There is no taste, no vitamin, and still they eat.
When preparing Srila Prabhupada's lunch yesterday, I discovered that the only salt available came in large crystalline lumps that had to be broken and crushed. Because this was somewhat troublesome, I spent half an hour making enough for the following few days, and put the small stone bowl containing the salt on Prabhupada's chonki. I assumed that Prabhupada would take as much as he wanted from the stock and leave the rest for future use.
During breakfast, however, Prabhupada dipped pieces of fruit directly into the bowl rather than taking some salt from it onto his plate and leaving the rest. When I cleaned up afterwards I left the salt bowl on the table, thinking it would be all right to use it for other meals.
Though conversing with the other devotees, Srila Prabhupada, as observant as ever, noticed what I did and immediately rebuked me. Calling me a yavana he complained about our Western eating habit of saving remnants of food. "There is no taste, no vitamin, and still they eat."
Harikesa asked if it would be all right if I kept the salt in the pot, and then put some on the plate when Prabhupada took his prasadam.
"I do not know whether it is all right, but it is not all right that you eat and keep it. This is not all right."
Yasodanandana explained, "He keeps the salt in a separate bowl. When you require it, he will give you only as much as you require."
Prabhupada said, "Yes, that is nice."
"That's why the bowl is there," I explained. "That's what I intended to do, but I have to keep it away from the table."
Prabhupada said, "The principle should be that you should not leave remnants of food. As soon as it is used, it should not be used more. Otherwise it is not possible to give up. Param drishtva nivartate. 'I am eating something not very superior, but if I get the chance of eating something superior then I give up this inferior.'"
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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