Have Srila Prabhupada’s books, will travell – Transcendental journey
by Madhumangala das
Dear Maharaj's, Prabhu's and Mataji's,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to our most dearly beloved Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga, all glories to the sankirtan devotees of the Lord.
Yesterday, Tusta Gaura, Kesava and myself went out to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books along one of the busy main avenues here in Kampala, which abounds with so many shops along it. Today was a very special day, at least four Muslims took Srila Prabhupada's books from me, this for me is the mercy of Haridas Thakur.
The shop I went into I cannot remember exactly what it sold, but it was a very bare shop with not many goods for sale. It had a very high ceiling, it was almost as though it were some vast cathedral, as I spoke my voice echoed like I was in a cave. Standing behind the counter was an elderly lady and gentleman, whom at first sight looked as though they were Indian (there are so many Indians both born in Uganda and coming from India in Kampala). I introduced myself – she greeted me with a smile. I began to tell them about Srila Prabhupada's books and showed them to them.
The lady said, "Thank you very much for showing me these books, I respect them, but I am a Muslim."
I told her that yes, although she was a Muslim, her first position was that of servant of the Almighty. I began to tell her that we are not the body, but that we are the soul, the soul is the eternal servant of the Almighty who is the Creator of everybody and everything in creation. She nodded her head then looked at her husband who agreed. I spoke in a loud voice which echoed like some amplifier and said, "We must remove the false misidentification of the temporary material body and call upon the name of the Almighty, Allah Akbar (God is great, there is no one greater than Him), then there will be no more wars in the name of religion, the result is that we will come to understand that there is only one religion, there is only one God and that real religion, is the religion of the soul and God."
She told me what I said was so true, she had been living in Uganda during the reign of the dictator Idi Amin and she had witnessed the bloodshed and slaughter of such a godless dictator who did not know about God or the soul.
I asked her if she would like to take Srila Prabhuapada's books – she went around to the back of the shelf, I could hear her husband saying how much she must give. She gave me a green envelope and handed it to me, I in turn gave her the book.
She told me no it was alright that I should take the donation, that I need not worry to give her the book, a small on The Way To Krsna.
No, I told her, she should take the book, as I could not take what she had given me without giving her something in return – she took the book and thanked me. I put my hands together and chanted, " Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Hare. Today you have blessed me by your humility and kindness upon me, I can see that you are both sincerely walking in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon His name, may Allah bless you and your household, may you dwell in His house forever, "inshala amen!" I took both hands of her husband and put them on my on my forehead and said, "Thank you for blessing me," – tears started to come to his eyes as well as the eyes of his wife. As I was to say goodbye I said: "There is one great saint, His name is Haridas Thakur, he is constantly calling upon the name of the Almighty almost 24 hours a day, say Haridas Thakur ki jay," they both repeated, Haridas Thakur ki jay! and smiled."
