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Although it was officially winter in Melbourne and generally chilly, some days were sunny and moderately warm. Since this was the case that day, it was decided that Srila Prabhupada would take his massage in the area set aside as a sewing room because the morning sun shone directly through the window there.

The massage had barely started, however, when a near-catastrophe marred the peaceful morning session. As Srutakirti turned to reach for the oil bottle, there was suddenly a deafening, explosive sound like a gunshot which shocked everyone severely. Srutakirti turned, and to his horror saw a heavy wooden door lying at Prabhupada's side. It had literally missed Prabhupada by only a few centimetres. Apparently the adjoining doorway, which lead through to the ladies quarters, usually had no door, and someone had hastily propped this one in the space. The female devotees, who were listening as the massage took place, had positioned themselves behind the tenuously balanced door, but it had collapsed.

Prabhupada was very angry at the negligence; he expressed his anger in a way that perhaps only Srutakirti and a few others could appreciate -- he was silent and very, very grave. In Srila Prabhupada's case, this was a stage far beyond chastisement. After the traumatic incident, Srutakirti nailed the door in place and Prabhupada mentioned nothing more of it.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu