Trivikram Swami objects Prabhupada

Trivikram Swami : In 1975, Gopal Krishna Maharaj was the GBC for India. In Mayapur he said to me, "Bhavananda is going to leave Mayapur, so Prabhupada wants you to stay here with Jayapataka." I said, "I'm not staying here. I've already planned to preach in the Far East with some other devotees." Later that afternoon, Gopal Krishna, many other devotees, and I were in Prabhupada's room for darshan. Gopal Krishna said, "Srila Prabhupada, Trivikram Swami says he's not staying here in Mayapur." There was silence.

Prabhupada looked at me and said, "What is the problem? You don't want to stay here?" I said, "Prabhupada, I already have a program." Prabhupada said, "Our formula is plain living and high thinking, but you're simply addicted to the city." I said, "Srila Prabhupada, I'm not enlivened by the preaching here in Mayapur. I'd rather go to the Far East." He said, "You are a sannyasi. You have given up everything but your whim."

I still objected. I said, "But, Prabhupada, I've been a sannyasi for five years, and I haven't had a chance to preach in English. I've always been in places where I couldn't preach in English. If I stay in Mayapur, I also won't be able to preach in English." Prabhupada said, "Oh, you've been a sannyasi for five years, and you haven't had a chance to preach? What makes you think you know how to preach?" Then something inside of me said, "Yes, sir." I was in the Navy, and I was trained to respect superiors. Prabhupada was my superior, so I realized that I better shut up and do what I was told. I stayed for some time.