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Srutakirti asked Amogha to prepare lunch. He quickly cooked -- eggplant with tomatoes, potatoes and cauliflower, rice, mung bean dal and cut fruit -- while Prabhupada bathed. Prabhupada found it tasty. "Everything is very nice," he said. Along with remnants from Prabhupada's meal, the three young devotees eagerly ate a tiffin-full of mahaprasadam delicacies brought from the Bombay temple. They were touched to hear from Srutakirti that bringing the prasadam was Srila Prabhupada's idea, and that he had reminded Srutakirti a number of times: "Do you have the prasadam? Make sure you bring the mahaprasadam."

Prabhupada rested after lunch, and the devotees followed his example. After one and a half hours, Prabhupada rose. It was early evening. He went to the room where Amogha was resting, pushing the door slightly ajar. "So, what is the program?" he asked, and returned to his room. Amogha quickly rose and followed him.

"I think the next program will be tomorrow, Srila Prabhupada. I'll try to bring someone to talk." Prabhupada shook his head. "No. What is the program?" Every morning and every night, devotees should gather to chant and read.

He asked Amogha to wake the others, and they soon assembled in Prabhupada's room with mrdanga and karatals.

Srila Prabhupada looked inquiringly at Amogha. "Can we make kirtana, or will the neighbours complain?"

Amogha explained that although they hadn't tried yet, the owner of the house didn't want the devotees to hold religious meetings. As long as they did not make "big kirtanas", Prabhupada reasoned, sitting and talking should not bother anyone. They should chant, he suggested, but the drum should be played softly. "Kirtana must be there," he added, "instruments or no instruments."

Paramahamsa led a short kirtana on the mrdanga. Prabhupada turned to Amogha. "Read," he said.

"Which book, Srila Prabhupada?"

"Any book."

Amogha chose Bhagavad-gita. "Which part?" he asked.

"Any part."

Amogha read from Chapter 8, verse one. The devotees read on, verse by verse, as Prabhupada encouraged them to ask questions if there was anything they did not understand. The discussion ranged over a number of broad subjects.

Towards the end of the lengthy evening session, Prabhupada touched on an interesting topic -- seeing God. Although Krsna was simultaneously inside and outside of everything, Prabhupada explained, unless one became purified, he could not actually see Krsna everywhere. Being excessively eager to see God was not a pre-requisite for spiritual advancement, he pointed out. Rather, one should become advanced by gradual dedication to regulated daily spiritual practices, sadhana, then, eventually, Krsna would allow Himself to be seen by the devotee.

"First of all, be qualified. It is Krsna's prerogative. If He likes, He will reveal. If He does not like, He will not reveal. Why people are eager to see Krsna without being qualified -- 'Can you show me God?' First of all you become fit to see God."

Even in ordinary material dealings, Prabhupada explained, an insignificant person could not even approach a bigger man in society and demand to see him, not to speak of seeing God. Prabhupada related an interesting anecdote to illustrate the point.

A famous philosopher had once been approached by a popular dramatic player. The dramatic player had sent the philosopher his card, but the philosopher had refused to see him. Rather, the philosopher had sent back a message via his servant. "Why shall I see this dancing dog?" he asked. "He may be famous as a dancing dog, but I have no business with him. If some philosopher comes, then it will be a pleasure to talk with him. But what does he know? He may be expert in dancing, but it is not philosophy."

Prabhupada summed up. "The devotee, although anxious to see God, thinks himself unqualified to see Him. 'Even I become brokenhearted not seeing God, still Krsna is my Lord; I may see or I may not see, but that is His mercy. In all circumstances, He is my worshipful Lord.' That is a devotee."

Prabhupada noticed that the devotees looked tired, so around 8.30pm he brought the meeting to a close. He reminded Amogha that he wanted to speak to guests for the remainder of the stay. "We can hold a meeting," he said. He had suggested that Amogha could invite the neighbours to come and talk with him. But he specifically wanted to meet with intelligent people, as he had done in Melbourne on his last visit, and as he continued to do throughout the world. Prabhupada's request to Amogha was specific: "Bring students of philosophy," he said.


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