Genuine Feelings of Care
"I remember when this conference first began devotees were sending in so many nice stories about there experiences while on book distribution, but for a long time now we haven't been getting many of these letters so I'm asking you all to again send your stories, there very inspiring, don't hold back the mercy."
Last weekend was the "Coachella Music festival" in Palms Springs, California. Thirty-five thousand young adults conglomerated for two days of the latest music with bands such as Bjork, Chemical Brothers, etc…. As usual with the big concert scene in the U.S, cars were parking one by one in enormous outdoor Polo fields. Five devotees from L.A led by His Grace Brigupati Prabhu and Indranuja Prabhu from Dallas were approaching the happy young Americans with Srila Prabhupada's books. From ten in the morning to six in the afternoon was a non-stop engagement for us. Car after car after car, the book distributors left favorable impressions of ISKCON and distributed many books, without any sort of botheration from the security guards. Brigupati Prabhu mentionned at one point in the middle of the rush, "this is a book distributor's dream come true! It's amazing: a beautiful setting with mountains all around, the sun, fresh air, unlimited engagement for distributing books, very favorable young people to give books to…I mean, this is far out!"
At the beginning of the day, as we were singing the morning songs in our van, we noticed a young couple park next to us. I approached them with a book and said, "hi. We're Hare Krishna missionaries and we're showing these books to anyone who is interrested. We ask for donations for them. Of course, don't feel obliged to take one." The young man replied, "yeah, actually we're not really that interrested, and besides, we don't have much money." I replied with a smile, "sure, no problem. I understand. Thanks for your time. Have a great time at the concert today," and walked off." A few moments later, he knocked at Brigupati Prabhu's window and said, "hey, you know, you guys presented your faith to us in such a nice way a few moments ago that I wanted to give you this." He gave us five lemon sodas. Brigupati Prabhu reciprocated and gave him a big book. He thanked us. To top it off, later I went to his car to thank him for his generous gesture and He inquired about my Tilak mark. When I explained to him what it was, he said, "can I have one too?" So I went to get my Tilak and put a beautiful mark on his nose and forehead, and there he went walking off into the concert with Tilak for thirty five thousand people to see and get purified, with having given a kind donation to the Vaisnavas, with a book of Srila Prabhupada in his car, and most importantly with a life-long very favorable impression of ISKCON.
It pays off to be very gentle and genuinely caring with the souls that Lord Caitanya sends our way. They are our brothers, and as H.H Tamal Krsna Goswami said in a recent Vyasa Puja offerings to Srila Prabhupada, we were in their same shoes not too long ago. It behooves us to respect them and be gentle with them.
"My dear Arjuna, he who engages in my pure devotional service, (…), and WHO IS FRIENDLY TO ALL LIVING BEINGS- he certainly comes to Me." (Bg 11.55)
"Therefore this verse is considered to be the essence of Bhagavad-Gita." (Bg 11.55 purport.)
Your Servant,
Candrasekhar Acarya Dasa
