Srila Prabhupada was sitting back quietly listening as Gurukrpa elaborated on the problems in Hawaii. Then, suddenly, he indicated Harikesa Maharaja with an upward tip of his head and said, "He can go."
It was completely unexpected. Surprised, I glanced at Harikesa, who looked a little stunned and unsure whether what he had just heard was a serious comment or not.
But as Gurukrpa continued speaking about his problems in Hawaii, Prabhupada said it a second time: "So, he can go there."
Then we realized he was serious.
Prabhupada began to complain that he wanted a GBC man to do his secretarial work. Indicating Harikesa he said, "He is writing letters without my knowledge or approval. Actually no letter should go out unless it is seen by me."
Gurukrpa also complained to Prabhupada that Harikesa has told Prabhupada that he has been missing for the last week or two. The fact was, he said, that he has been traveling to places where we have no temple and was not "missing," but simply out of contact.
Prabhupada said that Harikesa was acting independently. Therefore he could not trust him to be his secretary any more. He said that there are three GBCs present in India, so one of them should become his secretary. He told Harikesa, "Now you immediately go to Hawaii and take over as temple president there."
Harikesa was dumbfounded. Although it has been obvious for the last few weeks that Srila Prabhupada has been concerned about his engagement, there has not been even the slightest hint that Prabhupada was thinking to change him.
Harikesa looked flattened. Glumly he asked, "Well, what about the Eastern European program?"
"All right, you can go there if you want," Prabhupada calmly said.
It appeared to me that Prabhupada was using the problems in Hawaii as an opportunity to re-engage Harikesa, and that the problem in Hawaii was not as important as the problem with Harikesa.
Harikesa, somewhat resistive to embracing Prabhupada's sudden decision, presented various reasons why his work as secretary was apparently faulty. He went over the history of his previous service as temple president here in Vrndavana, and he offered various types of rationale for other objections raised. It seemed that he was trying to counter Prabhupada's complaints; for every point that Prabhupada raised, he had an excuse. This went on until finally Prabhupada stopped him, and told him quite sternly, "It is not good to defend yourself so strongly in front of the spiritual master."
Lecturing him at length like a kind father, Prabhupada told him that he should not think that he was rejecting him. He said, "I am not rejecting, I am engaging you properly. If management is not good, then we can change, but that does not mean that the man is being rejected. The spiritual master is equal to all. You are a good preacher and this Eastern European program is very important. I am very pleased with it. So you can go there and continue that work."
Dejectedly, Harikesa returned to his room. A little later, when it sunk in that Prabhupada did not want him as his secretary any more, but unable to understand how to cope with it, he went back to Srila Prabhupada and announced, "Srila Prabhupada, I quit!"
Prabhupada looked at him as only a father can look a son who has just said something completely foolish, and in a very business-like way, said, "You can't quit, I fire you."
"As you like," Harikesa responded gloomily.
"So what will you do?" Prabhupada asked him.
"I guess I shall go back to Germany," Harikesa replied.
Prabhupada nodded and told him, "You should just go to the Schloss and sit there."
Harikesa was unsure. "But Prabhupada, there are so many troubles there, I don't know if I will be able to stay there."
But Prabhupada was certain. He said, "You should just sit there, no matter what happens. You may do nothing else but chant Hare Krsna, but just sit there and don't leave."
So Harikesa finally agreed, "All right."
"And I will give you a loan of $900 for your ticket," Prabhupada told him.
Harikesa shook his head. "Srila Prabhupada, I don't want your money."
"You must take it," Prabhupada told him. "You must take this $900 and pay me back 10% interest."
"But I don't need your money," Harikesa Maharaja mildly protested.
"You must take it," Prabhupada told him forcefully, repeating the order. "You must take this money and pay me back 10% interest."
Harikesa Swami conceded. In a miserable mood he went off to pack his belongings.
- From "A Transcendental Diary Vol 4" by HG Hari Sauri Prabhu
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