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take if we were ever in that situation again. Another day, it happened. Even Christine was allowed on the men’s side, and the scene that Philip had dreamed about actually unfolded before our very eyes. This instance was probably the first time a woman had been allowed in that space. Camera and sound equipment were ready, key university people were present, and Swami was tender and loving with the students.
Deodaat surprised us with his fearlessness. He had had many years of experience moving his camera to the right spot. Here, however, where everyone was so reverential toward Swami, spoke only when spoken to, and advanced only when invited, I felt tense seeing Deodaat move so freely. Swami seemed to invite him to do his job well and to have courage and confidence. If there was a good shot to be had, even when Swami was eating (an activity seldom filmed), on went the camera light and, without waiting for an invitation, Deodaat moved in closely followed by Christine. To the amazement of all, Swami allowed this taking of very intimate pictures of himself and the students.
The holy prayer chanted before meals by 500 devotional students echoed with penetrating force throughout the hall. Swami received the prayer with divine presence, absorbed it, and radiated love to all. Throughout, the high beam of light from Deodaat’s camera was directed on Swami, who accepted everything without any trace of ego or reaction, with supreme grace, just as if it were the natural flow of the moment. Swami seemed as if he did not even see the light, he was pure detachment, wonder, and love. Swami took his place at the head table and was served with devotion by the warden of the Brindavan campus, Narasimhamurthi, and the camera kept rolling. Aerward, older devotees, happy that Swami allowed this moment to be captured on film, told Philip that no one had ever filmed Swami eating with his students.
Following the meal, Swami went to the ladies’ section in an adjacent building. Sharon was there and described the
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