The Marathon in Finland
Dear devotees.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!
We were distributing in a town called Toijala. It was quite cold and also otherwise it was a very tough day, as nearly all the people were difficult to deal with. We had decided to stop distribution at 6 P.M. Just before the set time I met a man in front of the local bhoga-shop.
He said, "A monk. Really! I have always been interested in Buddhism."
I was presenting the First Canto to him and said this book explains about vaisnavism which is similar to Hinduisn and we have other books that explain the ideas of Buddhism.
"Great! The only problem is I really have no money at all. I just brought my mother here to do the shopping." he said.
I thought, "What bad luck! The only interested person in the day shows up just at the final moments, and he has no money."
I tried to persuade him to go to the shop and ask his mother to give some money, but he would not agree. I prayed intensely in my mind and just as I was about to give up and bid farewell to him, he exclaimed, "There is Simon, my neighbor. I wonder if he has any cash on him."
"HEY SIMON! DO YOU HAVE ANY MONEY?"
"I have some. How much do you need?"
The man got ten euros from his friend and got a Science of Self-realization and the First canto.
The second incident took place in a town called Riihimski. This day was even colder than the previous ones. I had met quite ordinary people the whole day. Among all the very ordinary people I met a lady who seemed to be the most ordinary. She said she lives with five cats and works as a cleaner in a swimming hall. She was just on her way home from the work.
I felt a little frustrated. I asked her, "Have you ever heard of the law of karma?"
She replied, "Of course. I am very interested of these matters. Actually, I have read all the books of the parapsychology section in our local library" (she was especially stressing the word parapsychology).
I was wonderstruck. She seemed so ordinary.
She continued by saying, "I believe in angels. Every day when I leave home, I pray to my guardian to protect me."
She was very happy to take the books Teachings of Queen Kunti and the Second Canto.
Your servant,
Avadhutacandra das
