The Clumsiness of Those Early Days

The clumsiness of those early days was also expressed in our feelings at first taking on the dress of the Vaisnava and the shaved head and sikha.  So much awkwardness!  Not knowing how to pronounce the Sanskrit, not being able to spell or chant properly – gradually these things were overcome.  Prabhupada did not push them on us.  And if Swamiji did not understand the use of a word in the English or American language, it was another occasion for us to love him. 

The unevenness of seeming to come from a different culture was overcome.  The all-important first step was to learn the words of the maha-mantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.  Once we got that straight, everything became easy and natural.  When you think about the fact that within a few months a new devotee feels familiar with the philosophy and with Prabhupada, it makes you think that maybe it really won’t take so long to feel at home in Krishna consciousness and to develop a desire to go back to Godhead.