(H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu on one of his book distribution stalls) ...
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February 17, 2008.
Hare Krishna!
Yesterday was a very special day. I have realized that the more one is engaged in distributing Lord Chaitanya’s and Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy, the more one’s every day, every moment, starts becoming special. Every day becomes a festival in which the occasion is that at least one more living entity has now got access to Lord Chaitanya’s divine unparalleled munificence. And thus, yesterday was a multi-occasion festival – because multiple living entities got His mercy. In the form of His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s books.
My grandmother (dad’s mom) has recently started reading the Marathi Krishna Book everyday. She reads at least one chapter everyday. A couple of days ago, my mom’s parents had visited us and my grandmother (dad’s mom) ‘preached’ my other grandmother how the Krishna Book is so nice! And so my other grandmother also started reading it. And she seemed to like it too. I noticed that. Then later I noticed that even my grandfather was reading it and seemed to like it. So, while my mom’s parents were leaving, I humbly gifted that Marathi Krishna Book to them. They very gladly accepted it. Jai! But that’s not all. The next day (yesterday) my grandmother (dad’s mom) asked, “Where is the Krishna Book? I have just read Lord Brahma’s Prayers to the Lord. The next chapter is about the deliverance of Dhenukasura”. She was missing the book! I promised to get her a replacement. When at night I gifted her another Krishna Book, she was very happy! Jai Srila Prabhupada!
In the evening I went to the temple (Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari Temple, ISKCON Pune) and bought the Marathi Krishna Book for my grandmother. While I was about to leave the temple to join H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu for his book distribution stall, I was fortunate enough to meet two devotees who glorified H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu. They told me that he recently received an award from the hands of H. G. Vijay Prabhu for his book distribution exploits. H. G. Radheshyam Prabhu (Temple President) heartily glorified H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu by singling him out as the only person in Pune so actively distributing Prabhupada’s books. He informed everyone present that H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu was in Los Angeles for 18 years and perhaps that’s the secret of his love for book distribution, which according to Srila Prabhupada is the shortcut to Krishna! I was very happy to hear the glorification of H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu who has very mercifully accepted me as one of his counselees.
Shortly I joined H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu on the Walking Plaza. He sets up his book distribution stall every Saturday and Sunday there. It’s a totally materialistic street full of mostly young couples walking hand in hand. Then there are young men and women who want to put up a show of being very “cool” so as to attract the opposite sex, either consciously, or sub-consciously as a result of being a part of today’s degraded (and fast degrading) culture where one’s self worth totally depends on how popular one is amongst other unprincipled people leading aimless lives who harbor similar notions about their own self worth. Long gone is the era where a man (or woman) was recognized for his/her character and not for his/her hair style and other bodily characteristics. Apart from these two categories there are people from all other walks of life too who pass by our stall. And some stop by too. And then there are those who take a book! Festival! I try to speak something about the books to those who stop by. H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu has instructed me how to. I just try to follow his instructions. Yesterday, we sold Bhagavad Gita to (among others) a man from Iran, a lady from Norway, and a lady from Morocco! All of them were really interested and were looking forward to reading it. I was thrilled!
Along with Jai Narsimha Prabhu, yesterday there was another devotee named Sumit. I mentioned to him how people sometimes give us a look as if to say that they are too busy doing more important things in life than reading spiritual books. But Sumit Prabhu immediately replied, “They have not yet got mercy. Even I was like them two years ago.” I suddenly adjusted my mental state from feeling proud to feeling immensely grateful. It was a blow to my false ego to accept that there is still a lot of pride there in my heart. But one has to take that such blows as the mercy of the Lord. I am very thankful to Sumit Prabhu for saving me by reminding me that whatever I am doing today in Krishna Consciousness is only because Srila Prabhupada bestowed his causeless mercy upon me through his followers and books. “Pride cometh before the fall.”
Sumit Prabhu also told me a beautiful story. His own story. He told me that two years ago he was a total atheist. Then one day some devotee handed him a book and then he started reading. Now he is a practitioner of Krishna Consciousness. He told me that after a few days he again came across that devotee who had sold him that book. Sumit Prabhu recognized him but the devotee did not recognize Sumit Prabhu. So Sumit Prabhu thought, “Boy, this person does not even know me… and look what he has done for me!” I was stunned by that statement. I got a glimpse into the selfless nature of the service of book distribution. The giver doesn’t know the one he is giving to and the receiver doesn’t know the one who is giving. Both are anonymous – the savior and the saved. This story also illustrates the power of Srila Prabhupada’s books of transforming staunch atheists into devotees! It thus reinforces our conviction that distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books is the highest act of compassion. No wonder that book distribution is so dear to Srila Prabhupada.
