 | Once in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada called me into his room and asked me very nicely whether I was washing clothes in hot, soapy water. He said that normally so much soap is not needed, but because he was getting oil massages it was necessary to wash them with soap and hot water to cleanse them properly. He was very gentle and kind and loving, not harsh or reprimanding at all. He also then asked me about my clothing, whether or not I had other clothes. Since as an artist I still wear jeans. Saris had not been introduced as of yet. He commented, "I do not like these Western pants wearing with all parts exposed. Better for ladies to wear long dresses or saris as they do in India". I nodded and decided to find out about saris, since all I owned was jeans, and of course later we began always wearing saris and long dresses rather than pants. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for caring so much about us that you taught us how to dress, how to eat, even how to brush our teeth. You are the perfect father, so that even now when I can remember you in all my daily activities; and another time you commented on my short hair, recently clipped just over my ears and said: "I do not like this bob tail. You should wear your hair long like Jadurani's in a bunch in the back. Jadurani's hair was pulled in back in a ponytail at the nape of her neck. So from that day I let my hair grow and wear it as you requested. Another time you suggested I tied my hair in a knot - for catching Krsna. You explained that the brahmacari ties his sikha in a knot and in India, ladies also tie their bunch of hairs in a knot and always think of catching Krsna in that knot. That is the meaning of the sikha knot and also of the ladies' tradition of gathering their hair in a knot. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, that you are such a perfect father that you taught us how to look, how to dress and how to live. You are our eternal father. Thank you.
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