Buddhimanta Meets Srila Prabhupada
Buddhimanta had never met Srila Prabhupada and Kesava dasa, the Temple president of San Franscisco, thought he should; since he was the ‘biggest book distributor at that time. They were all in Los Angeles and Buddhimanta had just come in from a day of distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. He had distributed about 100 small books at store right near the temple. When he returned from sankirtan Kesava said to Buddhi that Prabhupada wanted to see him ASAP. Buddhi ran to the Bramachari ashram and took a shower put on a dhoti, but he could not find a clean kurta- so he wore nothing on top. He returned and they went up to Prabhupada's quarters. Buddhi the fast- talking book distributor was in awe. He had distributed thousands of his books but had never personally met Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada entered the room and Kesava and Buddhi both paid their obeisances. Srila Prabhupada sat down and said to Buddhi "so you distribute the most books?" Buddhi was in such awe he could not speak, so Kesava spoke for him and said,"yes Srila Prabhupada, he is the biggest distributor."
"How many books did you distribute today?" asked Srila Prabhupada. Buddhi still could not speak and Kesava replied, "About 100." "Do you trick the people or tell them the truth to sell them a book?" questioned Srila Prabhupada. Buddhi still was speechless and Kesava replied, "He tricks them. He tells them it is for a yoga society." "That is ok," Srila Prabhupada answered. "How come you are not wearing a shirt?" Srila Prabhupada said, looking at the bear chested Buddhi manta. "You work very hard and should stay covered to not catch a cold." Finally Buddhi could speak and replied, "I had just come back from book distribution and Kesava said we were going to see you, so I took a shower and my kurtas were dirty, so I came bare chested rather that wear a dirty shirt." Srila Prabhupada turned to his servant and said "Go to my closet and get a clean kurta for Buddhimanta." the servant appeared with a clean kurta and gave it to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada handed the kurta to Buddhimanta and said "Put this on and stay warm." Buddhi manta was about six feet two inches and much larger than Srila Prabhupada but slipped into the kurta and thanked Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada thanked Buddhimanta for his book distribution and told him to teach other devotees how to distribute his books. Buddhi and Kesava thanked Srila Prabhupada, paid their obeisances and left the room.
Once Buddhimanta was visiting Hawaii and teaching book distribution. He always kept that kurta with his other clothes. One day a devotee that he had sold a book to in the Los Angeles airport, was having difficulties and was thinking of leaving. Buddhi gave him Srila Prabhupada's kurta with the promise he would not leave. The devotee promised he would not, and at the present time does huge service distributing Krishna consciousness news in a newspaper under the guidance of Mukunda Goswami.
Srila Prabhupada sent Buddhimanta to different places where he showed the devotees how to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. Buddhimanta had a habit of always calling all devotees Maharaja. Sometimes he is referred to as the inventor of book distribution- something that he never took credit for. On February 13, 1990 he left his body in Vrindavan. All glories to Prabhupada's servant, Buddhimanta dasa.
