mood and not be critical?

HG Iksavaku prabhu: How to deal with the separation of guru maharaj? This is wonderful!
Guru maharaj, I learnt, not only my case, but in the case of many other devotees, guru
maharaj values so much, loyalty, because he is very loyal. So if you remain loyal, doesn’t
matter, I have seen guru maharaj for ten years or more, when they come, if they have the
right attitude, guru maharaj is like full hearted welcoming them. So how do you deal with
separation? I asked him once that. He told me a few things. One, he said, is name your
son, Madhava. So you will call him, you will remember Radha Madhava, guru maharaj.
That is one thing he told me. The other thing, I asked this question several times actually.
The other thing he said, is remain enthusiastic in preaching, if you remain preaching, we
will always be connected, you will never feel painful separation. So I tried to do some
service in the area of preaching. Another time I asked me in Australia, guru maharaj,
before you used to be my sole authority and still you are, but before you used to keep me
in services, direct services, do this, wash this, go there, etc. And he told me, he says why
were you feeling separated from me? You were doing service, you were doing your family
duties, you were helping the temple. What were you feeling separation for? I said,
because I don’t have a personal instruction. And he told me, if you want to please me,
help the younger devotees, help the new people. That will really please me. And I said, I
said this, guru maharaj how can I help them when I can not even help myself? I have so
many problems, so many complications, have committed so many offences, how can I
help anybody? He smiled and said, you are perfect for that job! You know what, because
you have committed so many mistakes, that you can tell people what not to do so that
they don’t suffer like you suffer! He is always so witty! So if we want to be connected with
 15

guru maharaj, we have to try to humbly and sincerely, steadily fulfill his order. And that
connection will be there. Prabhupada explained that the connection with the spiritual
master goes beyond matter- time and space do not count. You will be there, he will come
to you, in the form of inspiration, in the form of dreams, a letter, a Godbrother, Godsister,
some sangha, some opportunity for preaching, for service, some realization. This is what
we want. One devotee was dying, his body was dying. Ravilocan prabhu in Malaysia. I was
there, I was seeing the video. Guru maharaj told him this because the devotee was crying.
He was very successful preacher, book distributor. And he was dying and he said, guru
maharaj, I am crying because I am going to miss your association. Guru maharaj gave him
the most amazing answer, he said, go and finish your business, I have some important
service for you! Imagine that answer! Guru maharaj does not give much room for
sentimental feelings. Cheap sentimentalism. Just get on with it. Okay you are suffering.
Get on with your service, do what I ask you to do. And if we do that then obviously we
feel connected with him.

So thank you very much for your time. It has been a pleasure.

HG Anadi prabhu: Can there be a second chance to hear from you sometime?

HG Iksavaku prabhu: Anytime, I am here it is lockdown. I was supposed to go to Mayapur,

Transcribed by Jayaraseshwari devi dasi,