Prabhupada nectar

[Guest guest]

THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 1972:

 

Srila Prabhupada travelled with three disciples from Calcutta to

Sydney via Singapore. Syamasundara acted as his secretary, Pradyumna as his

servant and Sanskrit editor, and Nanda-Kumara as his cook. After the plane

departed, Srila Prabhupada took his meal from the well-stocked tiffin

containers that Nanda-Kumara had filled before departing.

 

Nanda-Kumara: "I cooked Srila Prabhupada a dry potato sabji with a lot of

turmeric. I had par-boiled the potatoes whole, then cut them up and

pan-fried them, adding powdered coriander and cumin to form a nice crust.

I had also packed puris and a tasty tomato chutney, the recipe for which I

had got from Anand brahmacari, Prabhupada's Godbrother - just tomatoes,

salt, pepper with some fresh methi, mustard seeds and some gur. I had also

brought chidwa - a nice combination of nuts, fried dal with crunchy chickpea

flour noodles, and a mango chutney.

 

Srila Prabhupada enjoyed the prasadam, and after Srila Prabhupada ate, the

three of us happily ate the remnants. Srila Prabhupada was in a very jovial

mood on this leg of the trip."

 

Srila Prabhupada was scheduled to stay in Singapore for two days.

One Indian gentleman, Jamnadas Bhojwani, who had trade connections with

Australia, had booked a large hall and mailed hundreds of invitations to the

local Indian population.

 

On arrival at Singapore Airport, however, without explanation,

Immigration authorities flatly refused Srila Prabhupada and his entourage

entry into the country. While Nanda-Kumara spoke to the head man, a Chinese

official, Mr Bhajwani, who was there to greet Srila Prabhupada, also tried

frantically to appease the officials. But they were unrelenting and would

give no reason - Prabhupada and the devotees could not enter Singapore.

Prabhupada sat down in the crowded transit lounge, disappointed and feeling

ill, while Syamasundara went to try to book a flight to Sydney.

 

Prabhupada had often complained about immigration officers, who,

totally ignorant of spiritual etiquette, would question a sadhu at the

border. He compared them to barking watchdogs: "Yeow, yeow, yeow - where

is your visa?" Formerly, he had explained, a sadhu would be allowed

unhindered entrance, even to the king's palace.

 

In the course of preaching, certainly Prabhupada was prepared to

undergo difficulties. But this unequivocal refusal of entry was

particularly disturbing.

 

Nanda-Kumara: "Whilst Syamasundara was trying to arrange an onward

connection, I stayed with Prabhupada, who described his symptoms: dizziness

and nausea. I suggested that he might like to take a little fruit. "Yes," he

said, "maybe that will help." I cut one orange and he ate it and,

afterwards, he said, "I feel totally relieved." He spoke some nice

philosophy, explaining how Krsna was so expert that he had produced this

fruit - a perfect air-tight package full of sweet juice. "Just see," he

said. "After one orange, I am completely relieved of all trouble.

 

 

 

from...The Great Transcendental Adventure by Kurma Dasa