A sweet pastime illustrating how Srila Prabhupada corrected a young disciple by giving him the higher taste of suji halwa, and an exploration of why chocolate is classified as an intoxicant.
The Sweet Bribe and Higher Taste
In the summer of 1973 in Juhu, a young disciple named Haridas bought chocolates using the temple's leftover change. Upon seeing Prabhupada in the visitor room, some chocolates slipped out of his bag. To avoid scolding, he offered one to Prabhupada. Prabhupada took a bite, frowned, read the ingredients, and remarked: "This contains Cocoa! We don't eat Cocoa. It has caffeine."
Seeing the boy disappointed, Prabhupada took him to the kitchen and personally made suji halwa, giving him a serving. Haridas recalled with tears: "Prabhupada corrected me by telling me Vaishnavas don't eat cocoa, but he didn't even chastise me. He simply gave me higher taste."
Seeing the boy disappointed, Prabhupada took him to the kitchen and personally made suji halwa, giving him a serving. Haridas recalled with tears: "Prabhupada corrected me by telling me Vaishnavas don't eat cocoa, but he didn't even chastise me. He simply gave me higher taste."
Technical Reasons & GBC Resolutions
Chocolate contains stimulants like caffeine, theine, and theobromine, classifying it as an intoxicant. In 1993, GBC Resolution 31 officially stated that chocolate should not be eaten by ISKCON devotees. Srila Prabhupada also wrote in a letter (1972): "Cocoa and chocolate are not to be taken as they are intoxicants."
Hari Sauri's Anecdote from 1976
Hari Sauri das recalled that in late 1976 in Vrindavana, the snack bar sold hot drinking chocolate. He asked Prabhupada about it. Prabhupada asked, "Where does chocolate come from?" When told it came from the cocoa bean, he decided, "Oh, then you may not take it. Anything made from the cocoa bean cannot be taken."
By Danavir Goswami
By Danavir Goswami