Please Give me Something More
Hare Krsna Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Carrying books while traveling helps. A few days back I was returning from the Belgaum temple when a man stopped me on the railway station. "Hare Krishna!" he bowed to touch my feet.
I stopped him in mid air and smiled politely, "Hare Krishna." I had to go. "Please wait," he held my hand. "Can you give me a chanting bead?" "I don't have extra chanting beads, but I have something else for you," I pulled out Beyond Birth and Death from the front pocket of my bag and handed him.
"What is this?" "It is based on the teachings of second chapter of Bhagwad Gita," I showed him the pictures of the changing bodies in the back cover. "No, give me something that will help me," he seemed unimpressed, "Give me your smaller beads." He tugged at my neck beads.
I looked at the clock ahead. At anytime my train would arrive. I had to haul my heavy bag over a bridge, which was at least 30 feet away, and cross over to the next platform. Desperate I looked at his face. His eyes were restless and lips curved down. He was edgy and spoke hesitatingly. I next made a statement, which in my opinion,can be successfully used with 99% of all Kaliyuga people.
"You are not happy," I looked in to his eyes, "You are distressed. You are looking for peace and you are not finding it anywhere." His jaw dropped. "You read this book. It will give you the shelter of God. By God's mercy you will find the peace you are looking for."
His companion called. "Wait brother soldier," he raised his hand. Apparently he was a soldier posted in Belgaum based artillery division of Indian army. "Pandit ji, are you sure this book will help me?" "No doubts." "How much?" I hurriedly quoted the price, wanting to get to the opposite platform as early as possible. He handed me the money and I pulled at my bag. "Wait." "What now?" I pleaded looking back at the train tracks. Still no sign of the train. "Please give something more." "What do I have?" I begged. "I am on a trip, not in my temple. You can go to the local temple; you will get many nice things there." "No, give me something that will help me; some mala (beads) or some mantra." This is easy I thought and made him chant Hare Krishna mahamantra. "Something more, please." He wouldn't let go. Then I remembered something. Opening my wallet, I took out one of the two gunja seeds that a Vrajavasi boy gave me in Bhandirvana. Ever since, I always carried them in my wallet. "Take this bead; it is very dear to Radharani, and very auspicious." "Will it help me?" I took a deep breath searching for proper words. "More than you will ever expect." He thanked me and left. I looked up at the clock. As usual my train had failed to arrive on time. I thanked Krishna, hauled up my bag and walked over to the bridge, satisfied after sharing Srila Prabhupada's gift with another desperate soul.
