Devotional service is a razor's edge
Prabhupada das : After wandering around all night I happened to bop into the temple just in time for the Srimad Bhagavatam class. Srila Prabhupada already knew me and that I had certain problems, besides birth, death, disease, and old age. When I showed up at the door he stared at me or almost glared at me, and as he knew me by my first name, which was L-O-N he said, "Lon, did you take LSD?" He really put it to me. I said "No, Swamiji." I wasn't exactly lying because I hadn't taken it for a while, but the effect of the last overdose was still being manifest. Then he looked at me as I made my way right to his asana. I was so intoxicated that every time I put my foot on the floor, the floor was moving away from me so I was walking in a very unusual way. He was seriously studying my every move and held his peace until I landed, so to speak, right in front of him. During the class I kept my silence and behaved myself. What I realized from this experience was how skillful Srila Prabhupada was in dealing with so many types of people as devotional service is a razor's edge. From the point of view of Prabhupada, "What should I do with this boy? He may disturb the whole class. At the same time, he is a spirit soul and part of Krishna. This is Srimad Bhagavatam, he needs to hear it." So giving the benefit of the doubt, step by step, he tolerated and let me come to him and then went on with the class. This kind of appreciation wasn't something I was able to have on site, but as the years went by I was able to understand. At least I hope I understand it correctly.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 4 by Siddhanta Dasa
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