April 27, 1976 : Auckland
Kurma: Seven devotees sat down around the sacrificial fireplace. Prabhupada took his seat. Guru Kripa Swami had already given the pre-initiation lecture while the morning walk had been in progress. Prabhupada had chanted on most of the new initiates' beads the night before, except for one young girl from the North Shore. Now, he softly chanted one round on her beads as the devotees watched and chanted along.
The new candidates, including some freshly shaven-headed men from Tushta Krishna's farm, came up individually to receive their beads and names from Srila Prabhupada. As per Prabhupada's standard prescription, each devotee promised to follow the four regulative principles, and chant a minimum of 16 rounds daily.
Roy: I was the last one up. I was very nervous. "What are the regulative principles?" asked Srila Prabhupada, and I told him. "And how many rounds do you promise to chant?" "Sixteen rounds everyday, minimum," I said. "So?" Prabhupada said. He turned to Pushta Krishna who softly spoke my name into Prabhupada's ear: "Mahasakti dasa." Prabhupada paused and went "Mmmmm." There was some talk between Pushta Krishna and Prabhupada. Apparently, he didn't approve of my name. Prabhupada leaned over towards me, looked at me, and then closed his eyes and leaned back and sat there for what appeared to be quite a long time. I just sat there and Prabhupada just sat there. Then he opened his eyes and said, "Advaita dasa."
The new candidates, including some freshly shaven-headed men from Tushta Krishna's farm, came up individually to receive their beads and names from Srila Prabhupada. As per Prabhupada's standard prescription, each devotee promised to follow the four regulative principles, and chant a minimum of 16 rounds daily.
Roy: I was the last one up. I was very nervous. "What are the regulative principles?" asked Srila Prabhupada, and I told him. "And how many rounds do you promise to chant?" "Sixteen rounds everyday, minimum," I said. "So?" Prabhupada said. He turned to Pushta Krishna who softly spoke my name into Prabhupada's ear: "Mahasakti dasa." Prabhupada paused and went "Mmmmm." There was some talk between Pushta Krishna and Prabhupada. Apparently, he didn't approve of my name. Prabhupada leaned over towards me, looked at me, and then closed his eyes and leaned back and sat there for what appeared to be quite a long time. I just sat there and Prabhupada just sat there. Then he opened his eyes and said, "Advaita dasa."
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure - Kurma Dasa
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