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Wednesday, 3 July 1974

Srila Prabhupada's last brisk walk in the Botanic Gardens before he left Melbourne was an animated one. The pre-dawn mist was chilly and Prabhupada's long, orange scarf was well-wrapped around his head. Prabhupada's party edged down the sloping paths to a fern gully that wound around an old creek course in the heart of the gardens. The area was thick with ground ferns, tree ferns and subtropical vegetation. The air was particularly damp. Rhododendrons lined the paths, and as the group came to a halt, the sound of waterfalls could be heard distinctly. Prabhupada quickly walked up a steep incline that led out of the gully, as Madhudvisa spoke in mock argument.

"Some people would say that Krsna consciousness is too austere."

Prabhupada: What?

Madhudvisa: Too austere. It should be taken in stages.

Prabhupada: What are your austerities? Are you starving?

Prabhupada stopped and looked straight at Madhudvisa.

Madhudvisa: (Smiling) No!

Prabhupada: We say "Don't eat meat".

The "swish" sound of Ugrasrava's camera momentarily broke the silence. "Is that a very great austerity?" asked Prabhupada.

Madhudvisa: No, no. That is the easiest to give up.

Ugrasrava continued to take photographs.

Prabhupada: Then, no illicit sex. We don't say: "No sex." Illicit sex. So where is the austerity?

Prabhupada turned and walked on.

Madhudvisa: Well, devotees, they must rise early in the morning

Prabhupada: Yes!

Madhudvisa: and take cold bath ..

Prabhupada: Yes. That is healthy.

Prabhupada stopped, turned and smiled at the devotees. "Because early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy and wise. That's a fact!"

The devotees laughed. Prabhupada nodded and walked on.

"What to speak of early rise? Practically, I don't sleep at night. Only two hours. That's all. But still, I work, early in the morning. What is the fault there?"


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