krishna/articles/2013/119

Joshomatinandan: Keshava Prabhu, the president of the San Francisco temple, wanted to show Prabhupada a big bus he had bought. Prabhupada saw the bus and said, “This is very nice.” Then he said, “Keshava Prabhu, are you thinking of getting married?” Keshava said, “No, Prabhupada, I’m happy the way I am.” Prabhupada said, “Yes, that is very nice. Marriage is a big burden. If you are walking nicely, why pick up a big stone and put it on your head? Brahmachari life is very nice, a simple life. Why take on a big burden?”

Joshomatinandan: Kirtanananda Maharaj told Prabhupada, “Your servant has had an affair with a lady here. Prabhupada leaned back, put his hands behind his head and said. “In the old days, kshatriyas had more than one wife. Do whatever you want to do.” Someone said, “He should not be your servant, Prabhupada.” Prabhupada said, “That is all right, give me another servant.” I saw Prabhupada’s air of detachment and mood of tolerance. Prabhupada was thinking, ‘in this Age of Kali, especially in America, whatever little percentage of my teachings people accept, even 5% or 10%, I will accept. As time passes they will gradually advance.’

Tranakarta: Prabhupada was walking on the beautiful college grounds of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. There were about thirty of us with him, including fifteen sannyasis. Prabhupada walked under a beautiful tree that had little white flowers covering its hanging branches. Prabhupada stopped, looked at the flowers, picked one, put it behind his ear, and continued to walk. He took two or three steps, stopped, looked at all of us and glanced up. We blissfully picked those white flowers and put them behind our ears. It was like a picture out of the ‘60s. On the way back Prabhupada wanted to sit down so we made a seat for him by putting our chadars on the sand. Prabhupada sat and talked about how the material scientists dig up bones. Prabhupada said, “They dig up bones,” and he dug in the sand with his hands. He said, “They’re digging, digging, digging, just like dogs. They dig up bones and think they have conclusive evidence about how life began.” He blasted the scientists. That was an ecstatic walk.

Tranakarta: I was standing next to Srila Prabhupada when a man came up on his bicycle, looked at the sannyasis and said to Prabhupada, “How come these guys carry sticks?” Prabhupada said, “What did he say?” Tamal said, “He wants to know why we’re carrying these sticks, Prabhupada.” Prabhupada said, “Tell him we carry them to chase away dogs,” and everybody laughed. We invited that man to the temple, but he was bewildered and I’m not sure if he came.

Joshomatinandan: I said, “Prabhupada, you say Jesus Christ is a pure devotee. But he never mentioned the name of Krishna and he never chanted Hare Krishna, so how can we say he is a pure devotee?” Prabhupada said, “Because he was free from material desires, therefore, he is a pure devotee.” Ever since then I’ve had high regard for Jesus and I look upon him as I look upon any other acharya. In fact, because Jesus was a bold acharya and a great preacher, Prabhupada had a natural appreciation for him. No other Indian swami or yogi or teacher could have that kind of appreciation of Jesus as Prabhupada had because Prabhupada was doing the same thing that Jesus had done.

Tranakarta: On a morning walk in Chicago, an ordinary man was in awe looking at Prabhupada and he said, “What do you think about the coming of Christ?” Prabhupada said, “Your messiah has already come.” We all said, “Jaya, Prabhupada!”

Ref: Memories of Srila Prabhupada Tape 38