September 5, 1976 : Vrindavan

Hari Sauri: This morning Srila Prabhupada met with Hansaduta and Aksayananda Swamis. Hansaduta seems to generate agitation and controversy wherever he goes. He has been here for only two months and already the devotees have polarized into two camps: those that want him to take over as temple president, and those who don't. There is indeed a general dissatisfaction with the way Aksayananda Maharaja runs things, but although Srila Prabhupada shares this, he made it clear this morning what he wants from each of them.

He sat facing the two sannyasis over his desk; Hansaduta to his left and Aksayananda to his right. Prabhupada addressed Hansaduta first. "You are a sannyasi. Why you are spending such a long time here? You have a bus and you must travel. Sannyasi means that now you have to preach all over the world. Why you should be thinking of becoming the president here? Actually a sannyasi should not remain in one place for more than three days at a time. You have your bus and if the wheels stop turning then it means the preaching is also stopped."

Prabhupada gave Hansaduta the example of the Indian railways. "They have a motto: 'The wheels must keep turning.' And it is the business of every employee, whether a train driver, a fireman or a clerk in the office, to do their bit so that the wheels never stop. If the wheels stop, business stopped." So he told Hansaduta that his bus should never stop. "Still," he said, "the temple is nirguna, so you may stay more than three days - that is allowed. But only if you have business here."

Then Prabhupada turned to Aksayananda Swami. "Now you must stay here in Vrindavan and never leave unless I say so. You must stay and do the management."

We all looked at each other and laughed. Prabhupada is so wonderful that he can give two apparently contradictory instructions and still be absolutely correct.