Hatchet Obeisances, not good
Srutakirti Dasa: Every morning approximately at 11:00 a.m, Srila Prabhupada began his morning massage for about one and a half hour. There were no hard and fast rules for the length of time he took his massage. Sometimes during his massage, Srila Prabhupada's secretary read him his mail and took dictation for replies. His Sanskrit editor also came in with questions regarding Srila Prabhupada's morning translation work.
One day while I was massaging him, his Sanskrit editor came and went several times from Srila Prabhupada's room. The first time he entered, he carefully offered his obeisances. The next few times he entered he knelt quickly, momentarily touched his head to the floor, and hastily sat up and asked questions. Again he left the room. The next time he entered the room, the same thing happened. "What is this hatchet?" Srila Prabhupada said, chastising him as he sat up. "You pay your obeisances. This hatchet is not good."
Srila Prabhupada always cared for his disciples. He protected us from commiting careless offenses. This incident happened 22 years ago. I was never sure what Prabhupada meant by the word "hatchet". I know that part of the meaning was the abrupt quick hacking motion one associates with that particular tool. As I write, I see another meaning to the word. Our devotional creeper is very fragile. While rendering personal service to the spiritual master, we can easily damage our devotional creeper by carelessly swinging our hatchet-like egos. To be "Krishna Conscious" means we must be conscious of our activities at all times, and never take short cuts when it comes to respecting our Guru Maharaja. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, the most expert gardener who lovingly tends to our devotional creeper.
Srila Prabhupada always cared for his disciples. He protected us from commiting careless offenses. This incident happened 22 years ago. I was never sure what Prabhupada meant by the word "hatchet". I know that part of the meaning was the abrupt quick hacking motion one associates with that particular tool. As I write, I see another meaning to the word. Our devotional creeper is very fragile. While rendering personal service to the spiritual master, we can easily damage our devotional creeper by carelessly swinging our hatchet-like egos. To be "Krishna Conscious" means we must be conscious of our activities at all times, and never take short cuts when it comes to respecting our Guru Maharaja. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, the most expert gardener who lovingly tends to our devotional creeper.
Jai Srila Prabhupada
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Uvacha by Srtuakirti Dasa
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