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I am overjoyed because my dear Godbrother has returned to the spiritual world to continue his service to Srila Prabhupada and to embrace the Lotus Feet of Krishna. I am sad because I am bereft of his association.

I met Ojasvi Prabhu in 1972 or '73. He ran a small shop one or two blocks from the entrance to the famous Pike Place Market in Seattle. He sold devotional paraphernalia and, of course, Srila Prabhupada's books. I had been to India in 1968, so when I first saw him dressed in a dhoti with tilak and sikha, I thought, "Wow! He looks like those people I met in India."

I would frequently go to the shop to purchase incense and other items. Ojasvi would always greet me with a big smile. I had no idea what the devotees were about. I just knew that I enjoyed Ojasvi's warm and friendly association.

Sometimes I would be driving through town and I would see him standing at the bus stop, so I would stop and offer him a ride. On many different occasions I picked him up and took him to the temple, though I didn't really know who he was or what the temple was. I just knew that he was my friend.

Some years before our meeting, I had received a Krishna Book from an artist friend, and as a result my life began to change drastically. I quit smoking, drinking, and eating meat and began to practice Transcendental Meditation and hatha yoga. My taste for music also began to change. I wanted to listen to a more meditational sound. I knew that my friend Ojasvi could help me. I went to the shop and asked him if he had some music for meditation.

He said, "Yes, have a seat here. I have something that you should hear." He played the classic record that begins with Srila Prabhupada singing the Brahma Samhita. I closed my eyes and listened with full attention to both sides of the LP. When I stood up, it felt as though my feet were off the floor. With tears in my eyes, I gave him a big donation and thanked him again and again and told him that this was exactly what I was looking for.

Every morning for the next year I would rise at around 2 or 3 am, jog three miles, and return home to listen to Srila Prabhupada chant while I performed my asanas. I would smile and think how thankful I was to my friend Ojasvi. After one solid year of following this routine, I found a card that Ojasvi Prabhu had given me that described a morning meditation.

One morning I went to mangala arati and again saw Ojasvi's smiling face. I went to mangala arati every morning for the next year, thus beginning my 28 years of devotional service — all because of the friendly inspiration of my friend and Godbrother Ojasvi Prabhu.

Hare Krishna and love to him, his wife Molly, his son Sri Thakur, and the rest of the family. Hare Krishna and love to all the devotees who helped him make the transition.

Hare Krishna! Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Mahapurana dasa

© CHAKRA 5 April 2002