Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Varsana, India, on Oct. 12, 1996

I have known him personally since 1946, and I never saw him like that. I know personally that he has not only come only to give vaidhi-bhakti. He has come to preach rupanuga-bhakti.

One special quality I saw in him was that he was very simple, and always smiling. Before him, other preachers from India had gone to Western countries. They were very intelligent and knew all philosophical truths, but they were not so simple that they could mingle with everyone, including children. I have seen Srila Swami Maharaja; he used to play with little children and he was so funny. He had no false ego.

He always used simple words, and his method of giving Krsna consciousness was like that of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu was traveling to Vrndavana He chanted “Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.” Or, He chanted:

krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he.
krsna kesava krsna kesava krsna kesava pahiman
rama raghava rama raghava rama raghava raksaman

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