How to Make Everyone in Beverly Woods Krishna Conscious?
In California, Los Angeles, I was thinking: "How to win Beverly Woods with Krishna?" They are our close neighbours and very artistic. Also very proud, because they have everything. Except Krishna. Most probably they will not let you in. And really most opulent houses of the stars were just closed completely. No signs of life. Ok, I am also an artist, a star, but Krishna's star. I devoted my music to Him. Krishna is more powerful than maya, so I must win. They will like my music and will take Prabhupada. I put on me the most beautiful dresses I had – devotional, non-devotional, but mostly devotional, because people liked them the most. Every day doing sankirtan there I looked very neat, very decorative, like real celebrity, and went to Beverly Woods which was just next door. I knocked at the first house. Famous musicians opened it. They looked very intelligent and aristocratic. But I was not less by Krishna's grace. I was very happy to see them, they too. Still were looking with a question. I told them the same mantra for my personality: I stay neighbourhood with my friends…" "Oh, our neighbour, which house?" They became very friendly. I told "few blocks" and showed towards our temple direction. "Ok, and how can we help You?" "I am from Lithuania and famous singer." "Very nice, we are famous musicians". They started to talk. Of course, I could not talk much how famous I was in material world, because I was famous between devotees, but we discussed common matters. Finally they asked me why I came. I showed to them my CDs and asked if they are interested. "Of course", the couple replied. My job was done. Lord Caitanya was smiling. The young couple said my singing is very beautiful, gave me a bag of lemons and oranges from their yard which I brought to the devotees. As usual all neighbours gave donation, took CDs, a book and left happily promising to write. I was walking enjoying the beauty of the area with books and CDs house to house in Beverly Woods. Someone was not at home, but many were. And they were taking, taking, taking. Bhajans about Gopinatha and Prabhupada's wisdom. Stars were so interested in my music that they took my CDs without a doubt. Many times even not listening. They trusted me, my appearance and friendliness. They were very generous and openly kindhearted people I ever met. Only fame and media made them opposite. But because I am also from famous musicians and composers family in Lithuania, therefore I know how life of such people run. This kind of people are very deep and quickly react to love. You can ruin them quickly, but You can open them quickly too. For that you have to be extra careful to be on their side, the same as they are. Just be flexible, for their and Krishna's pleasure. For this reason I made my appearance just shiny to attract them. Then common was my music. Nearly every neighbour liked my silk sarees and punjabees, then gopi skirts. The way I dressed them, sometimes not recognising the design. They were telling: "You look so beautiful". And my aim was to look beautiful to attract them. Artists first look at your appearance. They were examining the materials of my clothes, my design, etc. That was the beginning for the friendship. Slowly I passed all Beverly Woods, reached Beverly Hills, but it was already too far from the temple to walk by foot every day after pujari service and personal service to my Guru Maharaja. I needed a ride or more time for preaching there, because those few hours of my leisure time were not enough to do sankirtan there. Maybe next time. Krishna will arrange. I liked so much to preach in Bewerly Woods so that even now I feel blissful walking there through beautiful gardens and talking friendly with our close neighbours. I believe that they are listening to my bhajans and progress spiritually. Maybe reading Prabhupada's book. Such beautiful place I did nor see anywhere else, only in Beverly Woods. Beautiful place must have beautiful people.
By Jagat Kirti Devi Dasi from Europe, Lithuania (JPS)
