While living together with Srila Prabhupada in New Jersey, we would have kirtan, just the four of us or if guests came from New York we would also have kirtans and Srila Prabhupada would talk. He was recovering from the stroke, so he would not give regular lectures as before when we were in New York temple but he was always eager to talk about Krsna to whoever would listen. So while sitting on the sofa one day, Srila Prabhupada began talking about kirtan, and he began to demonstrate the different ways to play kartals. He taught us the basic ching-ching-chang and other beads as well; we sang "Govinda jaya jaya" and Srila Prabhupada began to play the kartals exactly like the sound of cow-hooves running. I was amazed. Then he showed me how to do it - slowly and carefully so that it is in perfect timing with the regular kirtan; yet it sounds exactly like cow-hooves running across the fields. Other times he would sit and talk about Krsna, His pastimes in the forest of Vrindavan and his mother and father and friends. Srila Prabhupada would close his eyes and say: "Oh, the cowboys are going to their homes in the evening and tell their mother: "Oh mother, today Krsna has killed one very big demon". Srila Prabhupada's eyes would grow big as he said this. "He has saved us from danger", and then he would smile, "and their mothers are happy and they simply talk of 'Krsna is so wonderful'. Not that He is God or anything and He is their friend, and Krsna is so wonderful". When Srila Prabhupada would talk in this way his eyes would close in a trance-like mood and the atmosphere in the room would become surcharged with spiritual energy. I would forget everything else, and when he stopped talking I would be so happy and all other thoughts and concerns were completely erased by the absorption in the spiritual bliss. It was like a quick trip to the spiritual world and I loved it. Thus I loved to hear him speak about anything but especially about Goloka. It became the most important thing in my life. Srila Prabhupada, even today when I see pictures of Krsna, I can hear your words resounding in my memory. "Oh Krsna is so wonderful, just see how wonderful is our friend Krsna". How fortunate we are to have the blessing of your love for Krsna because you have planted the seed of love in our hearts. Lord Caitanya has stated that the most important thing, the most fortunate thing for any living entity is even one moment association with Krsna's pure devotee for in that one moment, Srila Prabhupada, you can impart to us more than we can ever hope for. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for coming to our rescue; thank you for slaying the demon of ignorance. You, Srila Prabhupada, are our dear most friend and we can chant again and again: "Srila Prabhupada, you are so wonderful, thank you".

In New Jersey there were many gardens and by taking short japa walks I discovered that everyone had rose gardens. Never had I seen so many roses. Often there were small statues of Virgin Mary or various saints in the neighboring yards, surrounded by colorful fragrant, ruby-reds, sparkle-pinks and bright yellows. I began to ask the various gardeners if I could pick a few roses and found they were very friendly. They let me pick as many as I liked. So I began to make a regular route of gardens on my daily japa walk, always asking politely, and never being refused. The people seemed happy that I was appreciating their gardens, and if they asked I would tell them the roses were for my dear grandfather who was ill and recovering nearby at a house at the seashore. Daily, I would bring two or three grocery bags full of roses, and finding vases and bottles here and there I began decorating Srila Prabhupada's room with bouquets of roses. Deity worship had not yet begun but I was happy to serve Srila Prabhupada as my Deity. He loved roses, and I loved to bring them to him. Usually, I made six or seven vases full in his room and a couple more in the living room. Later, he would compare the scents of various roses. "I think yellow is the most fragrant", he sometimes said. He said that roses were medicinal and put them on his head and face, inhaling their fragrance deeply. His room smelled always like sandalwood and roses, and my daily chore of gathering roses was my greatest delight. I would chant and sing Hare Krsna as I was walking so all the bugs and slugs could hear, and I would have the joy of carrying bags of flowers to my dear grandfather. Once while returning with my booty, Srila Prabhupada heard me singing Hare Krsna as I approached our bungalow. He smilingly turned to Gaurasundara, nodding his approval and said: "Govinda dasi is very simple hearted". Gaurasundara told me this later. At the time, I never really understood what simple hearted meant. Now I can understand more what is meant to be simple-hearted. Krsna wants this simplicity and the youth are often more simple-hearted than adults. I believe it is possible to retain this freshness of spirit, this simple-heartedness even in the midst of difficulties and complexities of life. When things get complicated I try to remember that incident. I try to return to that fresh, young mood of simply wanting to shower my spiritual father with flowers and that lifts me above the maze of illusory complexity. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving me the opportunity for serving you in this way. I am eternally grateful and I long to bring you baskets full of roses in Goloka.