Lunch or book
In New Zealand I stopped a young man (Robert) by putting the Gita in his hand while saying, "Since you are in Te Atatu with an awesome pony tail and a cool beard, I am showing you this encyclopedia of knowledge and culture."
He kindly looked through the Gita while I peppered him with questions, intermixed with a comment or two about the Gita — that it covers everything.
He is a music teacher of some sort, and I said this book even covers music. I quietly sang, "You know this right?…sa re ga ma pa da ni sa" — our own little Sound of Music moment in front of the post office in Te Atatu.
Robert was with me as I showed him the dehino smin yatha dehe picture and politely listened as I said that everyone is on a journey and "You can take this with you on your journey" (a line that Suratanath taught me).
When I suggested giving a donation from the heart, he dug out his wallet and had a look. There was a single $20 bill in it.
He said, "Ah, lunch or a book."
I didn't say anything as he pondered his fate. With the Gita still in his hand, what else could he say but, "OK, it'll be the book."
Robert's life of all-auspicious tapasya thus began, fasting to get a Gita.
Your servant,
Nitai-cand Dasa
