Yes. Wonderful. Keep on. Increase.

Taking the opportunity of Prabhupada's presence, Vishnujana wants to arrange a private darshan for his entire party. Dayal Chandra and Riksaraj are now ready for brahmana initiation. Maharaja is transcendentally proud of his men and he wants to surprise them, "C'mon. I'm going to take you in to see Srila Prabhupada!" The devotees are astonished. The sun is shining brightly through the windows as they enter Prabhupada's quarters. Basking in the sunlight, Prabhupada sits very simply on a small mat on the floor. He wears no kurta, just a dhoti. He has a huge smile on his face from ear to ear. Everyone immediately offers obeisances. They remain standing before Prabhupada but he bids them to sit on the floor with him in a semi-circle. Vishnujana introduces the brahmacaris one by one, telling something about each one's service. Prabhupada doesn't say anything. He sits quietly looking at his disciples and appreciating them as he nods his head and keeps smiling. Vishnujana mentions that this is the sankirtan party that won a category in Ramesvara's BBT Newsletter and received special praise for their distribution of his books. To the Radha-Damodara brahmacaris, that award never registered as being anything of great significance. They were just doing their service. However, Srila Prabhupada's eyes immediately open wide as he remarks, "Yes, brahmacaris and sannyasi. Go on and increase. Keep on doing what you are doing." He is pleased. The mood is intimate and sweet although Prabhupada doesn't say much.

Suhotra: When Vishnujana introduced me particularly as the sankirtan leader, Srila Prabhupada beamed his transcendental Vaikuntha smile. It was personally satisfying for me although no real words were exchanged. When I took initiation in Boston it was a special pastime in which Srila Prabhupada acknowledged me as his disciple. It was a very sweet occasion. Then at this meeting Prabhupada was obviously pleased with my service. This was like a confirmation that Prabhupada appreciated my service. I found that completely satisfying. I was never one to put myself forward to get Prabhupada's attention, so I just saw this as Krishna's arrangement, confirming that I have a relationship with Prabhupada and that he is accepting and appreciating my service. The nature of the Radha-Damodara party then was more like a family. We weren't into designations. That's why when we won a category it was no big deal for us. I never considered myself the sankirtan leader. We were just distributing books. The sankirtan party meant, whoever was there would get into the van. I drove the van because the others didn't have a driver's license. Because I drove the van I planned out where we'd go. Sri Vallabha was with us and he had a great deal of experience. He was a veteran book distributor. When he was on the party I used to think of him as the sankirtan leader, although there was no official designation. Most of the Radha-Damodara devotees have second initiation except Dayal Chandra and Riksaraj. Vishnujana Swami makes the most of the occasion by recommending them for brahmana initiation. As Maharaja speaks, Srila Prabhupada never takes his eyes off Vishnujana; he is completely absorbed in everything Maharaja is saying. When Vishnujana is finished speaking, Srila Prabhupada says, "Yes, whatever you say is all right."

Dayal Chandra: When we went in to see Srila Prabhupada, I was expecting him to be sitting on a vyasasana like when he was giving a lecture. But when we walked in Prabhupada was sitting on the floor. Vishnujana told him what we were doing and recommended us for second initiation. To me that association with Prabhupada was just like sitting there with Krishna and the cowherd boys. That's what Prabhupada was like. He was just like a young boy, sitting there with a big smile on his face with no pretense about anything. It was like seeing his real self. That was the kind of relationship he had with Vishnujana Swami. His relationship was just completely somewhere in the spiritual world. Srila Prabhupada was just beaming sitting there on the floor. He hardly said anything; he was just smiling. Everything that Vishnujana said Prabhupada replied, "Yes. Wonderful. Keep on. Increase." Vishnujana asks Prabhupada if devotees can wear western clothing. During this time, western attire is gradually being adopted in order to increase book distribution. It began in Los Angeles with Karandhar, the GBC, and a grihastha named Tripurari. Together they are championing this arrangement. The Los Angeles devotees have had great success going out in western clothes to distribute books in malls and at the airport. Prabhupada gives sanction that they can put on proper western clothing to distribute books but they should not dress as hippies. Tripurari is training book distributors who fly in to Los Angeles from temples all over the country to learn the new techniques. Prabhupada had written Ramesvara in February congratulating the Los Angeles devotees for their increased book distribution results, "I must express my appreciation for Sriman Tripurari Prabhu's outstanding service, as well as all the devotees in your party."

Due to the increased sankirtan results many book distributors are inspired by Tripurari's example, and the Radha-Damodara brahmacaris are no exception. Although western dress is a minor controversy in ISKCON, Prabhupada already gave the standard policy dress code years earlier. The following letter, written in 1968, is indicative of the standard Prabhupada expects for disciples. The next point is that you should dress just like perfect American gentlemen, but the sikha and tilak must be very prominent. Coat, pants, necktie, and everything, brahmacari and grhasthas, they can put on, because you are not Sannyasi. In the temple, you can dress as brahmacari, but in order not to become ridiculous in the eyes of others, outside you should dress just like a very nice perfect aristocratic American. So there is no objection. But we must always have our tilak and sikha and there is no compromise for this purpose. [Letter to Brahmananda - October 6, 1968] And now in 1973, he is reaffirming this same policy. Regarding selling books in Karmic clothes; yes, it may be done, there is no harm. This book distribution and Ratha Yatra Festivals should go on all over the world. [Letter to Madhudvisa - August 7, 1973]

On April 13, Srila Prabhupada returns to the airport to catch his flight to Los Angeles where he plans to stay for more than a month. He is followed by a convoy of devotee vehicles. Many devotees crowd into the Departures Lounge to bid their spiritual master farewell. His stay in New York has rejuvenated everyone's determination to push on book distribution. During this time in New York, Aja leaves the Radha-Damodara party. Rupanuga Goswami needs a brahmacari assistant to work with him, so he approaches Vishnujana Swami to help him out with a man. Maharaja is happy to be of assistance and agrees to lend a hand. After careful consideration he recommends Aja. The Radha-Damodara party is also leaving New York. They will drive north to Boston. But before leaving, they pop into the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul's to get secondhand clothing. They purchase nice-looking outfits so they can dress smartly for distributing books without spending a lot of money.