Sydney templeTwo long rows of devotees -- 70 in all -- chanted ecstatically at Sydney airport as Prabhupada walked across the tarmac. Only when Prabhupada finally sat down to speak with the Press in the lounge did the roaring kirtana come to an end. Prabhupada appeared as majestic as a king of old. From his body emanated a golden effulgence, and he seemed powerful, yet humble.The Sydney devotees had certainly done better this year in arranging for an airport reception befitting Prabhupada's exalted spiritual position. This was the way to receive Krsna's representative -- with all the grandeur and magnificence due to God Himself.The old blue Volkswagen filled with Spiritual Sky incense smoke had seen better days, and seemed, to the devotees, inappropriate transport for their divine master, especially after the tumultuous airport reception. But this was all they could afford, and Prabhupada made no complaint as they whisked him back to the temple in Glebe, a suburb lying a few kilometres south-west of central downtown Sydney. In its earlier years Glebe had been a fashionable area, but it was now a working class suburb. A growing interest in restored old buildings was again making it popular.Prabhupada had disembarked and left the airport so quickly that the devotees staying back to finish this year's refurbishments on the temple were not quite ready. Hari-sauri couldn't believe it when he heard the kirtana start up outside the front of the temple. He had just glued a marble slab on the front of Prabhupada's new vyasasana, and was halfway through sticking on the wooden liners, still wet with gold spray paint, when Prabhupada entered the temple room. Prabhupada paused when he noticed the saw, hammer, nails and other bits and pieces on the sawdust-strewn floor. "Clean it," he said mildly, and he sat down on the vyasasana.Hari-sauri nervously asked the devotees to wait outside. He wasn't sure if Prabhupada was disturbed or not. Removing all the tools, he quickly swept the entire temple as Prabhupada watched patiently. Then as the devotees filed into the temple, Prabhupada, to Hari-sauri's relief, smiled broadly and began to speak with great pleasure and satisfaction.Prabhupada spoke at length, explaining how cleaning the temple -- mandira marjana -- was such a potent spiritual act that by doing so one could cleanse one's heart and make rapid, spiritual progress. The devotees had moved Srila Prabhupada's vyasasana to the far end of the temple. He seemed pleased. He also noticed other changes, including a new, better altar. "So, it is very good that things have improved since last year. In this way, every year there should be some improvement."The house next door to the temple had been suitably furnished for Prabhupada's week-long stay. When Prabhupada entered his room he asked why there was neither a bookcase nor books. Madhudvisa sent Bob, who had dealt in antiques, to purchase one. Within a short time, the peach-coloured quarters were decorated with a bookcase and a full collection of His Divine Grace's transcendental books.- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
Comments