If you have desire, you can preach in any circumstances and Krishna will help you; I have practically experienced.
Two former members of Gurukripa Maharaja's Nama Hatta party, Arjuna and Tamopaha prabhus, arrived today. They were collecting in Japan, but now want to preach in the Philippines. They have come to Vrindavana to seek Srila Prabhupada's blessings and to resolve a thorny problem in their new preaching arena.
Srila Prabhupada agreed to see them after his afternoon nap. Sitting behind his desk in his darsana room, a fresh garland around his neck, japa beads in hand and a silver cup filled with fresh fruit juice on his desk, he listened as they explained how they wanted to preach in Cebu, a small island in the central part of the Philippines. They were concerned that Sudama Vipra Swami, one of the renegade sannyasis working with Siddhasvarupananda Maharaja, might cause them some problems, because he has been in the Manila area for several years. He has a reputation for being violent. Indeed, at the last Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur, he attacked another devotee and then sent a letter to Prabhupada threatening a "fratricidal war" against ISKCON members. At that time Prabhupada had said that he was a gunda, a thug. So despite that fact that Sudama Vipra was on different island, the two men asked if Prabhupada would write a letter to Sudama Vipra requesting him to cooperate with them.
Prabhupada was happy that they wanted to preach, and he encouraged them to chant and distribute small books and prasadam. He declined to give a letter for Sudama Vipra, however. He didn't think it necessary. "They have gone outside our ISKCON line and cannot be relied on to cooperate with us. You should work independently from him."
Srila Prabhupada went on to describe his own struggles to establish Krishna consciousness in New York in 1966, without money or help. "In that 100, 71st Street, all my things were stolen. My tape recorder, typewriter. Fortunately they did not touch my manuscript that I was typing, typing my books". So some money was stolen. Then one boy, he was coming to me, he told me, 'Please come to my place.' A loft, Bowery Street. I did not know the Bowery Street was not a good quarter?all bums and drunks. When I see there one Jewish friend, he had electrical shop, he told me, 'swamiji, you have gone to Bowery Street? Oh, it is not your place.'
I did not know that it is full of drunkards. But they were lying down in front of my door, but they were very respectful. When I'd go, these drunkards comes and they respectfully give me ways. And they would lie down on urine and something like that, on water. Then the boy who took me there ... He was Murray, his last title was Murray, and he was taking LSD. So since I went there he did not go to work. Otherwise, he was working and getting daily twenty-five dollars, in some dock he was working. Since I went, he stopped working, and I had to pay $125 for the loft. One lady was the landlord.
So I was going on. Some people were coming. That Mukunda began to come, his wife, and another black boy, half-black?Yeargen. I gave him name, Kalapati. He was coming. Then one day that boy Murray, he showed some crazy features. So I thought it is dangerous to live with him. So I approached Mukunda. Mukunda had no place, still I asked him. So I kept my goods at Mukunda's house and went to live with Yeargen. That is another loft.
"So in this way, with great hardship, sometimes here, sometimes there, in this way I got $200 by selling books". And then I asked Mukunda to find out an apartment. He found this apartment, 26 Second Avenue. One storefront down and one living quarters up. So I found it very convenient. Down I would lecture and hold kirtana. So he charged $75 per month for the apartment, small apartment. I think in a space like this room or less than that, everything is there. There was kitchen, there was shower, and two rooms. I think less than this. Two-thirds of this room and everything there. So I shifted there. And there I remained up to May 1967, I think.
"Then I got heart attack". Then I went to Stinson Beach. Then I could not improve my health?no, first of all, I went to San Francisco. There also I could not sleep at night. There was throbbing in the heart. Kirtanananda, he was serving me; so many difficulties. Then I came back to India in 1967 July. Here also not very much improvement. Then again I went to Los Angeles. There also one symptom developed. Always some sound in the ear, gongongongongon, it was so disturbing?almost half-mad. And then Los Angeles. Then I think I went to Seattle.
"In this way, in the beginning there were so many difficulties. Montreal. I took Canadian citizenship. America I could not get. So one gentleman in the immigration department, he said, 'swamiji, you go to Canada and from there you try. It will be easier.' Actually, it acted. The Canadian consulate general was a black man, American black man. So in the consulate I applied for immigration, and he was sympathetic. He saw my Teachings of Lord Caitanya and he became attracted. So he settled up, 'This gentleman must be allowed.' So he expedited the matter within three months. And then I became immigrant in the U.S.A.
"Then again I came back in Los Angeles, and then we took that house, La Cienega [Blvd.]". That man also wanted to kick out after one year, then we had no place. Then, by Krishna's grace, we got this house, present. At that time I got $50,000. So I advanced them down payment. And it is $225,000. I think they are still paying $2,000. "Twelve years". 1968 I got immigration and '69. It is a long history, checkered history. So preaching is independent. If you have desire, you can preach in any circumstances and Krishna will help you; I have practically experienced. I went to your country without any help, without any money, alone. And gradually things developed. And all foreigners. "I did not approach any Indian. I did not approach anyone, but Krishna sent friends, gradually developed."
Arjuna and Tamopaha left Prabhupada's room feeling especially benedicted to have not only received his endorsement for their preaching, but to have shared in his intimate recollections. They will leave for Cebu in a few days.
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I mentioned to Tamopaha that Prabhupada was having high blood pressure problems and he suggested that Prabhupada take the pulp from the cactus-like aloe vera plant, a common treatment for heart complaints in Hawaii. He said it helps clear the arteries and is also excellent when applied externally, for curing burns and skin ailments. I discussed it with Srila Prabhupada and he agreed to try it. Accordingly, I have located some plants growing in a nearby asrama and it is being added to his diet.
* * *
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 4 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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