A Glimpse into Transcendence (Accheya das)

It must have been a day in the very hot month of July 1974. I was very nervous, since today my Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada was coming to Germany to visit our new place in the hills of Frankfurt. We rented a big beautiful castle and renovated it day and night in preparation for the great day that our Guru would come and visit us. I got up at 2.30 since now having become temple commander, I always slept in the temple room so the pujari could wake me up. I learned from the temple president that as temple commander I must always be the last to go to bed and the first to wake up! It wasn't very easy but I tried to take my service very seriously, and since I was brought up in an Army Officer's family, I was brought up to always be dutiful and responsible. But this morning was different. I could not even sleep properly, and my mind was nervous and full of excitement since I had never ever met my Guru, Srila Prabhupada, before. Yes, I read his books and followed his principles of freedom. I chanted more than 16 rounds, liked the prasad and the kirtan, but I also felt that this person was given by God to me. This sounds silly maybe, but I had prayed in 1972 in a very intense moment to God to please give me a bona fide Spiritual Master to learn from - 'Please God if you really can hear me - and exist - than send me a real master!' Yes, these were my words, before I ever thought about having a real Guru, or living in a Monastery-Asrama as a monk and searcher of the absolute truth. And this person would come today to Germany, he would fly in like Maha-Vishnu, he will touchdown on the German grounds, and wherever he walks God will bless the people. This was overwhelming for my troubled heart. I was just 22 years old, and yet God had given me the chance to meet a very special soul - a liberated soul - something we find very rarely on the Earth. Why did I have such luck? I asked myself that many times.

But that fateful morning I had no time to think. I got up, took the cold mountain water to shower and wake up properly with a shock. That morning in the japa period my consciousness was racing. This chanting from 3 to 4 in the morning was the only time that was able to find peace before all the rush began. This morning however my mind was praying, my heart was crying and my soul was floating in a feeling of extra ordinariness. That morning was filled with hectic arrangements and spiritual excitement for all of us. We worked the whole morning to fix Srila Prabhupada's room, and to clean up the mess that our previous day's renovation had left behind. The kitchen was like a factory production line - everyone was absorbed and fully concentrating on his service. We were feeling no different to if God himself was coming to visit us since the visit of his dearmost representative had the same impact for us. I am sure most devotees who have experienced Srila Prabhupada's mercy will know what a transcendental experience it us - how it is a natural trip into a greater and deeper spiritually conscious world of mega bliss! It was something that I deeply needed since I had found my job as Temple Commander very stressful.

Then later that morning on the 15th July, 1974, Hansadutta Prabhu who was the GBC for Germany at the time arrived with Srila Prabhupada's car. It was a 280 SE Injection Mercedes. Hansadutta prabhu came to me, and told me that he would like me to drive Srila Prabhupada from the airport and back again. I was baffled, and at the same time full of joy, but I had no time think about my good luck. "Hurry up, you knuckleheads", implored Hansadutta, using his special version for the Hindi phrase "jalee, jalee". I had to hurry in a fresh dhoti and kurta, and jump in the car, as it was just like a last minute stand by trip. So we went hurtling down to the airport at break-neck speed, like knights leaving their castle to meet their King. Thankfully we arrived safely in our Benz chariot even though we were driving at 200 km/h an hour. But on arriving at the airport I was perplexed. At gate No. 7 there were already many devotees standing there with flags and paper boards. They had big pictures of Srila Prabhupada with the slogan: "Der Fuhrer (of the Hare Krsna movement) Kommt"! This was some devotee's great idea of a PR campaign, though I personally thought the use of the term "Der Fuhrer" was inappropriate to say the least! All the devotees danced and sang, being as joyful and excited as they were, though all the people at the airport stood around and stared, wondering what was going on!

