In the late afternoon in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada would often sit downstairs in the garden beside our bungalow. New Jersey is known as the garden state, and the town of Long Branch was certainly testimony to that. There were gardens everywhere, roses were blooming and their fragrance filled the air. On one particular afternoon, Srila Prabhupada was comfortably seated in a chair, and I was sitting on the ground beside him. He was softly chanting japa, enjoying the fresh ocean air, mixed with the fragrance of roses and other flowers. Occasionally he would say something but mostly he would chant softly. Suddenly beside my sitting place I saw a large brown slug in all its slimy ugliness. Somewhat repulsed I leaned away from the creature. Srila Prabhupada looked at me quizzically and I said: "Ugh, look at this", pointing to the slimy, sliding creature. Srila Prabhupada leaned forward and looked at the slug, his face grew full of love and compassion, and he said to me: "Chant to the poor creature", and so I sat there, chanting Hare Krsna to the slimy, yet benedicted slug for some time until he slithered away. He had incredible compassion even for the most abominable creature. Srila Prabhupada, I can never forget the sound of your voice when you gave me that instruction. In it, your whole mission was encapsulated. "Chant to the poor creature".

Your face looked pained, full of compassion for the poor jiva in that slimy body. You did not see the ugly slug that I saw. You saw the soul covered in suffering, forgetful of Krsna. From that moment my heart opened for all creatures and I glimpsed the depth of your divine compassion. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for sharing that compassion with me.

Gaurasundara and I were working on Back to Godhead drawings and paintings while staying with Srila Prabhupada at the New Jersey seashore. Srila Prabhupada would look at our work and guide us as we painted. We were painting a picture of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda and he would approvingly look at our artwork daily. Then in the afternoon, we would sit in the garden. On one occasion, Gaurasundara and I were sitting in the garden with Srila Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krsna. It was late afternoon. Srila Prabhupada was more talkative on this day and was asking us all sorts of questions about our life in America. He asked what things we learned in school such as art, science, math, etc. "Do you know swimming", he asked Gaurasundara. "Yes", Gaurasundara replied. Then he asked me: "Did you also learn swimming?" "Yes, I also was taught swimming", I replied. Then he asked Gaurasundara: "Did you learn driving?" "Yes, I know how to drive". Then he asked me: "Did you also study driving?" "Yes, I replied, I also learned driving". He raised his eyebrows and said: "Oh, you also learned driving? He was surprised yet observant that in America both young boys and girls are educated in the same ways. They are taught many of the same skills which was not done in India at that time. It seemed that Srila Prabhupada was inquiring about our American backgrounds for his mission in America in order to know the very skills of each person so as to engage them in Krsna consciousness. His view was always just that: how to engage the living entity in Krsna consciousness with whatever skills he had already acquired thus far. He used to say: "We may die at any moment, there is no time to waste. We must simply engage whatever abilities or talents we have in Krsna's service. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for coming to America and for engaging me in your service. Thank you for engaging my artistic abilities, my cooking abilities, and whatever else in the service of your beloved Sri Krsna.