Boarders

As Prabhupada retired to his apartment and his guests disappeared through the front door, back into the city, Don and Raphael would turn out the lights, lock the front door, and go to sleep on the floor in their blankets.  Don and Raphael had needed a place to stay when they heard about the Swami’s place.  Prabhupada had a policy that any boy who expressed even a little interest in becoming his student could stay in the storefront and make it his home.  Of course, Prabhupada would ask them to contribute toward the rent and meals, but if, like Don and Raphael, they had no money, then it was still all right, provided they helped in other ways.  Don and Raphael were the first two boys to take advantage of Prabhupada’s offer.  They were attracted to Swamiji and the chanting, but they weren’t serious about his philosophy or the disciplines of devotional life.  They had no jobs and no money, their hair was long and unkempt, and they lived and slept in the same clothes day after day.  Prabhupada stipulated that at least while they were on the premises they could not break his rules – no intoxication, illicit sex, meat-eating, or gambling.  He knew these two boarders weren’t serious students, but he allowed them to stay, in hopes that gradually they would become serious.

Don and Raphael were the Swami’s steady boarders, although during the day they also went out, returning only for meals, sleep, and evening chanting.  Occasionally they would bathe, and then they would use the Swami’s bathroom in his apartment.  Sometimes they would hang out in the storefront during the day, and if someone stopped by, asking about the Swami’s classes, they would tell the person all they knew (which wasn’t much).  They admitted that they weren’t really into the Swami’s philosophy, and they didn’t claim to be his followers.  If someone persisted in inquiring about the Swami’s teachings, Don and Raphael would suggest, “Why don’t you go up and talk to him?  The Swami lives in the apartment building out back.  Why don’t you go up and see him?”