We were able to park the big Benz into a special terminal for VIPs where we left the car and with not a minute to spare ran up to the gate just in time for the arrival of the flight! 15 minutes later Srila Prabhupada came out of immigration. He appeared like an angel gliding effortlessly through the airport doors. Everybody immediately went into a great trance of blissful ecstasy, shouting Hare Krsna and falling on their knees and praying that this day will never end. Then a big kirtan started and we went with Srila Prabhupada into the VIP lounge where his asana was already waiting. Srila Prabhupada liked the arrangements and smiled. We then bathed his lotus feet whilst a kirtan roared. The members of the press were standing and staring at what was a very 'far-out' scene, which though removed from normal behaviour, involved persons who were very joyful and happy. Later on a very popular magazine wrote that "these devotees seem to be on some LSD trip, only without LSD, but rather with the power of ecstatic God consciousness." This was the potency of Srila Prabhupada, the world Acarya, sent to save all of humanity.

After the foot-bathing ceremony was completed, Hansadutta brought Srila Prabhupada to the car. As I stood there waiting for him with the door already open, I noticed that Srila Prabhupada was not very tall in stature, though at that time as far I was concerned he was the biggest person on the planet at that moment. As he came near me tears started to flood out of my eyes. Though I tried I could not stop them with logic and brain power. I felt just like a helpless child. All I could say was "Hello, Srila Prabhupada, I am your driver. I hope you enjoy the ride. Hare Krsna!" Still my tears would not stop and now I was beginning to feel stupid and embarrassed. I could not do anything about it. Somehow I managed to drive the car in a dream-like daze. I do not how I did it. After about 10 minutes when I needed to concentrate more on my driving they stopped. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw Srila Prabhupada who was sitting next to me. In the back were Satsvarupa Maharaja and Hansadutta prabhu.

After we left the big crowd of devotees who danced around the car, we left the terminal and started driving into the Hills of Kingstone Forest. It was great having the opportunity to listen to Srila Prabhupada conversing with Hansadutta, asking many questions about how things were going. Later on in the journey whilst I was overtaking a truck without realising I allowed one of the fingers from my right hand to be touching the sole of Srila Prabhupada's feet. It may have been tickling him since after a while he moved his foot up, laughed, and looked at me smiling. I was so afraid that I may have committed an offence all I could do was say sorry. Later Hansadutta prabhu explained that actually I had received special mercy since I had touched the feet of a great soul, and also made my Spiritual Master laugh. Therefore, he told me that my sins were all gone since I had been blessed by my Guru. After we arrived many days of bliss and transcendental association with a liberated soul ensued. There were many amazing things that occurred at that time but there is one incident that made a lasting impression on me that I would now like to share.

It was the day of the departure and we left the castle in the sky to take Srila Prabhupada towards Frankfurt Airport. As we were late, Hansadutta urged me to drive much faster. I gradually drove faster and faster until I was going at 200 km/h. At this point I noticed Srila Prabhupada closed his eyes. I began to worry but I thought since Krsna is in control I should stay cool. After some time driving in the outside lane I saw a sign indicating that the lane would end 1 mile later. Unfortunately the problem was that I was boxed in by not just one but a whole succession of big trucks. The distance to the end of lane became shorter and shorter. I tried to speed up even more to try and overtake the trucks. I began to sweat, not just water but it seemed blood. I drove faster as the end of the lane approached. Somehow at the last possible second I just about managed to overtake all the trucks, and practically flew into the second lane. I took a deep breath not knowing how I had managed to survive. At this moment Srila Prabhupada suddenly opened his eyes, as if nothing had happened, and was simply awaking fresh from a nap. I was baffled. Superficially it would look as if he was not aware of what had just happened. However at that point as he turned to me and smiled displaying not the slightest bit of fear in contrast to my extreme anxiety, I had a very strong realisation. That actually Srila Prabhupada had himself personally guided us all the way.

The moral of this story for me, which has remained with me for the last 22 years, is that Srila Prabhupada is in direct communication with the supersoul, and that what I had just experienced was a transcendental pastime between Krsna and

the pure liberated soul, Srila Prabhupada. I am very glad to have glimpsed a little of the transcendental nature of Srila Prabhupada in this lifetime, and for me it remains as the greatest mercy, to learn from and never forget! All glories to the supreme Jagat Guru, the only hope for humanity in this dark Kali Yuga.

Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

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irg@zetnet.co.uk
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!