why don't you cut your throat?

[Guest guest]

Guru dasa: I always went on every morning walk. But one time I was sitting

in the temple, when suddenly I saw Prabhupada and the devotees going toward

the beach. I immediately ran out of the temple to join them, without even

taking time to get my shoes. But there were barnacles and rocks leading down

to the beach. When Prabhupada saw me coming, lifting my feet up high,

painfully hobbling down the rough road, he looked over and said, "Oh, your

feet are hurting? Why aren't you wearing shoes?" And I said, "Prabhupada,

when I'm with you, I don't feel any pain." Prabhupada stopped and said,

"Then why don't you cut your throat?" Everyone laughed, and I laughed also.

He said, "There is enough tapasya. Why create your own?"

 

from Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta Ch. 38.