By Gokulananda das ACBSP, ISKCON Vancouver
I wish to share some brief words in honor of our glorious friend and Godbrother, HG Sahotra Prabhu. I had the good fortune of gaining his valued friendship while we served together in the USA with the BBT Library Party in 1975-76. I was always happy to go on japa walks with him to be with such a jovial devotee friend, as well as to hear his deeply analytical viewpoints. I would often observe him walking about very seriously chanting his japa, while tightly carrying in his other hand one of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatams, like his “weapon of knowledge”. His favorite verse then was from the C.C.: “I am servant of Lord Caitanya, a servant of Lord Caitanya, a servant of the servant of Lord Caitanya…”. Also, during his discussions with the university professors, to convince them to also purchase the full set of Srila Parbhupada’s books, he would often proudly tell them towards the end: “I have also become a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
His deep exploration of Gaura-vani, which he so powerfully shared during his brilliant classes, has thus attracted the Lord’s special mercy to allow him to peacefully depart in His Gaura Dhama. His lifetime of stalwart service to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga has been a glorious example for all to emulate. Thank you my beloved friend Sahotra Prabhu for your sincere kindness and uplifting association.
Gratefully, Gokulananda das ACBSP, ISKCON Vancouver.
A few years ago, I had the privilege to visit our Amsterdam temple for a month. One day I was invited to give a speaking engagement at Utrecht University. In Canada over the years , I was accustomed to give an “Introduction to Krishna Consciousness” or “How I came to Krsna consciousness” type lecture at colleges and universities, so this was what I did.
After it was over, one professor publicly humbled me, and simultaneously, glorified Suhotra prabhu by saying to me ” compared to Suhotra Swami, who has giventhe lecture here in the past, your lecture was not very deeply phlosophical” I appreciated from her comment that it was a challenge to “fill the shoes ” of Suhotra prabhu, and come up to his high standard of academic excellence that even the conditioned souls could appreciate.