Radhe Syama Prabhu immediately engaged me in the paraphernalia room and preached to me - 8 hours a day. And he gave me the Science of Self-Realization and Bhagavad-Gita in German language. I was even allowed to cut up the fruit offering for the Deities, although I was not even chanting the holy name! In fact, I even refused to wear a sari! He was so merciful to allow me to enter the Lord's private chambers in my clean hippie clothes, and engage in Krishna's personal service. Polishing the brass and hearing his explanations and sound answers to my doubts was intensely purifying my heart, and after 6 days I decided to try this process of Krishna consciousness. I moved from the guest room to the brahmacarini ashram, and never left the association of the devotees.
How dependent we are on the mercy of a Vaishnava! Unless a devotee reaches out to us, extending himself to uplift us, giving us his friendship and genuine concern for our welfare, we may not take up the process of Krishna consciousness with sincerity. Srila Prabhupada's books are powerful, no doubt. Yet, we also need the mercy and friendship of a Vaishnava to encourage us to dive into the unknown realm of a spiritual journey towards Krishna.
Radhe Syama Prabhu had played this role in my life. I dare say, I owe my life in Krishna consciousness to him. I don't know when I would have received another chance to take up Krishna consciousness, if he hadn't interfered and put an end to my aimless and senseless journey around the world.
Whenever I visit Zurich I like to catch up with him, sharing thoughts and realizations. And I am pondering on what I can now offer in return for the change he brought to my life. All I can think of is an invitation to Bangladesh - a journey into a different world, just as he had taken me on a journey to a different world 34 years ago.....
On the 31st of May I flew off to Sofia/Bulgaria.....
Your servant, Devaki dd