Accompanying Swamiji

When we walked with Prabhupada, we were proud to be with him.  We stayed close beside him on the street, trying to protect him.  We did not care what people thought.  We wanted to appear presentable as his servants, yet we had no concern for other’s opinions.  The person we wanted to please was right there with us.  He gave us courage to assist him.  To walk beside him and represent him was prestigious.  They could see the elderly, saintly Indian guru with his assistant alongside.  Now we have to assist him without being physically with him, but we can meditate, “He is here and I am walking beside him.  Let the people see it and think what they like.”

As the servant Daruka said in Vaikuntha, “When I fan the Lord, if I feel too much ecstasy, it becomes an interference.  I simply want to fan Him nicely.”  Let us continue in that way, walking beside Prabhupada, while following his vani.