Nothing Happens by Chance
Here are a couple of interesting exchanges I had on book distribution in Australia . . .
In Perth I walked up to a house and saw a man sitting on a low brick fence by his driveway and holding a half-empty beer can. I walked straight up to him (wearing dhoti and kurta) and told him I was showing everyone some books on inner peace. As he spoke I could see a lot of anguish on his face. He asked if what I do made me happy. I said yes, especially the meditation we practice. He looked at the SSR I was showing him and said he liked this sort of book and would have a look at it. Then he opened up to me and told me he'd been a sniper in Afghanistan for ten years and had returned to Australia a year ago to see his family for Christmas, whom he hadn't seen all that time. Just before he was able to see them, his mother, father, brother, and sister — all his immediate family — were killed in a car accident. He said now he was trying to clean up his act and tolerate the emotional pain he felt due to both the death of his family and all the killing he'd done in Afghanistan (he felt especially guilty about accidently killing a five-year-old boy). He'd become a vegetarian and was growing veggies in his garden. He gave a donation and said he'd try reading the book.
At the next house I was greeted at the door by a young chirpy boy. I asked him if his parents were home, and he said they were and went and to get them. When they came to the door, I showed them the book and told them it was about peace. They said to me, "Sorry, we're not interested," and began to shut the door.
Just then the boy, who couldn't have been more than ten, grabbed the book from me and said to his parents, "I'd like the book." He was really serious about it. His parents, seeing his mood and wanting to please him, said OK and asked me how much it cost. I told them and started showing the boy what was in the book. He said he believed in karma and reincarnation, and the more I showed him the more enthusiastic he became. I told him he was continuing his interest in these things from a past life, and he and his mom agreed.
In fact, now his mom was also showing a lot of interest and was confirming to me how her son had always been very spiritually minded. I showed him the "Higher Taste" cookbook and he wanted that too. So Mom went and got some more money to give me. Then she told me that just a day earlier they'd returned from Italy, where she'd pointed out to her son some Hare Krishnas walking down the street. I said, "Nothing happens by chance, does it?" They were really in ecstasy now, and we parted with big smiles on our faces. I gave them the details of how to stay in touch if they wanted.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya !
Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya !
