Reference?

[Guest guest]

> There is a well-known story about Srila Prabhupada at an airport. Many

> devotees surrounded him in the departure lounge while he was waiting to

> depart. The airport authorities then requested the devotees to vacate the

> area since it was causing some disturbance to passengers. A devotee stood

> upon a chair and announced, "All devotees must leave this lounge

> immediately." Everyone began leaving -- including Srila Prabhupada --

> until the leader said, "Oh, not you Srila Prabhupada."

>

> Where can I find this story printed? Can anyone add any details? I thought

> it was in the Prabhupada Nectar books but couldn't find it.

>

> ys pcd

 

Pastime told by Ravindra Svarupa Maharaj , Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2000.

(also in BBT Vyasa puja book 2000)

 

Below is the extract.

 

 

* * * * *

 

You were flying out of New York City, heading West, and as

usual a large crowd of devotees turned out to see you off.

It seemed as if a greater part of the residents of the New

York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore temples was

there. You entered the boarding area for your flight, and

the devotees streamed in after you, many vaulting over the

boundary railing. You leaned back in a chair, and the

devotees near you sat on the floor, while those further

away remained standing. Devotees completely filled the

boarding area and spilled out the entrance into the

concourse. There were a lot of us, yet it was an

opportunity for those sweet, informal, intimate sorts of

exchanges we all cherished.

 

I found myself standing at the periphery. After a while I

began to notice a representative of the airline in a state

of increasing disturbance. One after another, he would

accost a devotee on the edge of the crowd and address him

in an agitated way. The devotees would glance at the

airline representative for a moment, and then return full

attention to you, ignoring the poor functionary. Seeing a

full-blown "incident" brewing up, I went over to the

official and asked him the matter. He pointed out that none

of the other passengers on the flight were able to enter

the boarding area, for it was filled completely with

devotees. Among us, only you, Srila Prabhupada, the actual

ticket-holding passenger, should have been in the boarding

lounge. Would I please help get the other devotees to

leave? It was true that a big crowd of passengers stood

outside in the concourse.

 

My attempts to do something met with no more success than

the official's. I appreciated the devotees' priorities and

realized the job required someone with more clout than I

had. I managed to draw aside Rupanuga Prabhu, our GBC

representative. Rupanuga was endowed with what the army

calls "command presence." People do what he says. Yet this

time he too got the brush-off. Everyone was focused on what

you were doing, Srila Prabhupada, and next to that even

Rupanuga carried no weight. Then Rupanuga Prabhu seized

upon an extraordinary measure. Jumping upon a chair, he

cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled with

considerable force: "Hare Krsna! All devotees must leave

the boarding area immediately! All devotees leave right

now!" This awesome display of command presence was greeted

with shocked silence. Offended faces swiveled up toward

Rupanuga and gaped in wordless rebuke for this affront. But

not you, Srila Prabhupada. I remember you looking up at

Rupanuga with a mild, round-eyed gaze of slight concern.

And before anyone else could gather wits together to react,

you had risen to your feet and started toward the exit.

Rupanuga smiled. "Not you, Srila Prabhupada," he said. Not

you. When Rupanuga yelled, the disciples showed their

pride; but the master was humble. How much was revealed in

that instant of reflex action. Within a moment's span of

shocked silence, you disclosed a heart-stopping view of

unfathomable humility and pridelessness.