Teaching how to cookSatsvarupa dasa Goswami prepared for Prabhupada's massage, meditating on his good fortune at becoming Srila Prabhupada's personal servant. Six months before, on a travelling book distribution party in Texas, Satsvarupa had received an urgent phone message to call Los Angeles.It was Karandhara who broke the news over the phone: Srutakirti dasa was going to get married and could no longer travel throughout the world accompanying Srila Prabhupada. Some of the devotees had been thinking for the past few days who would become Srila Prabhupada's new servant, and Srila Prabhupada had suggested Satsvarupa, since he could type and edit as Srila Prabhupada produced his Srimad-Bhagavatam translations and purports.Satsvarupa had been incredulous, feeling as if the greatest benediction had descended upon him; certainly it was the most wonderful thing imaginable for a young sannyasi disciple of Srila Prabhupada.He had immediately flown to Los Angeles where Srutakirti showed him the servant's tasks: when to enter Srila Prabhupada's room in the morning to bring his medicine and eucalyptus twig toothbrush, when to be ready to accompany him on his morning walks, what to make for his breakfast, when and how to prepare for the morning massage and how to cook lunch.It was certainly a lot to learn at once, but Satsvarupa tried his best. He remembered fondly the first day he watched Srutakirti massage Prabhupada. Prabhupada turned to Satsvarupa and said, "Are you going to give the massage?"Satsvarupa had answered that, on Srutakirti's advice, he was going to "watch and learn". Prabhupada had mildly smiled and said, "That is like learning to swim from the land," and all three had laughed. He had, in his capacity as servant, accompanied Prabhupada to Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and across India for four months. Then a fast-paced tour through Europe -- Rome, Geneva, Paris, Germany -- and now Melbourne.At 11.15am, Satsvarupa put on his gamcha and entered Prabhupada's room, ready to massage His Divine Grace. This was the high point of the day for Satsvarupa. As Srila Prabhupada sat cross-legged on a mat, he rubbed mustard oil over Prabhupada's smooth skin, starting with the top of his head. Prabhupada relaxed with half-closed eyes, and allowed his body to rock slightly with the movements of the massage. "Harder," Prabhupada announced, and it soon took all of Satsvarupa's strength and stamina to keep going.For forty minutes, Satsvarupa massaged his head, then his back, his chest, then his arms, hands, legs and feet. When he finished, Prabhupada held out his right hand as Satsvarupa poured a little mustard seed oil which Prabhupada took and applied within his nostrils. Then he rose to take his bath.Satsvarupa was feeling more at ease than he had in Europe. Since cooking was an art that he had yet to master, he had been happy when Dipak had volunteered for the service during Prabhupada's Melbourne visit. Yet Dipak, usually a proficient cook, was today not his usual confident self. He was nervously dropping butter on the floor, sliding chapatis off the stove and boiling over the milk when he noticed Srila Prabhupada at the kitchen door. Prabhupada, standing bare-chested after his bath, was smiling as he watched Dipak's attempts to cook lunch. Returning to his room, Srila Prabhupada applied the marks of Vaisnava tilaka with great attention and sat, head slightly back, to chant his noon-time Gayatri mantra.Meanwhile, Dipak was coming to the end of a very chaotic morning in the kitchen. He quickly poured freshly-squeezed lemon juice into the pot of steaming hot basmati rice, spooned out a generous serving, adjusted the bowls of dal and vegetables, popped on a couple of hot chapatis and raced the plate into Prabhupada's room.Prabhupada sat on a low cushion behind his glass-topped table, on the white-linen-covered floor. He nodded appreciatively as Dipak placed the plate on the table, offered obeisances and quickly exited.Feeling relieved that lunch was on time, Dipak returned to the kitchen to clean up the scene of devastation. He especially hoped that Srila Prabhupada would enjoy the rice today. He had recently heard -- although he couldn't remember where from -- that Prabhupada liked lemon juice on it.Satsvarupa Goswami broke Dipak's daydream. "Dipak! Srila Prabhupada would like to see you." Dipak wiped his hands and rushed into the room.Prabhupada was looking up inquisitively. "What is the matter with this?" he asked, pointing to the untouched mound of rice on his plate. "It is sour!" Dipak stumbled out an answer. "Oh ... I put lemon juice on it, Srila Prabhupada." Prabhupada looked disappointed. Dipak volunteered to cook more."No," Srila Prabhupada answered. "Bring some milk and sugar."Srila Prabhupada sprinkled sugar all over the rice, poured on the milk, and took it as dessert. After lunch, Prabhupada again called Dipak into his room. "Tomorrow," he reassured him, "I will teach you how to cook."- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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