One day in October 1976, after the academic classes at Vrindavana Gurukula had been completed, the Gurukula boys and myself, were invited to Srila Prabhupada’s house to see a magic show.  A professional magician had become a life member, and had requested to perform a magic show for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure.  I sat in amazement as the magician performed trick after trick on Srila Prabhupada.  He put a few cons in Srila Prabhupada’s right hand, and then tapped the hand.  Upon opening his hand. Srila Prabhupada laughed in amazement as the cons disappeared.  I could not accommodate that situation within my understanding if Srila Prabhupada, which is fully omniscient, and above the control of the supreme Lord’s own illusory energy, was being subjugated to the slight-of-hand of a simple illusionist.  I sat in bewilderment for an hour as the circus magician would perform trick after trick on Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada would laugh in apparent bewilderment.  Then suddenly Srila Prabhupada gravely asked the magician,

“Do you want to die, grow old, or get diseased?”

The magician became bewildered and humbly replied,

“No.”

“Can you make these things disappear?”,  Prabhupada continued. 

Reflecting a deep and serious thought.  The magician paused, and then replied,

“No.”

Boldly Srila Prabhupada declared,

“Then we are the real magicians ,for we can conquer old age and death, and make these problems vanish.” 

Srila Prabhupada preached strongly, and the magician sat at his feet, and listened, in thankful submission.  Srila Prabhupada then had his servant garland him.  My mind was relieved of an incongruous burden, as I could understand how the pure devotee, in every circumstance, no matter how apparently obscure, is always preaching ,simply acting for the deliverance of the conditioned souls.