April 8, 1973 : New York
Srutakirti: We all got out of the car and looked at this immense cathedral from across the street. The structure was stately and beautiful. Fortunately, the front doors of the church were open and we could see inside. Srila Prabhupada seemed very impressed with the facility. He could see the huge marble pillars inside.
As we stood on the sidewalk, Srila Prabhupada turned around and saw a small Italian grocery. "Do you think they have 7-Up?" he asked Kirtiraja.
"Well, I can see if they do, Srila Prabhupada," Kirtiraja said, with a shocked look. "Do you want one?"
"Yes, I would like a 7-Up," Srila Prabhupada said.
Kirtiraja went into the store and quickly returned with a can of 7-Up. Kirtiraja opened the can and Srila Prabhupada took it with his right hand. He lifted the can to his lotus-like lips and sipped the 7-Up. I was in ecstasy watching the next episode of the "7-Up saga." We could not contain our joyful smiles seeing our Guru Maharaja's aristocratic simplicity as he drank about half the can.
"All right. Now we will go," he said.
After we all got into the car, Srila Prabhupada handed the can to Bali Mardan and said, "I've had enough. You can drink."
The three of us blissfully passed around the maha-remnants until we finished the can of soda. The ride back to the temple was lighthearted and carefree.
A week later when we arrived in Los Angeles it was apparent that the news had already reached the New Dwaraka community. Karandhara informed Srila Prabhupada that 7-Up aided in relieving gastrointestinal digestive discomfort. Srila Prabhupada occasionally drank a small glass to relieve his stomach pain.
"This is not good," he said one day. "We should not be drinking so much 7-Up. I take it for digestion. Otherwise, drinking 7-Up is not necessary."
When we returned to India, many devotees were avidly drinking soda since they had heard that Srila Prabhupada condoned such beverages. One day, as Srila Prabhupada left his flat in Juhu, he noticed the stairway lined with 7-Up and Limca bottles. Disapproving of the juta (contaminated) litter he declared, "What is this? This should not be done! This is not good! This can't be done!"
He continued walking to the temple and did not mention it further.
As we stood on the sidewalk, Srila Prabhupada turned around and saw a small Italian grocery. "Do you think they have 7-Up?" he asked Kirtiraja.
"Well, I can see if they do, Srila Prabhupada," Kirtiraja said, with a shocked look. "Do you want one?"
"Yes, I would like a 7-Up," Srila Prabhupada said.
Kirtiraja went into the store and quickly returned with a can of 7-Up. Kirtiraja opened the can and Srila Prabhupada took it with his right hand. He lifted the can to his lotus-like lips and sipped the 7-Up. I was in ecstasy watching the next episode of the "7-Up saga." We could not contain our joyful smiles seeing our Guru Maharaja's aristocratic simplicity as he drank about half the can.
"All right. Now we will go," he said.
After we all got into the car, Srila Prabhupada handed the can to Bali Mardan and said, "I've had enough. You can drink."
The three of us blissfully passed around the maha-remnants until we finished the can of soda. The ride back to the temple was lighthearted and carefree.
A week later when we arrived in Los Angeles it was apparent that the news had already reached the New Dwaraka community. Karandhara informed Srila Prabhupada that 7-Up aided in relieving gastrointestinal digestive discomfort. Srila Prabhupada occasionally drank a small glass to relieve his stomach pain.
"This is not good," he said one day. "We should not be drinking so much 7-Up. I take it for digestion. Otherwise, drinking 7-Up is not necessary."
When we returned to India, many devotees were avidly drinking soda since they had heard that Srila Prabhupada condoned such beverages. One day, as Srila Prabhupada left his flat in Juhu, he noticed the stairway lined with 7-Up and Limca bottles. Disapproving of the juta (contaminated) litter he declared, "What is this? This should not be done! This is not good! This can't be done!"
He continued walking to the temple and did not mention it further.
Reference: What is the Difficulty? - Srutakirti Dasa
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