A Srila Prabhupada pastime recounted in 1969 Vyasa-puja book

[Guest guest]

Blissful Return to New York

 

Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin

Iti Namine. Just hearing that Prabhupad was coming back to New York, the

devotees, having felt separation from their Spiritual Master, were filled

now with so much bliss as could be observed through flowing tears and joyous

shouts of "Haribol." On the day Prabhupad was to arrive, the temple was

swarming with activity like a beehive. After morning kirtan, Jayadvaita and

Brahmananda gave everyone some task to help prepare arrangements to satisfy

our spiritual master. Cleaning the temple spotlessly was very important, for

as Prabhupad says, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." It could be

definitely said that each devotee engaged to his utmost abilities in this

preparation before the transcendental arrival of His Divine Grace A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami.

 

Knowing that my father's apartment in New York City would be vacant for the

weekend, I called my father begging him if our Spiritual Master could stay

there while explaining to him that anybody who can render service to

Prabhupad can be relieved to some past sins. At first my father refused

giving me the excuse that a guest would be occupying the room, but when I

told him that Prabhupad means a million times more to me than Arnold Palmer

means to him, he got the message and okayed my most important request.

Before I put down the receiver, jubilant and ecstatic shouts expressed our

feeling of thankfulness.

 

At around noon on the day of arrival, most preparations were finished and

the devotees took Prasadam, their spiritual food. Soon after, we gathered

all the transcendental paraphernalia and departed for the airport singing

joyfully the Holy Names of God while travelling on the bus. Arriving at the

airport, the devotees paraded into the National Airlines Terminal pushing

chairs aside and began to start kirtan. A crowd of spectators and National

Airline officials watched as the devotees danced in ecstasy to the Hare

Krishna Mantra. Finally, Prabhupad's plane arrived, and the Swami stepped

out of the terminal building while the most respectful man in the community,

Kirtanananda Maharaj, offered a most beautiful garland of flowers to

Prabhupad. Prabhupad, accepting the flowers from the sannyasi, then walked

over to the seat prepared for him, as all of the devotees offered their

obeisances. Gasps of joy were exulted as Prabhupad touched Balai's baby in

approval. Then Prabhupad was offered his khartals, and he led Kirtan. Then

there was a procession out of the airport, as Ekayani strewed rosewater and

rose petals in Prabhupad's path as he walked to the car followed by the

devotees, who have taken shelter at his lotus feet. In the car, driving

toward my father's apartment (which is really Krishna's), Prabhupad warned

us that no matter how far we have advanced, Maya is so strong that we can

easily slip back, so always be engaged for Krishna and have complete faith.

After settling down in the apartment, Brahmananda offered fruit to

Prabhupad, which he then accepted and handed out to Purushottam, Hayagriva,

Kirtanananda Maharaj, Jayadvaita, Chandan Acharya, and myself. I was as

lucky and nervous as anyone could be and the pat my spiritual master gave me

on the head was just another example of his causeless infinite mercy. Truly,

this was the most treasurable and fortunate day in this life.

 

-Jimmy Feldman