Let us all remember Srila Prabhupada!

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Hare Krishna!

 

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I offer my humble obeisnaces unto him!

 

In the summer of 1971, Indradyumna dasa accompanied Srila Prabhupada on his flight to London, where he was to attend the Ratha-yatra festival. On the flight, a film was shown --an old silent film of Charlie Chaplin. When the film began, Indradyumna dasa began reading the Bhagavad-gita, but he noticed that Srila Prabhupada, who was sitting two seats away, was watching the film and chuckling.

 

Indradyumna felt a little confused,since he knew devotees were not supposed to watch movies, but seeing Prabhupada's appreciation of the film, he stopped reading and laughed along with Prabhupada and his servant at Charlie Chaplin's humor. When the film was over, Indradyumna met Pradyumna dasa at the back of the plane and asked why Srila Prabhupada was laughing during the film. Pradyumna said he would go and ask Prabhupada.

 

He soon returned Smiling and said, "Prabhupada said that Krsna is the original source of everything,and since Charlie Chaplin's humor was original, he could appreciate Krsna there." Indradyumna returned to his seat, appreciating how Srila Prabhupada saw Krsna everywhere.

 

As the plane landed in London, Indradyumna was looking forward to Seeing the devotees and hearing Prabhupada's arrival address at the Bury Place temple, but the airline had misplaced Prabhupada's suitcase and Indradyumna was asked to wait behind in case it showed up. Disappointed,Indradyumna was left alone as the other devotees performed kirtana while escorting Prabhupada to his car.

 

Indradyumna waited for two hours before the suitcase was finally located.He then took a taxi to the temple, but to his great dismay, he found the ceremonies over and the devotees finishing up a feast in honor of Prabhupada's arrival. Indradyumna asked the devotees where Srila Prabhupada's room was and was told it was four flights up the stairs.

 

Upon reaching the fourth floor, Indradyumna knocked on Prabhupada's Door and then entered the room, dragging the big suitcase behind him.Suddenly he noticed Srila Prabhupada standing there watching him. Embarrassed for having walked in on Prabhupada, Indradyumna fell to the floor, offering his humble obeisances. Suddenly he felt a firm slap on his back and he heard Srila Prabhupada say something to him. When he arose, Srila Prabhupada had gone back into the adjoining quarters. Still feeling Prabhupada's strong slap, he turned to Nanda-kumara, who stood there with wide open eyes and a big smile on his face.

 

Indradyumna then asked what Prabhupada had said. "Prabhupada said," Nanda-kumara replied, "that in this material world everything is very difficult, but when you go back to Godhead, everything will be very easy." Indradyumna Swami, interview. I had a similar experience with Prabhupada while serving as his secretary. In 1973, Prabhupada wanted to travel from Calcutta to London. I met with some delays and difficulties in getting the passports, so at the airport, I asked him if going to the spiritual world means arranging for passports and tickets. He said no, you simply go there immediately. Although travel in the material world may be difficult, going back to Godhead is simple and swift. The first incident shows how Prabhupada could see Krsna everywhere.

 

In the Tenth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna shows how anything great comes from Him, so of humorists, Krsna is Charlie Chaplin. Although we cannot imitate Prabhupada, we may still appreciate his lila. Hewas a pure devotee, and it is wonderful and endearing that he could drink a 7-UP or laugh at a Charlie Chaplin movie. Although these activities may appear ordinary, Prabhupada was always extraordinary.

 

Haribol!

 

anand

 

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Haribol

 

Many thanks for your post, it is very nice to read things such as this about Srila Prabhupada for those of us who are unfortunate enough never to have met him before he went back to Godhead.

 

He lives on in his writings, but accounts such as this help to show his gentle loving humour and kind nature to those who never had chance to meet him.

 

Hare Krishna!

Mark