I have been trying to start this particular post for a long time, but always back down. Why? It's complicated to take it out of notes, plus other issues. Tonight I begin, but it is not going to be easy, nor completed right away. Matter of fact, I will likely be working on it even if I start another post in the future. You have been warned ha.
What on earth is the topic? Well, the short answer is, Prabhupada's passing. But there is much more to it than that. So we may have to back up a bit, and get there naturally.
In my early days as a devotee, we all talked of topics that were very philosophical and spiritual. One of mine, and of others, was if Prabhupada would suffer when it came his turn to leave this world.
Yes, I heard others ask this same question. On one recording Prabhupada replied, [from memory] "Why not?" The devotee replied [from memory], "Because you are a pure devotee, therefore many believe you should not suffer." But Prabhupada said otherwise.
Fastforward some years and Prabhupada left his body. I never knew if he did or did not suffer. I hated the thought, so would not let my mind go there. Not out of denial, I simply did not have the answer therefore didn't feel it worth it to think about that which was impossible to get an answer to.
Yet sometimes I did wonder, and for me I guess I just held on to the belief that anyone who loved Krishna so deeply, served God/Krsna so much, even left his country where he could have lived out his golden years in more comfort than to come to a foreign country where he did not know the lifestyle so well - that Krishna would spare him.
For decade this was just a hope, dare I say my speculation. Until one day I read a fb post from someone who was actually there at the passing of Srila Prabhupada! I wondered why such news had not been shared, therefore I share it here. Written some years ago, excerpts and / or paraphrased in part cuz technically I have not asked his permission to repost but I feel it is ok to paraphrase or repeat a story; also for simplicity and ease for reading.
That devotee was in Vrindavana right before, and during, the passing of Srila Prabhupada. By now most of us have seen the pictures of the many devotees gathered around Prabhupada, chanting, as he was getting ready to leave. He joined in.
Suddenly Srila Prabhupada began to show unusual or unexpected symptoms. They were actually ashta sattvika bhava - the eight ecstasies of Love of God! Some of these unique, ecstatic symptoms were rolling from one side to the other, arms flailing, arching, roaring - next, stunned and immovable - body trembled, every limb would shake. Tears flowing from his eyes, etc! Reminds me of what I read of Lord Chaitanya.
I'm going to add more when I can but my point? If ever you wondered if Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee and should you follow this path - now you have more evidence!
There can always be more about Prabhupada, but something came my way about a devotee I wish to share. First, to clarify, I do not recommend avoiding doctors, medicine, or therapy. It is bonafide to accept those, there is even Ayurveda coming from Krishna Himself, as well as Prabhupada accepted certain treatments. Simultaneously I respect this devotees choice, admittedly I am not that advanced. But it sure is nectar with a fantastic result!
"SRILA PRABHUPADA APPEARS BEFORE US!!"
One day—on the **appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, Rati devi dasi came into my room and said to me:
“I have cancer. I must undergo surgery immediately. But Harikeśa wants me to drive a caravan from Germany to Poland. He also told me that I should not care about this useless body.”
Because of this, she did not take therapy. She did not undergo surgery in time. Instead, she went to Poland to reach the festival.
Only two months later, her illness had reached a terminal stage.
I was speaking with her on the phone almost daily. When she finally passed away, I received some photographs and heard a few accounts of her last hours—but I was never certain what had truly happened.
It has now been more than twenty years since her departure, and I have often wondered what became of her.
Recently, after the departure of another young matajī, I again began to ask Śrīla Prabhupāda—especially during these last days—about the destiny of such souls.
And then, today—just one hour ago—like a miracle, I received a phone call from Vṛndāvana.
Without any prompting, the devotee on the phone said:
“I want to tell you how Rati left her body—what really happened.”
I was stunned.
After twenty-five years, someone calls me from Vṛndāvana to tell me how Rati Devī passed away.
This is what he said:
During her final hours, two matajīs were with her. Rati wished to listen to Śrīla Prabhupāda singing on a tape recorder. While Śrīla Prabhupāda was singing, Rati peacefully left her body.
But then Śrīla Prabhupāda appeared.
The matajīs said that he appeared in the form of a hologram, and he addressed them with these words:
“IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS WORLD THE SAME WAY THAT SHE DOES, JUST DO THE SAME!”
Just listen to the singing of Śrīla Prabhupāda and he will come to save you, no matter what…
No matter what.......
Śrīla Prabhupāda answered my question within 24 hours and in doing so, he also saved me.
ALL GLORIES! ALL GLORIES!
ALL GLORIES TO ŚRĪLA PRABHUPĀDA!
Some years back a godbrother, Goursundarsa dasa, a Prabhupada disciple from the earliest days, left his body. His wife told that he said he was seeing the VishnuDutta's coming to get him! I thought I did not read that right so looked for her comment on fb and could not find it. So I messaged her and asked. She said yes, it was true. She also told me it was on a video of a talk she gave at the Alachua Fl temple shortly after his passing. Because of it's length I do not put it here. But felt that was worth a mention since it helps us see that even those of us born in kali yuga have a shot at going back to Godhead as long as we follow Srila Prabhupaeda.
NEXT: The following is a site filled with memories of many devotees throughout the world, some with surreal experience, some with different, but all, impressive. I write it instead of just posting the link quickly, because it now comes up as a site that is not safe. Thing is, the devotee who owned the site has passed away, he is not here to update the software or whatever, but he is also not here to take anything from you, which he never would in the first place. He wouldn't even take donations! Anyhow, I go to the site regularly and have never had a problem. The rest is up to you. Here is the link to devotee experiences and memories of Srila Prabhupada.
