Every morning in every Hare Krishna temple everywhere, there is a japa period. It's an hour or so set aside specifically for chanting. During this period, a tape or CD of Srila Prabhupada chanting japa is played. This is wonderfully beneficial. It's a 70 minute recording of nothing but the soft chanting of “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.” However, at one point, if you listen closely, the chanting falls almost silent and you hear Srila Prabhupada quickly chastising a devotee by telling him to “Sit properly!” Every devotee has heard this and most have wondered just where did this come from and who was this fortunate devotee? Just how was he sitting that Srila Prabhupada singled him out? The story goes like this: Srila Prabhupada was teaching the devotees how to chant japa. When you chant, it's best to sit cross-legged (Indian style). Apparently, one devotee was slacking a bit in this area. That devotee was Manasatita dasa from Italy. Sadly, in February of 2004, he was hit by a car and left his body*. It appears to have been a hit-and-run. According to those who knew him, he was always jovial and friendly. He had a great sense of humor and there was always a smile upon his face. When they found his body, he was clutching his japa beads in his hand. It can be assumed that he left this world chanting Hare Krishna. Though his passing is certainly a tragedy, it's wonderful to know that he did so while chanting. Dying while chanting is the Hare Krishna equivlant of a cowboy dying with his boots on, or a soldier dying with his face to the enemy. This devotee was also known for once accidentally shaving off Srila Prabhupada's sikha (the tuft of hair at the back of the head that most male devotees wear). Perhaps he wasn't sitting properly there either! All glories to Manasatita Prabhu! *"left his body" is a phrase used by devotees to mean “died.” According to our philosophy, it's more accurate to say that someone has left their body. At the time of death, the soul (the real self) leaves the body. When we die, we leave our bodies behind. So in reality, we don't actually die, only our body does.