Visakha : Srila Prabhupada was sitting on the vyasasana in the Los Angeles temple room, and I was sitting on the floor in front of him, photographing. Ramesvara, the head of the BBT at the time, had told me to take pictures of Srila Prabhupada with his eyes open.
These photographs were to be published in the various Caitanya-caritamrtas and Srimad-Bhagavatams, and Ramesvara was convinced that Prabhupada should be shown with his eyes open. I wouldn’t take pictures during Prabhupada’s lectures, because the light from the flash and sound of the shutter disturbed him, so I only took photographs while Prabhupada sang the Jaya Radha-Madhava prayer.
On this particular day, Prabhupada had his eyes shut. Ramesvara’s instruction was in my mind, so I sat still, waiting for Prabhupada to open his eyes. Prabhupada had his eyes closed for many verses, so I sat for a long time. Then unexpectedly, I felt a strong thump on my backside. I looked around, and a sannyasi had hit me with his danda, indicating that I had been there too long, and I should move on.
After all, I was sitting at Prabhupada’s feet, which was the spot the sannyasis considered theirs. I looked up at Prabhupada, and he had opened his eyes. He had seen this little drama, and he gave this sannyasi a harsh, stern look. It was the look of a very displeased father. I was grateful that look had not been cast upon me, because it was withering. Then Prabhupada looked at me, I took some photographs, and left.
Amazingly enough, although the temple room was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with devotees and guests who had come from all over the west side of America for the occasion, no one remarked at this incident. It had happened in a large room filled with hundreds of people, but mystically it was only between the three of us.
Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint – Volume 2 by Siddhanta Dasa
