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 so didn't feel it worth it to think about what was impossible to get an answer to.
Yet sometimes I did wonder about it, 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!
MORE TO COME!
