The Baked Potato Lila by Govinda Dasi.
At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for “Back to Godhead”. I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji’s clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all.
So it was a big shock one day when Kirtanananda had gone away to do some errands, Srila Prabhupada came into the kitchen and asked me if I could make him a baked potato. I was stunned. I had no idea how to make a baked potato. I politely explained to him that I had no training and no idea how to cook even a baked potato. He was surprised but he very kindly said: “That’s all right, never mind. I shall wait till Kirtanananda returns”. I still remember the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I had failed to keep him comfortable by giving him the food that he requested.
At that moment I resolved within my mind to learn cooking. During our three weeks resident at New Jersey, Kirtanananda did all the cooking and then when Srila Prabhupada went to India for six months I hung around kitchens and watched and took notes on every form of cooking. I watched Acyutananda, Mahapurusa, Upendra, and whoever was cooking, so that six months later I was able to serve Srila Prabhupada dhal, rice, chapatis and subji according to his wishes. Then he used to exclaim that :
“Oh, the Goddess of Fortune has taught Govinda dasi how to cook”, when I would bring him his meals and indeed I believe it was true. My prayers to be able to cook for him were fulfilled. When I remember this it is with some pain, yet it also shows that Krsna can teach us everything when we sincerely desire. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for guiding me in your service and allowing me to make up for that baked potato. Even now, I mentally always offer kachories and laddhu, your favorite dishes, and hope you will come and enjoy them in the temple of my mind. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada.