One time one father brought his son to the Lotus Feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda to take harināma and dīkṣā. Actually he wanted only to accompany his son, but when he got chance to hear hari-kathā from Prabhupāda, take his darśana and see his pure acharan, activities, his effulgence, his kṛpā, his heart felt strong attraction to Śrīla Prabhupāda, and he took decision to take harināma. At that time it was gaura-pūrṇimā and all those devotees who wanted to take harināma from Prabhupāda, those who are already preliminary tested, all their names were written on a list. All those candidates were freshly shaved and wearing new cloth. Then the father of that boy out of his intense desire to take initiation from Śrīla Prabhupāda followed the same procedure of shaving his head and dressing himself in new cloth etc. After that he also with full patience was standing in the cue which leaded to Prabhupādas room. But one devotee who was managing the cue, he cheeked that person and said to him—“You cannot take harināma, because you are smoking”. After hearing this words that man started crying and immediately started saying that —“I promise that from today onwards I never will touch any cigarette any more, I will through everything away. I am now at mature age, I can die any moment, so please I must take harināma “. But that devotee was not ready to agree, and again he told—“It will not be possible for you to take harināma”. In the meantime, Śrīla Prabhupāda could realize the heart of that person and called that manager. Prabhupāda told that I can give harināma to him. Again that devotee was telling that —“This person is smoking, we just saw him yesterday”. But still Prabhupāda told –“Bring him to me”. Why Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted to give harināma to that person that is the main question? Prabhupāda could understand that this man really was speaking from heart, not just some meaningless words. There are different kinds of words, one coming from mind, one coming from intelligence, and one coming from heart. And Prabhupāda could realize the actually symptom of śaraṇāgati in that person, that’s why he was bound to give him harināma to him.
Hari Hari Bol