Below is an excerpt from Sripad Bhaktivedanta Siddhanti Maharaja’s
class on the 6th May 2017 in Malaysia.
The Complete Dedication of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
Thakur Prabhupada’s Disciples.
"Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are very dedicated towards
their spiritual master. One such disciple is Madan Mohan prabhu. He was a
householder and whatever he earned for his upkeep, he used to spend half of the
earnings for Srila Prabhupada’s mission. The other half is used to maintain his
family.
He once planted a mango tree for the service of Srila
Prabhupada. He told all his family members that the mangoes from the tree is
only for the service of Srila Prabhupada. One day, while Madan Mohan prabhu was at
work, his eldest son ate a mango from the tree. Madan Mohan prabhu's wife saw this and
she told her son that she will tell the incident to the boy’s father.
As soon as Madan Mohan prabhu came home, his wife told him
what had happened. Madan Mohan prabhu was really furious. He shouted at his
son, “How dare you! How dare you eat this mango which is for the use of Srila
Prabhupada’s service!”
He thrashed his son so badly. The whole family thought the
boy would be killed. After a while Madan Mohan prabhu cried very bitterly at his
altar and asked for forgiveness. He felt extremely sad that his son took the
mango which was for the service of Srila Prabhupada.
After many years,
Madan Mohan prabhu’s son used to tell this story whenever I
visited him. He said that what his father did was absolutely right because his
father was very dedicated in the service of Srila Prabhupada.
There’s also the story where Madan Mohan Prabhu got all his
daughters married off. He used to ask for money from his sons-in-laws. Some of his elders told Madan Mohan prabhu
that his action was wrong to ask money from his sons-in-laws.
But Madan Mohan prabhu used to say, “What is wrong in my
actions. I have accepted my sons-in-law as my own sons. They have no time to do
any service for Bhagavan. By taking their hard earned money, I am engaging their
energy in the service of Bhagavan.”
In this way, his entire life was for the service of Srila
Prabhupada and Bhagavan.
Then there was Krsna Kesava prabhu who was the cook at the
temple. He used to chop cabbages and potatoes so fast that within minutes he
was able to cook for all the devotees at the temple. In 20 minutes the most!
After many years, he used to think that Srila Prabhupada cheated him because he
never got the opportunity to speak Hari Katha. All the other disciples of Srila
Prabhupada were very highly learned and intellectual giants.
One day, in an assembly, all the stalwart devotees were
about to give Hari Katha. At that time, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja was
there. Suddenly he said, “Today Krsna Kesava prabhu will speak.”
Krsna Kesava prabhu was shocked. He said that there was
nothing in his mind at that time. He was wondering what to say. As soon as he
finished his prayers to Srila Prabhupada, he started speaking non-stop such
sweet Hari Katha. All knowledge was coming.
Later on, he realised that Srila Prabhupada did not cheat
him at all. Instead, Srila Prabhupad engaged him in service for the Vaishnavas
and that was what made him speak. In fact, Krsna Kesava prabhu said that he was
not the one who was speaking. It was Srila Prabhupada.
So, just see. How very dedicated the disciples of Srila
Prabhupada. They knew nothing beside Srila Prabhupada.
Jay Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!"
Comments