Sanatana Prabhu's Remembrances ~ Page 3

Remembrances by
Sanatana Das
part 3

In May 1973 Srila Prabhupada was discussing various topics with his disciples on the flat roof of the New York Temple.

One devotee said, “Srila Prabhupada, sometimes when we are talking to the Christians they mention someone they call ‘the beast’ or the anti-Christ. What is your understanding of that?”

Srila Prabhupada surprised them with his answer. “Yes, he will be a very big demon, practically the whole world will follow, he will be the only real competition for our Movement, anyone who doesn’t get one of our books will become his disciple.”

Morning walk 1972 London, Bury Place.

“There will be war”, then smiling, “The devotees will come out of the rubble chanting Hare Krsna.

…When India and Pakistan declare war, it will begin.”

Devotee: “Will any devotees be killed?”

Srila Prabhupada: “You think you will not die?”

When Srila Prabhupada introduced Tulasi worship to theLondon devotees in August 1972, we were intrigued. Here was a great devotee who could make our lives very auspicious if we worshipped her and she was in the body of a plant. The ancient Romans knew she was special and called her basil sanctus , sacred basil. So Srila Prabhupada gave us the Tulasi kirtan song and asked us to offer her incense and ghee lamps and flowers. Also we should circumambulate her. We had faith in Prabhupada so although it seemed like an unusual thing to do we understood it in theory so we began to worship.

Srila Prabhupada continued to tour the world. Subhag translated the Bengali song into English.

When Srila Prabhupada returned after some time, he looked at out Tulasi, chuckled to himself and said, “This is not Tulasi – this is basil.”

Chanting the song in praise of Tulasi and thinking of her was still beneficial but when we got a ‘real’ Tulasi it became better

Srila Prabhupada told us once, “Nothing done in a spirit of service to Krsna is bad, only good, better and best.”

Seeing and touching Tulasi without understanding who she is is good. Chanting the mantras in praise of Tulasi, when she is {…..} else is better, and the same thing but with Tulasi present is best. Of course Tulasi-arati in full Krsna consciousness is the best of all.

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