Please come back

Suhotra Swami: In those days it was very easy to meet and talk with Prabhupada in his apartment behind Matchless Gifts. So once Lon came up to explain the state of his mind to His Divine Grace. Actually, Prabhupada dasa admits, he was in a psychotic condition, so he was not able to speak in any sensible manner. But Srila Prabhupada listened patiently as he babbled, “I’m just like you, Swamiji. I am a mendicant preacher. But I can’t maintain! I have no place to stay! I have a message but no way to give it to the world!”

Srila Prabhupada responded, “Tsk, tsk, tsk.” He reached behind him and picked up a lungi, holding it out to Lon. “Simply join us, we will solve all your problems.” Prabhupada dasa told me at that instant his mind began churning out one insane thought after another. In exaggerated panic he wondered, “Now what am I supposed to do? Just take my pants off and put this thing on?” He got to his feet and backed away from Srila Prabhupada in the direction of the door behind him. Prabhupada stood up too and followed him, still holding out the lungi. At the door, as Lon was leaving, a crystal tear glided down from the corner of one of Srila Prabhupada’s eyes. “Please come back,” he said.