My two fathers

Dinadayadri : When my parents met Srila Prabhupada, my mother took a photograph of Srila Prabhupada sitting on the floor behind his desk with my dad sitting cross-legged in front of him. They're both looking at the camera and have the same effulgent smile. I call that picture "my two fathers." It's as if my material father is reflecting the effulgent smile of my spiritual father.

My parents thanked Srila Prabhupada for saving me from drugs and a degraded hippie life. Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, "Yes, many parents thank me." They also told him that they were concerned about me because it was difficult for them to communicate with me since I was in India. Srila Prabhupada said, "Yes, I am also concerned about my children."

He chatted with my parents on a parental level, he gave them some prasadam from his plate, and he showered them with mercy. Srila Prabhupada knew how to relate with everybody.