Srila Prabhupada was seventy plus when he first went to America. In New York, he lived at the Bowery which at that time was the hub of hippies and derelicts. He had a pure background of service to God and humanity. A pure vegetarian his entire life, he never smoked or drank. But here he was, with a group of young men who kept meat in their refrigerators that Srila Prabhupada shared. Their nasty habits were many; yet, unfazed, Srila Prabhupada served them sincerely and helped them connect to God. Many of them later recalled that while the world condemned them, it was Srila Prabhupada alone who respected them for who they were and offered God- Krishna- as he knew the Lord- to them, without judgment.
One young man, Bill, who worked in a nearby restaurant, attended Srila Prabhupada’s classes regularly. As a matter of respect and with a desire to reciprocate with Srila Prabhupada’s kindness, he brought food- that included meat- daily, for the elderly swami. Srila Prabhupada graciously accepted it, although he never ate it. When he was asked an opinion from the News reporters on hippies, Srila Prabhupada would charmingly declare that hippies were something ‘extraordinary.’ He didn’t let their habits or culture come in the way of reviving their dormant love for God. Wherever, whatever situation one is in, we could move forward to God. And on that journey, there is no place for pride and prejudice. One of the most influential self- help authors of the twentieth century, Dale Carnegie, whose books like ‘How to win friends and influence people’, are popular even today, eighty years later, said, “Even God doesn’t propose to judge a man until his last days, why should you and I?”
Notwithstanding my social challenge at Amsterdam, the next day, I met Herman again, and he greeted me with a big namaskar- the Indian way of welcoming with palms folded. I respectfully returned his wish and reminded myself of the composed and helpful nature of Dutchmen I met during my stay. To judge a country or a race based on my likes and dislikes is mere prejudice, and doesn’t behoove a spiritual practitioner. I checked myself from passing quick comments on their traditions or sexual orientation and instead chose to appreciate them for the good experiences I gathered. Mahatma Gandhi had wisely said, “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and the soul of its people.” And I knew the Dutch had their soul in the right place!