While we were packing up for the day at around 9pm, the person running the stall next to us (fruit juice etc.) came and offered us a glass of fruit juice each! I was further amazed and had no words to express my wonder about the inconceivable mercy of Lord Chaitanya. How it transforms hearts. Not just of the people who are directly serving Him, but also of those who just see those who are directly serving. And then another person came and very humbly asked me in Hindi, (paraphrasing the words and the mood which I could perceive) “Please give me a book that will pacify my mind and soul… that if I just read, I will feel really light…” I heard in his request a sincere plea. It sounded to me as if he was crying out for mercy. I felt that this young man was really in some misery and I was touched by the simplicity of his heart in asking for help. He had come to right place. I thought about which book I should recommend. Bhagavad Gita or the Krishna Book? No other book came to my mind. Krishna Book! Yes, that’s what I recommended to him. He said he will buy one the next day. I hope he does. I have personal experience. Krishna Book is non different from Krishna and His mercy. Just by taking sincere shelter of the Krishna Book all that is troublesome to the heart is wiped away. Just by crying out to the Lord and in that mood reading the Krishna Book can change ones life. Krishna will take charge of that soul. No doubt.
I have started realizing that Srila Prabhupada’s books are an unlimited storehouse of mercy. But to access that mercy requires helpless surrender to them. The more one is in the mood of helplessness, the more one can access the mercy of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Those books are non-different from Lord Krishna. And thus, the same logic applies. The more you are helpless, the more you are surrendered, the more you are sincerely seeking their shelter, the more they will reciprocate. I have started realizing how though this knowledge is freely available to all, it is still secret. Because this knowledge can only be accessed in proportion to the degree of surrender. We keep hearing these principles so many times, but when that little realization comes, it is so sweet… and so humbling.
Oh! Just how attractive is Krishna Consciousness? Who can fathom? I have started realizing how being a part of spreading the mission of Lord Chaitanya is the most sublime activity of all. I have got a glimpse into what it means to be compassionate. Lord Chaitanya’s instruction is : “jeevan saarthak kari, kar paropkar”. “Perfect your life and then be compassionate to others (by helping them to become perfect themselves)”. Our lives must be lived for being compassionate to others. At our stage we are ourselves so much struggling with Maya that it is difficult to even imagine that we can bestow some compassion on to others. But actually, it is possible. Just distribute Prabhupada’s books! Or do some other service. Just help the mission in some way. That is an act of the highest form of compassion, to assist the mission of Lord Chaitanya. We should always remember that we shouldn’t just focus on our own perfection, but also try to help others to perfect their life. Ours is a compassion mission. That’s why we do not go to the Himalayas and chant and read there. We live in the cities for a purpose – to distribute the compassion of Lord Chaitanya even to the most fallen.
I pray to Srila Prabhupada that my sadhana improves, that my service to his mission increases, and that somehow I can become and remain an instrument of Lord Chaitanya’s compassion in his hands.
Yours in the service of Krishna,
Abhijit.
Yesterday was a very special day. I have realized that the more one is engaged in distributing Lord Chaitanya’s and Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy, the more one’s every day, every moment, starts becoming special. Every day becomes a festival in which the occasion is that at least one more living entity has now got access to Lord Chaitanya’s divine unparalleled munificence. And thus, yesterday was a multi-occasion festival – because multiple living entities got His mercy. In the form of His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s books.
My grandmother (dad’s mom) has recently started reading the Marathi Krishna Book everyday. She reads at least one chapter everyday. A couple of days ago, my mom’s parents had visited us and my grandmother (dad’s mom) ‘preached’ my other grandmother how the Krishna Book is so nice! And so my other grandmother also started reading it. And she seemed to like it too. I noticed that. Then later I noticed that even my grandfather was reading it and seemed to like it. So, while my mom’s parents were leaving, I humbly gifted that Marathi Krishna Book to them. They very gladly accepted it. Jai! But that’s not all. The next day (yesterday) my grandmother (dad’s mom) asked, “Where is the Krishna Book? I have just read Lord Brahma’s Prayers to the Lord. The next chapter is about the deliverance of Dhenukasura”. She was missing the book! I promised to get her a replacement. When at night I gifted her another Krishna Book, she was very happy! Jai Srila Prabhupada!
In the evening I went to the temple (Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari Temple, ISKCON Pune) and bought the Marathi Krishna Book for my grandmother. While I was about to leave the temple to join H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu for his book distribution stall, I was fortunate enough to meet two devotees who glorified H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu. They told me that he recently received an award from the hands of H. G. Vijay Prabhu for his book distribution exploits. H. G. Radheshyam Prabhu (Temple President) heartily glorified H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu by singling him out as the only person in Pune so actively distributing Prabhupada’s books. He informed everyone present that H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu was in Los Angeles for 18 years and perhaps that’s the secret of his love for book distribution, which according to Srila Prabhupada is the shortcut to Krishna! I was very happy to hear the glorification of H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu who has very mercifully accepted me as one of his counselees.
