Whatever happened, he pointed out, he was not afraid of death
One day in late May, while traveling in New South Wales, Hari-sauri made a routine phone call to Sydney. There was a message for him. All GBC's should go immediately to Vrindavana. Hari-sauri jumped in the van, drove to Sydney and two days later arrived in Delhi. There he received grim news.You'd better get to Vrindavana right away, Prabhupada could leave at any time. Shocked, Hari-sauri drove to Vrindavana in the heat of the blazing summer sun. By the time he arrived, however, it appeared the immediate crisis in Prabhupada's health was over. He had been the last of all the GBC's to be informed. Some devotees had already gone back to their respective zones. From Tamal Krishna Goswami, he learnt of the recent events; Srila Prabhupada had been preaching in Bombay, but not eating. He had gone to Hrishikesa and had gotten worse.
Since returning from there, Srila Prabhupada had made definite plans for a will to be drawn up, not with the attitude that the end had come, but in the spirit of preparing for the worst. Srila Prabhupada had requested Tamal Krishna to ask all the GBC men to gather in Vrindavana to make these last arrangements and to be with him. Prabhupada has tried so many medicines, Tamal Krishna Goswami told Hari-sauri, from so many doctors. But his real faith is in the chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
To this end, Prabhupada had asked that small groups chant kirtana and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam constantly in his presence. This, he had said, was the medicine for the disease of material existence. One by one, Prabhupada's senior disciples had come, bringing gifts and reports of the positive developments in their zones. Bhavananda and Jayapataka, from Srila Prabhupada's beloved Mayapur project; Kirtanananda from New Vrindavana, and many others. Ramesvara's reports from North America, where book distribution was steadily increasing, was especially enlivening to Srila Prabhupada. Many devotees had prayed and petitioned for Srila Prabhupada to stay. Either way, Prabhupada had said, "I have no objection. Whatever happened" he pointed out, he was not afraid of death. Wherever he was, there was Vaikuntha, especially in Vrindavana, surrounded by loving devotees. Krishna had his plan; it was ultimately up to Him.
Since returning from there, Srila Prabhupada had made definite plans for a will to be drawn up, not with the attitude that the end had come, but in the spirit of preparing for the worst. Srila Prabhupada had requested Tamal Krishna to ask all the GBC men to gather in Vrindavana to make these last arrangements and to be with him. Prabhupada has tried so many medicines, Tamal Krishna Goswami told Hari-sauri, from so many doctors. But his real faith is in the chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
To this end, Prabhupada had asked that small groups chant kirtana and recite Srimad-Bhagavatam constantly in his presence. This, he had said, was the medicine for the disease of material existence. One by one, Prabhupada's senior disciples had come, bringing gifts and reports of the positive developments in their zones. Bhavananda and Jayapataka, from Srila Prabhupada's beloved Mayapur project; Kirtanananda from New Vrindavana, and many others. Ramesvara's reports from North America, where book distribution was steadily increasing, was especially enlivening to Srila Prabhupada. Many devotees had prayed and petitioned for Srila Prabhupada to stay. Either way, Prabhupada had said, "I have no objection. Whatever happened" he pointed out, he was not afraid of death. Wherever he was, there was Vaikuntha, especially in Vrindavana, surrounded by loving devotees. Krishna had his plan; it was ultimately up to Him.
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure by Kurma Dasa
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