Dāmodara Mahārāja: What was the first thing your Gurudeva said to you when you first met him?
Śrīla Gurudeva: He said, “I want to give you initiation.” I told him, “Whatever I have—my love and affection for my wife, children, father, and mother—I am taking it and giving it all to you.” Then he began to weep. He told me, “I will keep you with me always,” and he did so. In Navadvīpa, in November, he met me; and after that our parikramā came and he initiated me on Gaura-purṇimā.
April 25, 2005 en route to Australia