Interfaith encounters and Lord Nityananda’s Mercy
Most sankirtan devotees probably feel uncomfortable when a Christian priest enters the distribution scene. Quite often they just give you trouble, but there have been quite a few occasions when they turned out to be positive and encouraging. Here are couple of very interesting stories.
We were distributing in a small town near Helsinki, called Tuusula, and it was quite a good day. There is one good parking lot (It looks like a small park with trees and birds & everything) where people are quite at ease and seem to take books easily.
I was distributing there, and approached an elderly man sitting in a car. I waved to him and gestured that I would like to talk with him. When he opened the window he looked very tightly at me and the books. I presented the books and explained that I was a Hare Krishna devotee distributing anceint wisdom for nice gentlemen. He took one (6th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam) and explained that he was a Lutheran Christian priest, now retired. "Oh, that's very nice," I said, happily surprised as he started to look closer at the book, where there was a 4-handed Visnu on the front cover, with the 4 Kumaras and Narada Muni.
Then he started to say more about himself: that he is still concerned about the welfare of people and that when he was studying to be a minister, his tutor was very interested in Eastern spirituality and there he also got an interest for that himself. So without any problem he gave a nice donation and then the scene changed totally. It seemed that there were tears in his eyes and that he was almost giving a sermon in the church, praising our work and giving us his full blessings. I was too shaken to remember the whole scene, but this old priest was very much moved and appreciative and we bid farewell. After that people took books like anything and the parking lot seemed like a Vaikuntha planet.
Another story is from our last visit to Lappeenranta, the hometown of our TP, His Grace Tattavada Prabhu. I was distributing in a dhoti on the pedestrian street when one man approached from behind, took one book and said, "What's this?" The man had a friendly face. It turned out that he was a retired priest, who had done street work and helped the homeless for 38 years (and still doing the same thing in his freetime). He also had some of our books from when some sankirtan devotees had visited the town many years ago. He had helped them in some way and had liked them very much. So he took one Chaitanya Caritamrta, chatted some time and went on his own business. Later that day he appeared again, took one more CC, talked about how we should understand that we are just tools in the hands of God, and went home.
Then on another day he appeared again. He explained that he had read 300 pages in the first session, and took Bhakti-Yoga. Then some young people came to see what was happening and started browsing through books. One girl was interested but explained that she had no money, so the priest retaliated: "You should go get some. You have some in your home, don't you?" As I continued to distribute, I noticed the priest talking to some young people, urging them to go towards me. In the last day I brought the priest some prasadam, and he encouraged us more. "You people are truly carrying the cross of Christ. Just that you stand in the street is enough to make people think of God. Stay fixed in your vows and continue to work, even though it might be sometimes hard. We must understand that we are just tools in the hands of God, and we must be very tolerant and compassionate. There is so much suffering." Of course he gave all his blessings and best wishes for our sankirtan movement. He promised to visit our temple during Christmas and help us if we need something. Later, I met some persons from the same city who knew this old priest. They were very happy to hear about him and also took books.
Then some time later we were distributing in downtown Helsinki, at the front of the railway station, a notorious place known to be full of drunkards, violence etc. But many people pass by, and it's very easy to spot interested persons from that point. Unfortunately, sometimes drunken gangs give some trouble. One day a pack of middle-aged men, very much intoxicated and in a rough jolly mood appeared, and as I was distributing in devotional clothing. They immediately wanted to cheer up me (and themselves) with good jokes and gossip. "Ha ha, you're a monk. No women? Have a drink! I don't believe you!. Do you have something under that bedsheet? Ha ha."
I was trying to answer them politely so that they would pass away peacefully. Then suddenly one of them showed a more serious face and said "You practice celibacy? I really appreciate you for your endeavours. I will take one of those books." Then others also joined in "Yes, yes. This is very good activity!" One more took a book and Goddess of Fortune CD, and they went on their way praising Hare Krishnas. Lord Nityananda has some sense of humor.
The other day two totally crazed-out guys crashed against me on Friday evening. One of them seized the book and said, "I take this."
"It costs something . . ."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, money, money . . . how much?"
He started to empty his pockets, and the other was sneering: "Nooo . . . what you are doing now?"
Then he gave a donation, and I showed him a CC, winked, and said, "You don't have this, do you?" He grabbed the CC and gave more. Then GoF CD. Again he took it and gave more. Suddenly he shaped up a bit and said "I have done all kinds of bad things. Alcohol, drugs, women. I really want to get free of all these, stop doing all of this. I hope this helps." Saying that, he started to walk away and his friend was also saying, in a compassionate and serious tone of voice, "Yes, yes, you should repent and get yourself together."
Total change from the mood they had before. Lord Nityananda ki jay!
One more short one: We were doing a preaching program in Oulu, and I was distributing invitations in the big walking street in dhoti & tilak, and as the invitations were almost gone, I was walking towards the car. Suddenly someone shouted, "Wait! Please wait!" I turned and saw a couple rushing toward me.
The man was explaining, "You look like a monk. I need some help! I want to stop all of this. This wine, drinking, women. I want be rid of it!"
His consort was attesting to this: "Yes, yes, he really wants to stop all of that. Can you help him?"
I had one Bhakti-yoga in my bag, and as I presented the man with that, he seemed grateful. He gave a donation and said "Very good that we met you. I am desperately looking for a solution." There he had it, and Krishna was letting us know that there are still people who are looking for these books. No need to go home too early.
Hari bol!
