Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Unless one is cent-per-cent Krsnaconscious, he is not a sadhu

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January 2nd, 1976

 

Madras appears a pleasant city, not congested and generally clean and

well-managed. On the way to Marina Beach for his morning walk Srila Prabhupada

commended the well-kept, attractive buildings and wide beach-front road. The

shore itself is a clean, wide, long stretch of sand. Along the shoreline

fishing boats, catamarans, and nets were beached in clusters. The sea breeze

was refreshing, and the lack of commercialization -- coconut sellers, pan

merchants, hotels and the like, and even people -- made it a pleasant contrast

to Bombay's Juhu Beach. In his usual fashion, Prabhupada walked up and down the

beach for half an hour both ways, engaging us in conversation. He'd stop

occasionally to emphasize his points, enjoying the exercise and freshness of

sand, sea, and sky.

 

The sannyasis were all present, as were the local devotees and some Life

Members. Prabhupada continued his exposi of modern science, prompting Harikesa

to repeat some of the arguments they have discussed during the past month.

Prabhupada drew the newly arrived Tamal Krishna Maharaja and other sannyasis

into the debate.

 

The sun had risen, its light glinting across the water. Fishermen were

repairing their light craft, readying them for another day's work on the

unpredictable Bay of Bengal, while our little group discussed the structure of

the universe and the eternal soul's ability to live in any condition, even

within the fiery globe which now so brightly illuminated the entire sky.

 

After a while Prabhupada let the subject drop. He walked past a group of

mounted police exercising their horses and then back to the pavement. Various

statues of well known personalities and some very handsome buildings line the

beach front. A house with Bengali writing on it came into view, attracting

Prabhupada's attention. It was the former residence of a well known sadhu.

 

Acyutananda asked if it had belonged to Swami Vivekananda. Prabhupada confirmed

that after coming back from foreign countries Vivekananda had made his position

here in Madras.

 

Acyutananda said that a Life Member from Calcutta called Veni Sankara Sharma

had written a book titled An Unknown Chapter of the Life of Swami Vivekananda.

The book claimed that Vivekananda smoked a hookah and ate meat.

 

To this information, Prabhupada replied, "Yes, that is known to everyone."

 

Yasodanandana knew someone in Hyderabad who used to cook for the Rama Krsna

Mission. He told Prabhupada, "He said they used to cook any kind of meat."

 

Acyutananda said that he had once asked that cook, "Did you ever cook human

meat?" The cook had told him, "If they told me, I would have done that also."

Acyutananda added, "There was nothing beyond their diet."

 

The party went on to decipher the Bengali title over the house, identifying it

as 'The House of Vivekananda.'

 

"They say Swami Vivekananda walked barefoot all over India at some stage of his

life. This statue here is his life as a wandering sadhu," Acyutananda offered.

 

But Prabhupada asked, "Who is a sadhu? Then the question is, who is a sadhu?

You cannot say?"

 

Acyutananda said, "One who is Krsna conscious."

 

"Unless one is cent-per-cent Krsna conscious, he is not a sadhu," Prabhupada

said. "Sadhu-bhusanah. Titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-dehinam/

ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah. This is sadhu."

 

As we approached our vehicles Prabhupada made a wry comment about the monuments

erected along the beach front. "All statues are crying here!"

 

Amongst them Acyutananda Swami picked out another figure of recent prominence.

This one was not an Indian but a Western woman, Annie Besant, who converted

from Christianity to Hinduism. In the days of the British Raj such conversion

to Hinduism would almost deify the person in the eyes of the ordinary Indians.

 

Prabhupada remarked sardonically, "They come to be avatara here. And she also

came from Ireland to become avatara here."

 

Acyutananda Swami explained how she had become interested in the Gita. "She was

Christian, and her infant died. So she asked the priests whether the child's

soul would go to heaven or hell. And why? She felt that the child hadn't done

anything. But she was dissatisfied with their answers. Eventually she heard

about transmigration of the soul. Then she became interested in the Gita and

India."

 

Prabhupada asked, "So did she understand?"

 

Acyutananda said, "Well, only up to transmigration of the soul."

 

"She admits," Prabhupada said.

 

Acyutananda said, "Yes."

 

- From the "A Transcendental Diary Vol 1" by HG Hari Sauri dasa

 

 

 

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