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Prabhupada in Boston

May 1, 1968
The first devotee to meet Prabhupada in Boston was Jadurani, walking forward at the airport with a flower garland for her spiritual master. As they rode in the taxi together back to the temple, Prabhupada asked Jadurani about her painting. She complained that in preparing for his visit she had had to sew material for the altar, put up curtains, and make posters and post them all over the city-because the men in the temple were working at their office jobs. Consequently, she hadn't been able to do her real service of painting. "Don't worry," Prabhupada said, "I won't stay long."

The taxi stopped at Prabhupada's house on Hester Street. It was a two-story building, the first floor being PrabhUpada's apartment. Up stairs were some Boston University students, who had agreed to play their music softly while the swami was visiting; their motorcycles were parked beside the house. Walking slowly up the wooden stairs and across the front porch, Prabhupada entered his apartment. Prabhupada found Satsvarupa in the kitchen, standing over the stove, cooking. Satsvarupa offered obeisances and immediately returned to his cooking, apologizing that he hadn't been able to meet Swamiji at the airport. He had three burners going at once, and he appeared both very happy and very nervous.

"What are you cooking?" Prabhupada asked.

"Sweetrice, halava, puris, and a vegetable," Satsvarupa replied, stirring the sweet rice and watching over the other preparations as he spoke. It was more like the Sunday feast than Swamiji's daily fare of rice, dal, and capatis. But these rich dishes were all Satsvarupa knew how to cook.

Prabhupada smiled. Looking around the kitchen, he saw against the window a poster: "The Spiritual Master of the Holy Name is Coming to Boston." It was a photo of Swamiji with a list of speaking engagements at various universities. As Prabhupada read it his face brightened. "You have given me a full month's engagement!" he said. Then he walked leisurely out of the kitchen, leaving Satsvarupa anxiously trying to hurry lunch without burning anything.

Prabhupada entered his room and took a seat at the low desk, leaning his back against the pillow. "Why don't you take some rest now?" Jadurani suggested.

"I rested on the plane," Prabhupada replied.

"Well," Jadurani persisted, "you could rest some more."

Prabhupada turned his head slightly away from her and said softly, "I am not meant for resting all day and night."

Prabhupada asked to see Satsvarupa. Gaurasundara went to fetch him but returned saying that Satsvarupa couldn't come; he was too busy cooking.

When Prabhupada's lunch finally arrived, the devotees in his room excused themselves and left Prabhupada alone. Most of the devotees-including several guests and visitors from New York-having stayed up all night preparing Swamiji's apartment, fell asleep on the floor in various rooms throughout the apartment. Prabhupada could hear their snoring, and after finishing his lunch he went out and looked from room to room without waking anyone. In the living room, he sat down on the couch, and soon the devotees awoke and joined him.

Prabhupada began talking about Krsna in Vrndavana. "Vrndavana," he said, "is the kingdom of Radharani. In Vrndavana, if someone wanted to visit me"-he looked behind him down the long hallway toward the door at the rear of the apartment-"they would call "Jaya Radhe!'" Prabhupada called out loudly, as if he were a visitor at the back door. "And I would call back"-he looked again toward the rear door-""Jaya Radhe!' Krsna is very strict, and Radha is very nice. A woman, unless she is unnatural, is very soft-hearted and very kindhearted. And Radharani is not unnatural."

Later Jadurani apologized to Swamiji for foolishly complaining to him in the car. He had said to her, "Don't worry, I won't stay long," but actually she wanted him to stay permanently. She didn't want him to think that his presence was an inconvenience. She had complained because she was in anxiety about neglecting the service that Prabhupada had directly given to her. Whenever Satsvarupa gave her service to do other than painting, she would become confused about the priority. Prabhupada heard her patiently, clearly understanding the heart of her inquiry. "The direct order of the spiritual master," he said, "is the most important thing to do, except in an emergency."


- From "Prabhupada-lila" by HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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