Param-Pujyapada, my Shiksha Guru Sri Srimad Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaj did not come here (Western countries) by his own will. He came here with a great difficulty, only to fulfill the desire of his Gurudeva. I heard it, first, I did not know. First time, I met him in Vrindavan. I went to Sri Radha Damodar temple to pay obeisances to him. That time he showed me his ‘Back to Home, Back to Godhead’—monthly magazine. He asked, “I am writing this, you go through this”. It was very indistinct printing, difficult to read. It was printed in Vrindavan. I tried to go through it. He showed me his other writings also and said, You go through these writings.” I tried to go through. I requested him, “Our Gurudeva is there in Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. Would you not set your holy foot prints in our Math? Will you not go there?” He replied, “Yes”. Next day he came and he entered into the room of our Gurudeva and talked to Gurudeva for more than half an hour, or more than that perhaps. I was outside. I do not know what topic they spoke upon, they are God brothers. When he came out and was going and he called me at the gate. He said, “I have got the desire to go outside India to preach Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message, will you go with me?” That time I was the secretary of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math and there were many incomplete services in Chandigarh Math, in Puri Math, in Mayapur Math, all these were incomplete in terms of construction. I have had the responsibility to complete. What can I do? I remained silent. He was disappointed. He could not get any help. He had to go alone.

I heard his sermons. I was taken to various ISCKON temples by Vaikuntha Nath Das Prabhu. He was professor and disciple of Srila Swami Maharaj. He came by Lord’s desire and helped me to go different places. He used to listen to the sermons of Srila Swami Maharaj in a tape record. So I also got the opportunity to hear; there I have heard many things.

By the desire of Supreme Lord, first disciple of Srila Swami Maharaj used to stay at our Kolkata Math at Satish Mukherjee Road. His name was Varundeva who later got the name Achyutananda Brahmachari. He stayed for one year at our Math. Jayapataka Maharaj also came to stay in our Math for four months. After that Srila Swami Maharaj returned to India. We had gone to the airport to receive him, many dignitaries were present there. And after returning, he started his own institution. Before that his disciples used to stay in our Math and our Gurudeva used to tell me, “They are foreign devotees, you should look after them and encourage them”. Achyutananda, at that time, used to speak Bengali and used to sing Bengali song. Now Japataka Maharaj also has learnt Bengali, at that time he could not. Some relationship is there and Guru Maharaj ordered me, “They are foreign devotees, you should look after them”.

I remember that but I have got no capacity (to obey his order). I take benefit from all but in return I cannot give anything. I have taken benefit from Param-Pujyapada Puri Goswami Maharaj. He was there, by Lord’s desire, in our Kolkata Math at Satish Mukerjee Road for thirty years. I was under him in publication department, that opportunity I got. He was there at Kalna, Gauri Das Pandita’s Place. He came from Kalna to Kolkata Math and said I want to serve publication, there is no opportunity there to write anything. Guru Maharaj was very much pleased to get the service opportunity of his elder God brother. He said, “Yes, you will be in-charge of the publication department.” I was under him. In all the deity installations of our Math, and installation of temples and everything, our Puri Goswami Maharaj was there with Guru Maharaj, everywhere, in Vraja-mandala Parikrama, Navadwip-dham Parikrama, in Puri. We could not even think to go anywhere without Puri Maharaj.

I also got the opportunity of praying to Srila Bhakti Hridaya Van Goswami Maharaj. First, He visited London and other places. He used to speak in English, Bengali and Hindi. He is elder god-brother of our Gurudeva. Whenever I asked him, “Will you kindly participate in our Math function at Kolkata, Puri or at any other places?” He used to say, “All right.” But in return what have I done? I have taken the advantage. They used to come but I have got no capacity to serve. Srila Sridhardeva Goswami Maharaj used to come to our Kolkata Math, Puri Math and also Mayapur Math. He used to perform Nritya-kirtan. He did not use to sing at that time. During the Installation of our Mayapur temple, Srila Sridhardeva Goswami Maharaj did one kirtan about MadanMohan. I was astounded to see him doing Nritya-kirtan even at that advanced age. And in all places wherever we called him he used to come. Whenever we submitted our Gurudeva’s prayer to him, immediately he accepted but what service have I done to him? Our Gurudeva, Puri Goswami, Jajavar Goswami Maharaj and all used to go to his (Srila Sridhardeva Goswami Maharaj’s) Math, there in Navadwip. He wanted all his god-brothers to go there at his Math. We used to listen to their Harikatha and used to take Prasad. Every year our Guru Maharaj used to go to Saraswat Gaudiya Math. But, in return, I have done nothing. I have got no capacity to serve. I only took advantage of the Guruvarga. What service can I do? I am unable to do.

Whatever Param-pujyapada Swami Maharaj has done is not by his own initiative. It is by the order of Srila Param-pujyapada Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami Thakur. He wrote a letter to him, “What service can I do, please tell me? I have no opportunity to serve you, our God-brothers are serving you” Then Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur ordered him, “You have the capacity, it is the desire of Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, you should spread this message to all corners of the world. You have got the capacity; you speak English so you can go.” Then still he was thinking, I heard it from his sermon in the tape record by the desire of Vaikunthanath Das Prabhu. He narrated the whole history. He was thinking, “I have to get some money. Some money should be given to my house for house-maintenance, let me try.” In the meantime, Srila Prabhupada disappeared. Srila Swami Maharaj spoke in his sermon, “I was very much disappointed, I could not see him. Immediately, I took the decision that I should renounce the house and should take complete shelter.” He then remained there in Damodar temple praying the grace of Srila Rupa Goswami. And after that to fulfill the desire of his Gurudeva, with so much trouble he came here (outside India), with life risk. I have heard his sermon in which he used to pray Narottam Thakur and Bhaktivinoda Thakur through their Kirtan, ‘nitai guna-mani amar’ and others. He was always praying them for their grace so that he can fulfill the desire of his Gurudeva. At the very advanced age, he was moving in the whole world. One should try, and then Gurudeva will be at his back. You try to keep intact his institution ISKCON. You should not remain idle, you should unite, then you will get his grace and he will be pleased. If you try sincerely then your Gurudeva will help you and His Gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur will help you, Bhaktivinoda Thakur will help you. Pray for their grace, nothing is impossible. If you desire it, you can get. By hearing something, you get perturbed. I have seen some devotees getting perturbed. He did a very marvelous, wonderful service within a short time. This should be retained at all cost. And this will be a great service opportunity for you. He will be satisfied and his Guruvarga will be satisfied, and you will get the power. So pray for their grace, with our own ability we cannot do this.