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Question: We wanted to hear from you, at your young age, you are an American, born Christian, you had no idea who Rama who Krsna was, but at such a young age, what so eagerly attracted you to Srila Prabhupada? What so eagerly attracted you to Krsna consciousness, and how come you have given your whole life to join this movement?

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Jayapataka Swami: Nama Om Visnupadaya Krsna… In 1966, I heard a lecture of Lord Buddha from a visiting professor of Harvard University. How Lord Buddha as a prince, He saw a diseased person, an old person and a dead person. And His chariot driver told him this happens to everyone! And then He saw a baby and asked, what is that? He was told that when you die, you become reborn again as a baby! He thought, this is horrible! Then He renounced everything and started to meditate! So since then the idea was there in my mind – what is the purpose of life? Till then, I was not thinking of that before. Then I tried out different yogis and religious leaders. Then I decided that I had to go to India and find a guru there. Then I saw a sign advertising the Ratha Yatra in 1968. At that time I was 19 years old. I was an university student. So I went to that place and I read some of the books and I decided that I want to meet the founder. And they told me that he was in Montreal. So I flew to Montreal and I saw Srila Prabhupada. And he said, who is this? They said, oh, he is Bhakti Jay. So Srila Prabhupada said, have him come to my house for lunch tomorrow. Then he asked me, what do you want to do? I said, I thought I should go to India to find a guru. He said, you stay here and I will train you! And then I will send you to India! So anyway, after that, I thought I should try this out at least for two months and then I would be able to see if it is for real or not! So I never left! Ha! Ha! It is real! Krsna is real!
14-SEPTEMBER-2019 DAMODAR DESH