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1008 Ways to Remember Srila Prabhupada
<< 13 Krsna will protect you >>
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| The upheaval of the 60's and the war in Vietnam was a fearful reality to many. Gaurasundara, my husband had lived in constant anxiety and fear that the draft board would call him to war. Though he was raised in a military family who fully supported the Vietnam War and they wanted him to become an airforce pilot, Gaurasundara had other ideas about his destiny. Until late November, Gaurasundara was an art student at the University of Texas, and due to his student status, he was not likely to be drafted but in late November, Gaurasundara and I had left the university in our search for truth, and in December of 1967 we had become students of Srila Prabhupada. Even in Gaurasundara's first meeting with Swamiji in San Francisco, he had expressed his anxiety about being drafted to fight in a war he did not believe in. Only about six months later, his fear became a reality. He had received a notice from the New York draft board to appear. The fateful day had arrived. We were then staying in New Jersey with Srila Prabhupada at his seashore retreat, and Gaurasundara had to travel to New York for his draft board appointment. He would receive a physical exam and very likely be drafted into the army. We expressed our severe anxiety to Srila Prabhupada who also did not endorse the war in Vietnam. Srila Prabhupada reassured us that Krsna would take care of everything. The day came for Gaurasundara's appointment and almost tearfully bid good-bye to Srila Prabhupada and me. He did not know what lay ahead; his future was uncertain. On a silk rope around his neck he wore a small murti of Lord Jagannath, and also along with that his huge red wooden chanting beads, the beads given at his initiation. He was full of anxiety yet calmly bowed down to say good-bye to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada stood calmly in the hallway as Gaurasundara offered his last obeisances and prepared to leave. Srila Prabhupada raised his right hand in blessing and said to Gaurasundara: "Krsna will protect you. I will request him. Do not be afraid. Krsna will take care of everything". His voice was sure and strong. He smiled compassionately. He knew that everything would be all right and he conveyed that feeling of faith to us in that fragile moment. Then, Gaurasundara left for New York by train. Gaurasundara was gone the whole day. Everything went on schedule at home. Srila Prabhupada had his noon meal after Kirtanananda gave him massage and I did my usual duties of cleaning & washing Prabhupada's clothes and tried to do some art work. I was unable to concentrate, as my mind was full of thoughts of Gaurasundara. I prayed to Krsna constantly. Srila Prabhupada mentioned Gaurasundara several times, so I knew that he was also thinking of him. Evening came and he still had not returned from the city, so we were worried. Suddenly we heard him chanting as he climbed the stairs. I rushed to the door to greet him, giving him a big hug and noting the big smile on his face. Srila Prabhupada called him into his room and asked: "So, what happened?" Gaurasundara described the visit, that because of his strange appearance, sporting big red neck beads and a colorful Lord Jagannath on his chest he was sent to a psychiatric doctor. The doctor asked Gaurasundara questions and Gaurasundara answered as simply as possible, continually chanting Hare Krsna out loud on his wooden beads, and rolling his eyes upward in yogic fashion, focusing on Krsna's form in his mind. The psychiatric doctor had not seen this before and he apparently concluded that Gaurasundara was not suitable for military service. He gave him a 3-Y status, not as good as 4-F, but it certainly reduced his chances of being drafted, and Gaurasundara was never drafted. I wept for joy as Srila Prabhupada chuckled and wagged his head side to side. "Just see, Krsna has protected you. If we are sincere, Krsna will always protect. He sees everything. You have chosen his service, not the army service, so he has arranged everything". It was a joyful evening. So much stress that had been there for so long was no more and Gaurasundara could concentrate now more fully on service to Krsna and Srila Prabhupada. Krsna had saved him from a great danger, perhaps from his destiny to go to war and he was deeply grateful. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for continuously saving us from the great dangers of the material world, the cycle of samsara. You are called the military general of Lord Caitanya. Indeed, you led an army. Like Rama led an army of monkeys, you led an army of American youth. You had your mission and we were drafted into your army, Lord Caitanya's army. That was our greatest good fortune. We were unqualified, yet you so kindly protected us, infused us with your shakti and sent us out to do your work. May we always remember and be grateful for the opportunity to serve in your army and may we never forget that you are the commander in chief and always be obedient to you.
| | Srila Prabhupada, you changed our destinies. Perhaps Gaurasundara had been destined for Vietnam as so many other American youths, but you "requested Krsna" and He re-arranged our lives. Often Srila Prabhupada would say to me when I had a cold or flue: "Yes, Krsna is checking off your account. He sees you sincerely desire to serve. You may deserve to die at this moment but instead he is giving you little cold". He would often say: "Krsna is watching us. When we are sincere to serve him he begins closing our account or checking off our account, meaning that he reduces our karmas from our stay in the material world". You, Srila Prabhupada, would remind me of this and still when I catch a cold I remember that maybe Krsna is checking off my account. May we always remember our precarious situation and constantly remember that you are watching us and checking off our account. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.
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