Better to stay in the association of devoteesThursday, 5 February 1973It was less than ten months since Srila Prabhupada's last visit to Australia. Despite their very best intentions, however, the devotees were once again not quite ready for Srila Prabhupada's arrival. Prabhupada's flight from Bangkok was scheduled to stop in transit in Sydney. The Sydney devotees had planned to greet him there, and then stay with him for the few hours until he boarded his local flight to Melbourne. But there had been a mix-up, and by the time the devotees had arrived to greet him, he had boarded his next flight.The Melbourne devotees attempt at an airport reception was only slightly better.Franco: Upananda and I had gone early -- at least we had thought it was early -- to Melbourne's Tullamarine airport. Upananda went off to telephone the temple to find out where all the rest of the devotees were. "Stand lookout at the escalators," he said. I looked up, and suddenly, there at the top of the escalators, was Srila Prabhupada! He was descending very quickly. I called out to Upananda and he came running. Standing behind Srila Prabhupada was Bali-mardana carrying what we found out later was Srimati Radharani wrapped up in a cloth. We both offered our obeisances on the spot.Srila Prabhupada appeared grave and concerned. "Where are all the devotees?" he asked. Upananda, embarrassed by yet another bungled airport reception, answered nervously: "Oh, Prabhupada, they're still at the temple."Prabhupada's concerns were practical. "Then -- how shall we go there?"It was soon decided that a taxi would be in order. Bali-mardana and Srutakirti handed over all the luggage to the two young devotees and, still carefully carrying the well-wrapped Deities, left for the temple with Srila Prabhupada. Upananda, overcome by the events, forgot to telephone ahead.14 Burnett Street, St. KildaSince Prabhupada had decided to visit only Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland this visit, the Melbourne temple was packed to capacity with over 70 devotees from all over Australia.The scene resembled Sydney one year before. It was nine in the morning. Some devotees were still getting dressed for their ill-fated "trip to the airport"; others painted banisters, mopped the temple floor, and laid the last piece of red carpet on the stairs. One devotee was applying a final coat of paint to the temple room wall while two others rushed to hang the temple curtains. The new altar would not be finished until the next day.A black taxi suddenly pulled up outside the temple. A devotee sweeping the patio sounded the alarm -- Prabhupada was here! The temple erupted in panic. Devotees, some still half-dressed or in overalls, quickly formed two lines down the narrow temple hallway. Someone started a kirtana as Srila Prabhupada entered the front gate. Many devotees were seeing their spiritual master for the first time.Carol: Before I met Srila Prabhupada, the devotees were always saying "Prabhupada said this, Prabhupada said that," -- every second word was "Prabhupada". As a very, very, new devotee I was thinking: "What if when I finally meet Prabhupada I'm disappointed? What happens if he doesn't live up to my expectations?" But the moment Srila Prabhupada walked in the front door, just seeing his physical form, I was completely convinced that he was everything that everyone had ever said he was, and more. Just by witnessing his incredible presence, his natural spiritual effulgence and his serenity, I was completely convinced of his great purity.Madhudvisa Swami raced ahead, and, grabbing a brahmacari's top cloth, mopped up the last drops of water on the temple room floor. Prabhupada followed close behind, entered the temple and offered his obeisances before the temporary altar set up near the street-end of the temple.Srila Prabhupada sat down on the newly upholstered pink and magenta vyasasana. He smiled at the young, bright-faced devotees before him. The young ladies in clean saris, and the shaven-headed men in new dhotis, all smiled back."So, everything is all right?"The devotees responded with a resounding "Yes! Jaya Srila Prabhupada!"Krsna Premi, as was her custom, started crying. Prabhupada laughed softly. "Krsna Premi always cries!" Krsna Premi cried even louder.Prabhupada spoke a few words, expressing his happiness at the improvements that had taken place since his last visit, then retired to his room. Prabhupada's quarters were, as last year, the transformed brahmacari asrama. Since the temple would be hopelessly cramped, it had been suggested to Prabhupada that perhaps he could be accommodated more comfortably in a hotel. But Prabhupada had declined the offer. "Better to stay in the association of devotees," he had said. So, instead, most of the young men had been relocated to stay at the downtown Hare Krsna shop, and the ladies were billeted nearby at the homes of various householders.- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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