A Hare Krishna beggar meets a lady rich in heart
As I was standing at a gate in someones yard, calling out for someone to come,
a young man came and said, “You Hare Krishnas, always begging. You're young. Why not get a job rather than beg?”
While he was saying this, I felt overwhelmed with joy and was smiling. Then I responded that what he said was the best thing anyone has called me, and that is why I am here: because I am striving to be a servant of the Supreme Lord. You've seen me as a beggar. Thank you so much.”
He seemed confused.
I told him that we're celebrating our fiftieth anniversary and that my offering to Srila Prabhupada is distributing books.
He then apologized for calling me a beggar, because he could see that I was sincerely doing this. He bought two books: Easy Journey and Consciousness: The Missing Link, because he's studying in the sciences.
* * * Another day, in a village, I was going door to door, and some villagers told me not to waste my time going to the last house. I told them that I am here to give Krishna consciousness to everyone, so I do not differentiate. I approached the house. The fence around the yard had fallen. Boards were missing from the walls, and it appeared that whoever lived there was poor.
When I called out, an old lady invited me in. She was eating, so I apologized for disturbing her. She continued eating and was also listening to me. She was eating pepper sauce with white rice, and I felt sorry about how poor she was.
She said it's nice that we're celebrating our fiftieth anniversary. She had visited our temple once and seen Srila Prabhupada's murti. Thinking he was alive, she said to him that the prasada had tasted nice.
She then called her son and said she will give a donation, though she was keeping her money to buy something to cook the next day. She purchased “On the Way to Krsna.”
She said, “The more you give, the more you receive.”
I invited her to the temple, and she gave me a hug. Then I left. The villagers thought she was poor, but I realized she was rich at heart. She gave that donation selflessly, and indeed she has begun her journey to Krishna.
With the blessing of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudeva, the Lord is using me to reach out to these inspiring people.
Your servant,
Srimati Devi Dasi
Guayana, South America
