Siddhasvarupa chose full surrender

Govinda Dasi: Siddhasvarupa had been initiated by mail, and was to be given sannyasi and second initiation at the forthcoming Deity installation ceremony. So Srila Prabhupada had not yet met Siddhasvarupa in person.

Srila Prabhupada called him to him, and when Siddhasvarupa bowed down, Srila Prabhupada stroked and patted his freshly shaven head. His Divine Grace was immensely pleased with the surrender of this young man, who had given up everything - disciples, properties, money, and, most of all, his heart, at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada blessed him and Siddhasvarupa radiated with the joy of seeing his Spiritual Master for the first time.

Srila Prabhupada had told Sai, Siddhasvarupa, that he would initiate him first, and then he (Siddhasvarupa) could then initiate all his disciples who were already with him. But Siddhasvarupa chose full surrender. He asked that Srila Prabhupada initiate all of his disciples as well. And he humbly stepped down from his position as their guru, after guiding them to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Siddhasvarupa then came to live in the quite austere and crowded basement brahmachari ashram of our Honolulu temple. This young man, at 21 years old, already had what nearly everyone wants: money, power, land, properties, disciples, and the fame and adoration that accompany these things. Yet he chose to surrender everything at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, and to become a penniless brahmachari. His faith and devotion to Srila Prabhupada were so firm, even though he had not yet met Srila Prabhupada in person.