Don't talk L-E-A-V-E,
Giriraj Swami: While we were at Mayapur, one young man named Bob Cohen came to our camp. And we were really surprised because we didn't get visitors just coming like that. Bob Cohen was very intelligent and sober. He was a Peace Corps worker in India. So he came to meet Srila Prabhupada. He had attended our pandal program at Desha Priya Park in south Calcutta, and he began to ask Srila Prabhupada very intelligent questions and Srila Prabhupada gave very elaborate answers. It became a regular routine that Bob would come and ask questions to Srila Prabhupada and, knowing that there was going to be an important discussion, I would ask Srila Prabhupada, "Should I call the others?" and he would say, "Yes."
Brahmatirtha das: My experiences with Prabhupada, of course, occurred in the bhajan kutir where devotees wanted to know if I had any questions, which I certainly did. So I got to sit in there, I think, for several hours a day over probably a four-day period and discuss with Prabhupada my philosophical issues. I didn't really know a whole lot about what was going on in terms of parampara and how things work. I knew a little, but I just appreciated the qualities of Prabhupada. He made me feel very comfortable. His humor was very disarming. And Prabhupada was on a platform, so I was on the floor.
So I'd always be looking at Prabhupada's feet, and somehow that gave me some blessing. One of the most dramatic moments for me personally is when I realize it's time for me to leave Mayapur. Because the night before on Gaura Purnima night, Jamuna had come to me with tears in her eyes. And I remember the moon reflecting in her eyes and she had tears and she said, "You are so fortunate. Prabhupada is spending so much time with you." She said it with such conviction that I was completely overwhelmed, and I realized that I might have to surrender. So I went behind the temple, behind the pandal and just collapsed in the rice paddies and started crying. I said, "I can't give everything up." So the next morning Prabhupada called for me again, asked if I had more questions. I said, "Thank you very much for what you've done, but I have to leave now. I have to get back to my teaching." The Peace Corps had no idea where I was or what I did, so I could go back or not go back. And Prabhupada said, "Don't talk L-E-A-V-E," he spelled it out, "talk L-I-V-E. Don't talk leave, talk live." So I said to Prabhupada, "So you want me to stay longer?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Well, if you tell me to, I will." And then he said to me, "Good boy," the same way you would say it to your pet. So at that time, in my heart I felt I had become Prabhupada's pet, not realizing that I in essence had accepted him as my guru. Though when I think back at it, after that time, I was sold out to Prabhupada.
A minor incident, but for me it was very major. And Prabhupada timed it just perfectly well to capture me.
Reference: Following Srila Prabhupada-A Chronological Series by Brahmatirtha Dasa
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