There is no reason to be absent
Srutakirti: While Kirtanananda Maharaja and I were in New Dwarka for a week, I received Brahmana initiation from Srila Prabhupada. Although I was not yet Srila Prabhupada's personal servant, in retrospect, I was being initiated into that mood. Throughout the week whenever I saw Nanda Kumar Dasa, who was then Srila Prabhupada's personal servant, I contemplated his great fortune and stared at him uncontrollably.
He would glance back at me and sort of smile. He must have thought I was very strange. One morning during his lecture, Srila Prabhupada noticed his servant was not by his Vyasasana. "Where is Nanda Kumar?" he asked. 'He is in the kitchen,' a devotee said. His Divine Grace continued with class.
After his lecture, Kirtanananda Maharaja and I went into Srila Prabhupada's room. The atmosphere was tense and Srila Prabhupada was visibly unhappy. Then Nanda Kumar brought in his breakfast. "Where were you during my lecture?" Srila Prabhupada asked in an angry mood. 'I was preparing your breakfast,' his servant answered. "Why?" Srila Prabhupada asked even louder. "Anyone can prepare breakfast. You should be there at the lecture." Nanda Kumar gave another reason, but Srila Prabhupada was not pacified. "You must be there," Srila Prabhupada told him.
"There is no reason to be absent." I sat in the room shaking. It was my first experience seeing and hearing my spiritual master in an angry mood. It was difficult to watch as his servant tried to defend himself. 'He is talking back to Srila Prabhupada,' I thought to myself.
'This can't be good.' It was a good lesson for me. I made up my mind I would never do that if Srila Prabhupada was chastising me. When Srila Prabhupada left New Dwarka in August of 1972, Nanda Kumar remained and was married. Srila Prabhupada tried to keep him as his servant saying that Nanda Kumar "was expert."
In September of 1973 I was Srila Prabhupada's servant in New Dwarka. He told me to prepare his meals in my quarters, not in the temple kitchen, because there were too many women there. Sixteen months later, history repeated itself. Srila Prabhupada left New Dwarka and I remained to be married to a girl I had met in the temple kitchen. Srila Prabhupada knew the weaknesses of his disciples and mercifully encouraged us to rise above them. When we failed, he continued to compassionately accept our service on the level we were able to perform. On many occasions he said that our young age was the cause of our restlessness.
In September of 1973 I was Srila Prabhupada's servant in New Dwarka. He told me to prepare his meals in my quarters, not in the temple kitchen, because there were too many women there. Sixteen months later, history repeated itself. Srila Prabhupada left New Dwarka and I remained to be married to a girl I had met in the temple kitchen. Srila Prabhupada knew the weaknesses of his disciples and mercifully encouraged us to rise above them. When we failed, he continued to compassionately accept our service on the level we were able to perform. On many occasions he said that our young age was the cause of our restlessness.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Uvacha by Srtuakirti Dasa
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