Even saying a “No” leads you to Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Many times the response from the public to book distributors is a flat "No." Srila Prabhupada likened preaching to a thankless task when you have to preach to people who are in the lower modes.
However book distribtors who are on the mission to serve mankind by distributing Krishna consciousness need not despair becase even when the public says no to them, because they are making spiritual advancement.
Here in Singapore most of the book distribution takes place door to door and the response from the public is as predictable as anywhere else in the world.
Once when I approached a house, a lady came towards the door to see what I was selling. when I showed her the Krishna book she could not see clearly as it was dark inside the house and so she switched on the light. As soon as she saw the book she turned me away. As I was leaving I realised she performed devotional service for the Lord by switching on the lights to see Krishna. I am sure the Lord appreciated this service of hers very much, which was performed without any motive.
Yet at other times when we appoach a house, the residents upon seeing a Krishna book raise their hands high and wave a "No". Even they are doing devotional sevice because it is mentioned in the Nectar of Devotion that the weight of sinful activites weighing a man down drops immediately when one raises his hands for the Lord.
Sometimes people sitting on their sofas squint their eyes when we show them a Krishna book at their doorstep. They squint and squint and finally come forward to see the book. Even though they may say "No",the Lord appreciates because they were using their eyes with full intensity to see the Krishna.
Even the dogs. Many times, the dogs bark louder when they see a Krishna book. It may be their own way of raising their voices for the Lord and the Lord appreciates it. Once I flashed a Krishna book to a barking dog and it immediately dashed behind the door.Then it slowly peeped from the side of the door and when it again saw the Krishna book it dashed away for dear life! I realised how powerful Krishna is!
On book distribution whomever we meet get tremendous benefit and they begin their spiritual life even though they may not even take a book. Devotional service is so inconceivable that when they meet the devotees, by the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada, they immediately start performing service for the Lord by engaging their senses in His service.It may apparently be a negative reaction from them but the Lord sees it positivley. This is how kind Krsna is!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to the sankirtan mission of Lord Chaitanya!
Your Servant,
Sudarshan Das
Singapore
