When Swamiji Went Out 

It was unusual for Prabhupada to be anywhere but at Dr. Mishra’s studio.  Prabhupada did a little shopping, but he rarely went out on any other kind of outings.  Mostly he went out for walks.  Occasionally, he went to the bookstores to see how his books were selling.  He did not have a car in the early days, so he took the subway or the bus.  When he went out, he didn’t take on the appearance of an ordinary person in his old, checkered suburban coat.  For one thing, he always wore his dhoti.  He was elderly and Indian, but these were all external.  He burned with an inner flame that was visible, even as he sat in the subway.  He was always intensely focused on Krishna.  His eyes were different than other people’s eyes; they shone with inner vision.  He was always a pure devotee of Krishna.  

When Swamiji went out, he was not so relaxed.  He was grave, conserving his energy.  He showed no signs of nervousness or fear, or even uncertainty in the unfamiliar city.  Still, he was keenly aware that this was the material world.  It was so jarring to sit on the subway or bus seat, look up and see a half-naked woman on a poster or sitting across the aisle jiggling her leg … Through it all, Prabhupada was there, absorbed in his own Krishna consciousness.