“Kishori told me some story about how Bhagaji donated the money. And something about he had become attached to her.”
Was that the reason?
“He actually offered her the family jewels and stuff. He had first offered it to her, and she said,
‘If you want to please me, you should go sell everything and give the money to Prabhupada and start a gurukula.’”
Really? I know there was difficulty.
Prabhupada called me in his room one day. I think it was in August 1976 or maybe September.
Prabhupada called me in his room and requested that I go to the Middle East to collect for the gurukula. I wanted a break anyway.
At that time, I was also having problems with Hamsadutta, and it was just becoming impossible.
My relationship with Akshayananda was very thin.
Gopal Krishna did not like me.
It was very difficult. So Prabhupada said,
“I want you to go to the Middle East and collect for the gurukula. Also, try to bring children to the schoolhouse.”
Akshayananda Maharaja is very eccentric. But also, Lord Nityananda was very eccentric. We have to see this as spiritual, this eccentricity.
So I said,
“I will try, Prabhupada.”
‘Prabhupada replied,
“Just like I am encouraging him (Akshayananda Maharaja). Every night we are sitting under the Tamal tree of the temple in the courtyard, and we are giving Hindi class. I am letting him speak Hindi. He is speaking all nonsense; but he is trying.” (
So I laughed!
It was funny you know, so I said I would go to the Middle East. I went with Tribhuvanatha to the Middle East. Prabhupada said,
“I want you to preach scientifically to these Arabs and Muslims. Krishna is for everyone, not just for Hindus. We have to break the ice with these other people. Do not be afraid. Krishna will protect you. If you preach that the living entity, is passing from boyhood to youth, to old age and dying. Is it not just the Hindus who are passing from boyhood to youth to old age and dying? Is Bhagavad-gita instruction just for the Hindus? Is Krishna just speaking to the Hindus? Is Krishna a Hindu God? Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Bhagavad-gita is universal. He is speaking to every living entity. He is speaking to the conditioned souls. It is an instruction so that the conditioned soul can get out of his conditioning
So you say,
‘My dear sirs, is it not just the Hindus who are passing through boyhood to youth to old age? Just look around you. Everyone is passing from boyhood to youth to old age. This instruction is scientific. That is how you preach. Do not be afraid. Krishna will protect you.”
I said,
“All right, Prabhupada.”