Gauridasa Pandita Dasa, Nov 11 2009: Srila Prabhupada had not been eating regularly for quite some time due to his illness. Almost daily when his lunch was brought to him he said to distribute it to the Devotees and guests. Sometimes I would distribute the Prasadam. On one such occasion, Srila Prabhupada noticed some of the devotees pointing at the particular preparations that they wanted. Srila Prabhupada called me over and told me to mix the prasadam all together and said that the devotees should not discriminate. So I mixed it up and continued distributing ‘the mercy’ to the devotees. Now they were looking a bit confused and taking a more humble amount. Just a few grains will be sufficient Prabhu! lol!
About the only thing I remember Srila Prabhupada taking in the summer of 77 was some rock candy water. We used to take the rock candy and dissolve it in water. He would sip from about two ounces of it while he translated his books all night long on his rooftop.
Another one of my services was to hold Srila Prabhupada’s spittoon if he needed it. Due to his illness he did need it often. One time one of the devotees took the container and began to ‘honor the Prasada.’ When Srila Prabhupada found out he said not to do that. The devotees were so anxious to ‘get the mercy.’ Sometimes they went overboard!
Did I Ask For Honey?
Srila Prabhupada was sitting with some devotees up on his roof in Sri Vrindavan Dham. I was sitting by the air-conditioner trying to keep it running; a difficult task in India. Srila Prabhupada motioned for me to come over to him. He said that he wanted some limbo-pani, (Lemon & water). I looked around for Upendra Prabhu or Bhakti Caru Swami, who would usually do that service. I couldn’t find either one of them so I trotted down into the kitchen behind Srila Prabhupada’s house. This wasn’t my normal service so I was a little nervous. I squeezed some lemons into a silver cup; poured a cup of water in a silver cup and put some honey in another little silver cup. Putting them on a silver tray I hurried up the stairs and presented the plate to His Divine Grace. He immediately pointed at the honey and asked what it was. I said it’s honey Srila Prabhupada, and he said, “Did I ask for honey?” I said, “Well no, Srila Prabhupada; that’s why I didn’t mix it in.”
I thought that’s it, I’m going to get ‘blasted’ ~ but Srila Prabhupada kindly nodded his head and I returned to the air-conditioner. Whew! Another, ‘mission accomplished’!
Thank you Srila Prabhupada for being so merciful to allow me to personally serve you. You are an ocean of kindness, humility and Love. You are called Patita Pavana, because you deliver the most fallen in the mood of Lord Nityananda and Lord Sri Chaitanya! Thus you make the fallen into the fortunate. As you told me and the new devotees of the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party at our first meeting on July 9th 1974, “You are all very bright-faced and fortunate to come to Lord Chaitanya’s Movement. Now that you are fortunate, make others fortunate. Preach this message of Lord Chaitanya’s all over the world.”
So we need to continue Srila Prabhupada’s Mission and distribute Prasadam, his Holy Books and the Holy Names. Then we will make others fortunate and become qualified to serve His Divine Grace personally in the Spiritual World. Won’t that be nice!
Hoping this meets you in best of health and happiness in KC!
Your friend and servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa
Chant Hare KRSNA
and your life will
be Sublime!
~=>; )
Hoping this meets you in best of health and happiness in KC!
Your friend and servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa
Chant Hare KRSNA
and your life will
be Sublime!
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