The Missing Link…The Follow Up and Character Cultivation

International Terminal

Over the years so many seeds have been planted in the form of Srila Prabhupada's books but unfortunately the follow up in the watering of these beginnings has not been a priority. Distribution is a perfect formula but minus the cultivation places a governor upon the full throttle potential of the sankirtan yajna. As one must read the books in order to truly distribute them, the next stage of individual and collective nurturing around the books has been a lacking affair. At any phase, the contact communications can provide not only stability in service, but a well rounded stance within the outreach work. The good habits of 'long term vision' are more difficult to break than bad ones of 'quick results' and when one operates in view of this direction then sankirtan can become a truly lifetime affair of ever increasing absorption.

Every book distributor can attest to how this service provides such clarity and focus when one is 'out there', but the real test can be just the access to this spiritual runway which may be littered by so many obstacles and impediments. No doubt it is the most difficult service(apart from the taxing field of management) where trials may arise from the angles of application, long term physical strength, alternative philosophies(within and without) or just lack of communal support. Real momentum in this arena is the irreplaceable backing of the parampara that descends amidst this unique service to the others. Contact cultivation is the 'insurance policy of progression', the dynamic sharing of the ancient essence, utilizing different mediums relating to time, place and circumstance to invite persons to newer and ever growing horizons.

The distributor can simply go out with the consciousness of meeting that 'special person' and then get their name and details and keep contact with them either personally or through another. Krsna will send the bhaktas according to our ability to accommodate them. The follow up can be as simple as a phone call or as sophisticated as a workshop get together. Some of our centers are blessed with urban preaching programs that groom the curious, especially professionals with attractive venues like yoga clinics, auyurvedic seminars and Gita discussion groups. The temple agenda will also appeal to a certain class of individual, but the main point is to reach the widest spectrum of intelligentsia. The real catalyst is the 'personal care'. Do you remember what attracted you to the tribe…was it a person or the institution?

Below is a nice sample at New Dwaraka of how the above can be applied. One of our devotees Sastra Krt initiated this exchange with an actress at LAX.

I was distributing books in the international terminal and I was praying to Krsna to send someone nice to talk to. I saw this lady walk in and we were thinking that she was too opulent and that she wouldn't take a book. I thought that she looks too pretty and that it would be better to not approach her, but I had no other option so I did. As soon as she saw the Bhagavad Gita she became very happy. She said that "I was looking for the Gita and here you are giving me this one". I asked her "What made you look for the Gita?" She said she practices meditation with a group called the Brahma Kumaris, they read from the Gita everyday but they won't give her one… thinking that only advanced people read it. So I gave her the Gita and two other books and asked for a donation and she gave me $35 and went to receive her friend…3 hours later in the same terminal, she came to see if I was still there and asked me if I could explain more about our philosophy. She then asked for some Spanish books and I said yes but they are in the van. So she asked if we can go to the van and there I gave her 3 Spanish books and also some prasadam.

I asked her if she would be interested in visiting our temple. She then inquired "Can I come tomorrow at 12pm for lunch". I happily agreed. I arranged for her to take lunch with Bhaktisiddhanta Swami at our restaurant. She then went to the evening program at our Gaura yoga center and she also came the following morning for the greeting of the deities and Srimad Bhagavatam class. I called her the next day to see when she would be able to see us next. She said she likes us so much and that she would come again on Sunday or sometime next week…

Lizette was an interesting contact who specializes in films that cater to awakening people's appreciation for their own indigenous culture. She was inspired to see how the book distribution, temple and alternative yoga centers revolve around a similar but more complete theme of awakening people's original native culture. Sastra Krt das encouraged her to take the book and gave an invitation and then a domino of other events has followed to reinforce her appreciation. With healthy exposure to a striking sample of the Vedic alternative scene, 'characters' will then try and figure out where they can fit in.

Real cultivation means consistency in customer care. Unfortunately we did have one mishap in Lizette's first day at New Dwaraka where the guide at the Fate museum suddenly began to literally show her the fifth canto with the hellish planets, serpents etc. with an added elaboration about some half man half lion feature of Godhead. Her reported response was "Hey I didn't come here to hear this!" Because of her other observations the slip was not an issue, but here is another scenario of how an unseasoned communicator of the path did not have the sensitivity to place themselves into the shoes of the person they were addressing and came across with a self styled holier than thou 'Vedic baptism' of cosmic details that alienate and not attract.

The follow up is certainly an art, to package and tailor the Vedic siddanta according to the individual, to provide a user friendly medium where one can feel comfortable to approach Krsna Consciousness at a personal pace. People will become inspired by the individual and in the right atmosphere they will be the ones to mark the necessary changes in their life. The main encouraging theme is to just add Krsna.

Interestingly enough in order to develop these skills we come back to book distribution, to say just enough and not too much so they engage. When exchange of the book and laxmi is complete one can then certainly elaborate. They have become attracted by a person. This setting sets the stage for the future devotional cultivation arts. Suddenly we have a natural progression of events where the blueprint days of hoofing it up on the distribution grounds transforms into the cultivation rounds. One follows the other.

Bhaktisiddhanta Swami

Author: admin

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