Page 72 - Defending Prabhupada Words - By Harivlas Das
P. 72
Prabhupada noticed that someone had rearranged the
items on his writing table. He called Bhagavan das and
asked him if he had changed the order of items on His
desk. Bhagavan das said yes. Srila Prabhupada chided him
strongly that he should not dare change anything on his
desk. He said every item on his desk was placed by Himself
in the right place and changing the placement of even one
item was disturbing to Srila Prabhupada. On his return
to France, when Bhagavan das related this story, I could
understand how thorough and precise Srila Prabhupada
was and how important it is for his disciples to not alter
in any way His instructions or procedures for spreading
Krishna Consciousness.
During the 1972 Rathayatra festival in London, I was
fortunate to be present. After the festival, I received
Brahman initiation from His Divine Grace. Before my
return to Paris, I entered Srila Prabhupada’s room in
Bury Place to say goodbye and offer my obeisances. I was
somewhat surprised by a question Srila Prabhupada asked
me. He said, “You will return by Calais” (A French coastal
city that overlooks the Strait of Dover, the narrowest
point in the English Channel) I thought, “how does
Srila Prabhupada know about Calais?” I had taken the
Hovercraft from Boulogne (another French Port south
of Calais) to Dover (the English Port). I assumed that my
Hovercraft would return the way I came. I was not sure if
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