Book Distribution in Birmingham England
The first amazing event I will describe took place when I went out to distribute books and Ratha yatra leaflets. I went first to my favourite street to give a leaflet to Ashok, a nice Indian gentleman who lives at a house with the number 108. I visit him when I can, because he bought many books from me and he is favourable and his auspicious house number makes my day auspicious.
After visiting him, I was wondering where Krishna would take me, and I followed the path to the shops. Book distribution is samadhi, my gurudeva said, and I was contemplating how it must feel.
In different shops I had mostly nice experiences, as people happily took books and leaflets. I even met a nice couple who used to visit the temple. The man told me that he had prayed that morning to Krishna for a sign that He is really present in his life. Then he met me, and I advised him not to stop chanting, as he had many troubles and much distress.
The next shop I entered, not even thinking about where I should go and just going where Krishna took me, was a Muslim's butcher shop. I did not even realise I was there until I got inside, and I thought I must be mad, because if I had used my own mind and tried to be the controller, then I would never have even dreamed to go inside this shop.
I continued as if not directed by my ego or mind, but directed by a higher person. I saw two men covered with blood and chopping up meat. One man was facing away from me, but looking in a mirror on the wall at what I was doing. He was saying something to himself, and I realised he was praying over the meat. I thought he would stop my preaching to the other man.
To my amazement the man I spoke to did not resist. I gave him a leaflet and a copy of Chant and Be Happy, and he took it like a baby being given a toy. I knew that this is what my gurudev must have meant when he said book distribution is samadhi. I never dreamed that a man cutting meat would take a book and give a donation.
The second event I will share took place on a day when the rain poured and poured all day, unfortunately. Our bodies were cold and wet, but our hearts were warm thanks to performing the sankirtana-yajna. I saw a man looking so overwhelmed by Lord Jagannath's Rathayatra procession and the kirtan. But he also looked quite sad. So I approached him together with my friend.
We tried to make out what he said. It was hard to understand him as he had difficulty speaking clearly. He said where he was from. I told him about the mantra and the book, and he seemed to acknowledge what I said and took the book and gave a donation.
I told him to stay for the prasada at the end of the parade, but he said he could not, as he was unwell and in pain; he had been told he did not have long to live. When he said this, I felt my eyes fill with tears, and my friend's eyes welled up, too, as we realised what great mercy he had received to see Lord Jagannath and to hear a kirtan.
I asked him to say the prayer with us, and he chanted the maha-mantra with us. It was so emotional for me to be an instrument in this way. Later, I realised I should have taken his contact information, so that we could help him further. But my heart felt so overwhelmed, as though Jagannatha had a special destination for this suffering soul and took his pain away by showing him His sweet lotus face and by helping him to receive a book.
Your servant,
Vinod Manjari Dasi
Birmingham, UK
