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Srila Prabhupada's car pulled up outside the airport's sole departure terminal. Prabhupada entered the building and, accompanied by kirtana, walked the full length of the walkway to the international check-in. There he peacefully sat in the old, wood-panelled lounge, with his disciples sitting in a semi-circle at his feet.

In half an hour he would be mounting the escalator for final departure formalities. The atmosphere was tranquil. A few passers-by stopped to watch, as if magically drawn to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Rama began a lilting melody on his guitar, and the devotees sang in response, like a choir. Prabhupada smiled warmly. When Guru Krpa began playing karatals softly as an accompaniment, Prabhupada stopped him. He wanted to hear Hare Rama's solo offering. When the kirtana was over, Prabhupada took off his garland and offered it to Hare Rama. It was obvious that Srila Prabhupada wanted to encourage Tusta Krsna's men to continue their chanting. They were his disciples also. Even if they couldn't work combinedly with ISKCON, the chanting would purify them.

Prabhupada had told Ralph Stevenson:

Sometimes there will be a little misunderstanding between Godbrothers. That is going on amongst the liberated souls. What is important is that everyone must engage in Krishna's service under the direction of the spiritual master.

Prabhupada's final gesture to Hare Rama summed up his expertise in avoiding confrontation on this delicate issue. He had shown equal kindness and had given equal mercy to both camps. Rather than chastise or denounce anyone, he chose to fan whatever sparks of sincerity were there in the hearts of his disciples. Those sparks, he knew, would eventually blaze into the fire of Krsna consciousness, and that fire would burn up whatever impurities remained.


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