Shortly I joined H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu on the Walking Plaza. He sets up his book distribution stall every Saturday and Sunday there. It’s a totally materialistic street full of mostly young couples walking hand in hand. Then there are young men and women who want to put up a show of being very “cool” so as to attract the opposite sex, either consciously, or sub-consciously as a result of being a part of today’s degraded (and fast degrading) culture where one’s self worth totally depends on how popular one is amongst other unprincipled people leading aimless lives who harbor similar notions about their own self worth. Long gone is the era where a man (or woman) was recognized for his/her character and not for his/her hair style and other bodily characteristics. Apart from these two categories there are people from all other walks of life too who pass by our stall. And some stop by too. And then there are those who take a book! Festival! I try to speak something about the books to those who stop by. H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu has instructed me how to. I just try to follow his instructions. Yesterday, we sold Bhagavad Gita to (among others) a man from Iran, a lady from Norway, and a lady from Morocco! All of them were really interested and were looking forward to reading it. I was thrilled!
Along with Jai Narsimha Prabhu, yesterday there was another devotee named Sumit. I mentioned to him how people sometimes give us a look as if to say that they are too busy doing more important things in life than reading spiritual books. But Sumit Prabhu immediately replied, “They have not yet got mercy. Even I was like them two years ago.” I suddenly adjusted my mental state from feeling proud to feeling immensely grateful. It was a blow to my false ego to accept that there is still a lot of pride there in my heart. But one has to take that such blows as the mercy of the Lord. I am very thankful to Sumit Prabhu for saving me by reminding me that whatever I am doing today in Krishna Consciousness is only because Srila Prabhupada bestowed his causeless mercy upon me through his followers and books. “Pride cometh before the fall.”
Sumit Prabhu also told me a beautiful story. His own story. He told me that two years ago he was a total atheist. Then one day some devotee handed him a book and then he started reading. Now he is a practitioner of Krishna Consciousness. He told me that after a few days he again came across that devotee who had sold him that book. Sumit Prabhu recognized him but the devotee did not recognize Sumit Prabhu. So Sumit Prabhu thought, “Boy, this person does not even know me… and look what he has done for me!” I was stunned by that statement. I got a glimpse into the selfless nature of the service of book distribution. The giver doesn’t know the one he is giving to and the receiver doesn’t know the one who is giving. Both are anonymous – the savior and the saved. This story also illustrates the power of Srila Prabhupada’s books of transforming staunch atheists into devotees! It thus reinforces our conviction that distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books is the highest act of compassion. No wonder that book distribution is so dear to Srila Prabhupada.
While we were packing up for the day at around 9pm, the person running the stall next to us (fruit juice etc.) came and offered us a glass of fruit juice each! I was further amazed and had no words to express my wonder about the inconceivable mercy of Lord Chaitanya. How it transforms hearts. Not just of the people who are directly serving Him, but also of those who just see those who are directly serving. And then another person came and very humbly asked me in Hindi, (paraphrasing the words and the mood which I could perceive) “Please give me a book that will pacify my mind and soul… that if I just read, I will feel really light…” I heard in his request a sincere plea. It sounded to me as if he was crying out for mercy. I felt that this young man was really in some misery and I was touched by the simplicity of his heart in asking for help. He had come to right place. I thought about which book I should recommend. Bhagavad Gita or the Krishna Book? No other book came to my mind. Krishna Book! Yes, that’s what I recommended to him. He said he will buy one the next day. I hope he does. I have personal experience. Krishna Book is non different from Krishna and His mercy. Just by taking sincere shelter of the Krishna Book all that is troublesome to the heart is wiped away. Just by crying out to the Lord and in that mood reading the Krishna Book can change ones life. Krishna will take charge of that soul. No doubt.
I have started realizing that Srila Prabhupada’s books are an unlimited storehouse of mercy. But to access that mercy requires helpless surrender to them. The more one is in the mood of helplessness, the more one can access the mercy of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Those books are non-different from Lord Krishna. And thus, the same logic applies. The more you are helpless, the more you are surrendered, the more you are sincerely seeking their shelter, the more they will reciprocate. I have started realizing how though this knowledge is freely available to all, it is still secret. Because this knowledge can only be accessed in proportion to the degree of surrender. We keep hearing these principles so many times, but when that little realization comes, it is so sweet… and so humbling.
Oh! Just how attractive is Krishna Consciousness? Who can fathom? I have started realizing how being a part of spreading the mission of Lord Chaitanya is the most sublime activity of all. I have got a glimpse into what it means to be compassionate. Lord Chaitanya’s instruction is : “jeevan saarthak kari, kar paropkar”. “Perfect your life and then be compassionate to others (by helping them to become perfect themselves)”. Our lives must be lived for being compassionate to others. At our stage we are ourselves so much struggling with Maya that it is difficult to even imagine that we can bestow some compassion on to others. But actually, it is possible. Just distribute Prabhupada’s books! Or do some other service. Just help the mission in some way. That is an act of the highest form of compassion, to assist the mission of Lord Chaitanya. We should always remember that we shouldn’t just focus on our own perfection, but also try to help others to perfect their life. Ours is a compassion mission. That’s why we do not go to the Himalayas and chant and read there. We live in the cities for a purpose – to distribute the compassion of Lord Chaitanya even to the most fallen.
I pray to Srila Prabhupada that my sadhana improves, that my service to his mission increases, and that somehow I can become and remain an instrument of Lord Chaitanya’s compassion in his hands.
Yours in the service of Krishna,
Abhijit.
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