So Many Stupid Questions?

Prabhupada was sitting on a straw mat on the sunny balcony of the Calcutta temple about to receive a massage from his servant when a new disciple, Pancadravida dasa, approached to ask a few questions. "Prabhupada, I used to be a musician," said Pancadravida, "so could I be a musician again and just play music for Krishna?" "Yes," said Prabhupada, "you can do that." Prabhupada spoke calmly, relaxing under the hands of his massaging servant. "But then there will still be some karma you will have to accept." "Well, maybe that's not what I should do then," said Pancadravida. "But it's just that brahmacari life is a little difficult for me. In the life of a brahmacari you have to live under very institutional conditions." A few other devotees had gathered around, watching Prabhupada and listening to his words. The sound of birds and street noises filled the air. "You can be a brahmacari and live outside the temple," said Prabhupada. "Really?" Pancadravida was surprised to hear such liberal concessions, but again Srila Prabhupada qualified it. "Yes, you can live outside, follow the four principles, and be a brahmacari, but of course if you did that, you wouldn't be part of our movement." "Oh." Pancadravida sounded disappointed. "Well, maybe, Prabhupada," he continued, "maybe I can get married." "Yes," said Prabhupada in a leisurely, tolerant manner, "you could do that if you like." Pancadravida decided to ask no more questions, and he excused himself from Prabhupada's presence. Later, some of the senior devotees told Pancadravida that they had never heard Srila Prabhupada speak quite like that, sanctioning whatever his disciple had asked for. Pancadravida wasn't satisfied. The following day he happened to be outside Prabhupada's room just as Srila Prabhupada was looping his brahminical thread around his ear as he prepared to enter the bathroom.

Seeing his spiritual master, Pancadravida spoke his mind again. "Srila Prabhupada, you know yesterday I asked you all those questions and you said I could do so many things, play music, live as a brahmacari outside the temple, or get married? So I'm a little confused. I was wondering, if I do these things, will I have your blessings?" Prabhupada cast a penetrating glance into his disciple's eyes and replied, "Why are you asking so many stupid questions? If you do not know what the spiritual master wants, how do you expect to have his blessings?" Srila Prabhupada then walked away and entered his bathroom. Pancadravida was left with his first lesson of spiritual life: do what the spiritual master wants. And he also better appreciated, by the way Srila Prabhupada was dealing with him, that Prabhupada was transcendental, not an ordinary being of this world.