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Today is a day of intense mourning, the day that Srila Bhakti Charu Swami left this mortal world, and has gone to serve in His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada\u2019s pastimes. For a pure devotee such as Bhakti Charu Maharaj there is no lamentation, as he is continuing his service in another location. However, for those of us who will be bereft of his association, it is hard to imagine continuing our lives without him.<\/p>\n
Maharaj was my dearest friend. Once a devotee inquired from me as to who was my closest friend in this world, and I immediately replied Bhakti Charu Swami. When Bhakti Charu Maharaj heard my reply from that devotee tears came to his eyes. In my personal will and health care power of attorney I have listed Maharaj as the person who would legally be in charge of deciding about my health care if I happened to be incapacitated, and well as the person who would be the executor of my will.<\/p>\n
Maharaj is one of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s eternal associates. There are many proofs of this. Almost immediately upon personally meeting Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada give him both initiations, and then three months later gave him sannyasa and posted him as his personal secretary for the India mission. Prabhupada recognized Bhakti Charu Maharaj upon that first meeting. Then during the final days of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s pastimes Bhakti Charu Maharaja and Tamal Krishna Maharaj were the ones who Srila Prabhupada most trusted to care for him.<\/p>\n
Aside from his Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Bhakti Charu Maharaj is the most cultured person I have ever encountered. By his example and precepts one can learn the finer points of Vaisnava etiquette. When one is with Maharaj one experiences the same care that one would get from a loving mother or father. When ever I was with Maharaj I felt like a \u201cbull in a china shop\u201d in comparison. It is amazing that Maharaj tolerated me as friend with all my rough edges. That is an attestation to his unlimited compassion.<\/p>\n
Above all is Bhakti Charu Maharaj\u2019s dedication to the mission of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Continually he stressed the importance of being loyal to Prabhupada and Prabhupada\u2019s society. He was always willing to forgo his own plans in order to serve Srila Prabhupada\u2019s society in accordance with the direction of the GBC. This was clearly shown by his requesting his Godbrothers on the GBC to decide on the course of his medical treatment. He is the personification of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s wish that all of us lovingly cooperate. I can truly say that he is an \u201cISKCON Man.\u201d This is same as saying he is a \u201cPrabhupada Man\u201d.<\/p>\n
By Prabhupada\u2019s grace I had Maharaj\u2019s association and I am sure that by Prabhupada\u2019s grace I will have it once again as we are eternal brothers. Our physical separation is only temporary. By my being engaged in serving Prabhupada\u2019s mission, which is the most dear thing to Maharaj\u2019s heart I can always have his association and the association of all our brothers and sisters. I pray to Srila Prabhupada that somehow or other I will be able to manifest some of the good qualities that Bhakti Charu Maharaja always displayed in order to help others come to Prabhupada\u2019s mission. I also pray that I can be of some service to Bhakti Charu Maharaja\u2019s disciples.<\/p>\n
Bir Krishna das Goswami<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today is a day of intense mourning, the day that Srila Bhakti Charu Swami left this mortal world, and has gone to serve in His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada\u2019s pastimes. For a pure devotee such as Bhakti Charu Maharaj there is no lamentation, as he is continuing his service in another location. However, for those of us who will be bereft of his association, it is hard to imagine continuing our lives without him.![](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/3P9Trk9.jpg)
By Bir Krishna das Goswami<\/strong><\/p>\n
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