Flight travelIt had been arranged that Srila Prabhupada would take his lunch at Melbourne airport before flying to Sydney. But the prasadam was late coming from the temple, and arrived just before departure time. So the whole prasadam, including Prabhupada's silver tray, bowls and cups, were taken aboard the aircraft.Prabhupada's party were flying first class, and Srila Prabhupada, Srutakirti and Madhudvisa were soon seated. Prabhupada, as regulated as ever, decided to take lunch immediately. Srutakirti set up the silverware on the in-flight tray table. Prabhupada unselfconsciously and with great respect and concentration commenced to eat.The flight attendants were making final announcements for departure. All passengers should fasten their seatbelts and see that the tray tables in front of them were fully secured. Srila Prabhupada continued to take prasadam as the other passengers buckled their seat belts and put their tables in the upright position.A female attendant suggested to Srila Prabhupada that his table would have to be secured and the plates moved, but she didn't insist on Prabhupada's conforming. Prabhupada continued to calmly eat as the jet sped down the runway. Srutakirti anxiously held onto the cups and bowls as the plane turned its nose upwards, while Prabhupada, still absorbed in his prasadam-seva, appeared not to notice or care for his surroundings.Only when the plane was high in the air and Srila Prabhupada had finished his prasadam did he turn to Srutakirti. "Alright," he said, "you can take these away now," and rose to wash his hands.- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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