Haribol, Sri Jatayu Readers, Please accept my humble obiesancies. The following articles have been copied from the internet intact. These articles demonstrate Srila Prabhupada's most precious desire, that His disciples cooperate with one another, has not fallen on barren soil. Many disciples of Srila Prabhupada have been firmly committed to His Missionary work, bringing Krsna Consciousness, as delivered intact by Srila Prabhupada, to every town and village, to every society, to every culture, and to every nation. This section of Sri Jatayu's website is reserved for the most important discussions, the katha of guru-disciple relationships. Srila Prabhupada is not entombed, nor is he bound to reside in institutions of religiosity. He is teaching us daily, as always, by example, by the demonstration of His success in retrieving and awakening the unfortunate asleep, and, mostly, by recognition of Vaisnava Character developing in his empowered disciples. Such exhibition of Vaisnava Character is hopefully reflected in the following articles. The order stands. Cooperation. The tools of guru-shastra-sadhu are used by the serious student of sadhana bhakti, and recognition of Srila Prabhupada's Mission through the teachings of His disciples Just may be the nectar for which we are anxious. Hare Krsna, your servant in cooperation, mahaksadasa
(06/Jan/03) In my office in Miami hangs an oil painting of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. I was looking at it with admiration when I went to Sacramento to visit my Godbrother, Sri Tusta Krishna das. He did not like to be called Prabhu and I respect this desire here in this memory of him. He gave me this painting and said: "You appreciate it more than me". Thus it is now with me giving me chance to think very often of him. You know, I have many Godbrothers, but believe me: not many really want to open up and really get to know you. But he was not like that. He told me so many stories about his meeting with Srila Prabhupada and how he had always searched out devotees who had no cruelty in their behavior.
Tusta was very busy. He had accepted his Godbrother, Jagad Guru Siddhasvarupanandaji, as his siksa guru after the departure of our Srila Prabhupada. He had been instrumental in preaching in so many places. His preaching record has no limits. He was running a business in Sacramento of medical billing and a tape ministry called Transcendental Sound from the offices. But he was usually in the Philippines, Russia, Poland, and Swiss or with his siksa guru in Hawaii. He didn��t have much time to spend in his business, which was employing many devotees as well. He used to organize humongous Krishna-katha and Harinam chanting festival. Those retreats used to last for many days and his sweet kirtan went on for hours with apparently no end, and then in his classes he would answer every question meticulously so that everybody would be amazed. He conveyed the love for Sri Guru in such a way that many of the disciples of Jagad Guru, who had not had the chance to meet him personally, were growing with Tusta Krishnas love and care. Thus he opened so many branches of the mission of Lord Chaitanya. Definitely chanting the holy names was one of his favorite activities. What can I say; I am simply remembering his devotional symptoms to purify myself. As an international preacher he could appreciate immediately the great need of the World Vaishnava Association. When you are out there in some country, where nobody knows the glories of bhakti-yoga, and young children of influential people start joining your ashram, you can be sure that it is important that you will be looked upon as a genuine world religion, a recognized way to God, rather than some guru personality cult which has neither tradition nor pure values as has been seen here and there and has created in many people great fears what to speak when their own children are getting totally involved with a very little known monastic group. Due to somebody joining a temple, we have seen entire temples being arrested. Humongous press scandals and many heavy persecutions. Tusta Krishna knew that it was essential that Vaishnavas have a forum were they can present themselves jointly to the world, where they recognize each other with respect and where the roots of Vaishnavism, sanatan dharma, are associated with the Hindu world religion. Therefore he approached different Hindu-organizations when there was any chance to protect the dignity of Srila Prabhupada teachings.
He preached up a storm. Dedication to Sri Guru was for him a law and not an option. I was so lucky to get his inspired company as he came to India and visited holy places. He wanted the Chaitanya mission everywhere in the world. He sent missionaries to Hungary and Germany. Always fired up he also saw great value in the World Vaishnava Association. He started VINA, the Vaishnava Internet News Agency, to help people in the world respect the message of our gurudeva. He did not want to present internal difficulties in or amongst Vaishnava institutions mixed with an Internet news page which is there to glorify Krishna and our spiritual masters and their service to the world.
He was fierce in defending Vaishnavism when someone made an attack against the servants of Krishna or our philosophy. In Poland he defended the Vaishnavas in court and defeated the nun who had leveled attack against the Vaishnavas for supposedly serving an immoral God who married 16108 princesses.
But he solved the whole case before the judge. He asked her whether she had a ring on her finger. She remained silent. Then he asked her whether when she became a nun and they put a ring on her finger they had told her that she was becoming the wife of Jesus. Again she remained silent. Then Tusta Krishna turned to the judge and all in the courtroom and said:" She criticizes Krishna for his many wives but worships Jesus who is married to all the nuns in the world." After a great laughter the judge dismissed the case in favor of the Vaishnavas.
Tusta Krishna was always ready to work hard. He had a nice family which he told me he got because he was too attached to enjoy. But his preaching was so heartfelt that all felt that his love belonged to all.
His siksa guru and my Godbrother became known to me personally as we visited him together. He was so careful to do everything nicely. He took me to the person, who was the most precious jewel he had after Srila Prabhupada left this world. We sang and talked and talked and rejoiced about how close we were in our feelings and appreciations despite our cultural differences in upbringing and experience. But we shared intensively the desire to give Prabhupada and his loving message to the whole world. And we did not want institutionalism interfere with our priority. Unfortunately that time was over and the routine business took over. Yes it is wonderful to have real loving Godbrothers in this world. But they are busy and so are we if we take up the responsibility Srila Prabhupada left for us.
Then he told me he was sick. After a few years of intensive cell phone use he got strong headaches and a brain tumor was discovered. What followed was the departure of a great Sankirtan general from this world. He accepted the situation and kept preaching and encouraging all. I invited him to come and stay in Vrindavan before he would leave us. An operation was recommended but promised little or no hope for a cure. Gaining time maybe. But his beloved siksa guru told him to be close to him in Hawaii. Jagad Guru shared with me the great moments how he left this world. Being close to guru is being close to Krishna. There is the highest Vrindavan. He was chanting with incredible intensity. Our common friend Vidagda Madhava went to see him and made his thesis about Krishna into a book. We were all holding our breath. Here he was leaving us fixing every atom of his body on Krishna. It was glorious. The passing of a surrendered soul back home back to Godhead. As Srila Prabhupada had promised to us. Hey Tusta, now since you are there with Krishna ask him to give me a little bit of a break with this fickle mind, who does not want to give up his sense gratification, will you?
I had a small portion of his company. His devotees all over and his dear Godbrother/siksa guru know him and miss him so much more. Good that we are in a transcendental movement where the death of the body is nothing but a change of place for serving our Lord and master somewhere else.
I pray that his ideas will remain dynamic. He started the press office of the World Vaishnava Association and led the anti Xeena campaign when they were offending our deities for their amusement. He is a person whom you can go on serving for the rest of your life and feel fortunate to be close to him.
I wish I could discover that deep relationship with many more Godbrothers. One day we discovered a philosophical difference in our opinions. The first thing we concluded at that very moment was: Let us not destroy our relationship over this difference. And so it was. Pettiness creates a judgmental attitude, a feeling of superiority over all who understand things even slightly different than you.
Tusta Krishnaji. You did not visit this world in vain. Neither did you leave it in vain. You are still here in the form of all those who took up Krishna consciousness due to your preaching, or those who intensified their spiritual life due to your preaching. They will continue this life of dedication as well as the family you left behind who were heartfelt dedicated to you and your guide.
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