Serving Prabhupada

Bhavatarini Dasi  : Since I had already gotten second initiation by letter, I couldn't be second initiated at the fire sacrifice. Bhutatma organized in the San Francisco temple. I was disappointed because I heard that a lot of times Prabhupada touched your hand when he personally gave second initiation. I thought, "I wanted to take second initiation personally from Srila Prabhupada, because it would probably be the only opportunity in my entire life to have Srila Prabhupada physically touch my hand."

Because I had a child, I had my own room in the temple, and after the initiation Jayananda knocked on my door. Jayananda's association is another amazing part of Krishna consciousness. He was so kind. He said, "I'm going to see Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles. Would you like to have me take him some guru dakshina?" I said, "I don't have anything." Jayananda pointed to a framed pencil drawing I'd done of Krishna's face. Krishna had a flute, was wearing a garland, and was in the clouds. Underneath it said "Om." A lot of people had told me the drawing was not bona fide, and impersonal because Krishna was in a cloud, and none of His associates were there.

I would never have thought of giving it to Srila Prabhupada, but when Jayananda said, "Oh, that's nice," I forgot all my doubts and hesitations. I said, "Okay, you can take that to Srila Prabhupada." Jayananda said, "Would you like me to ask Prabhupada anything?" I had heard that all you were supposed to ask the spiritual master was how to serve him, so I said, "Please ask him how I can serve him best."

About a month later Jayananda got a letter from Srila Prabhupada, and in it, Prabhupada wrote, ". . . and thank Bhavatarini Dasi for her drawing of Gopal Krishna." I felt that Prabhupada was saying, "It's Gopal Krishna, it's not impersonal." Prabhupada also wrote, "As far as how she can serve me, the best service is to always chant Hare Krishna and to spread it to every town and village."