On The Road
Please accept my humbled obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In retrospect I can see that almost all of my recent interactions on book distribution have not been for me; 'mind-blowing', nor for others; instantly life changing. In fact, speaking for myself, most of the time this service is hard work with little perceptible long-term result. But the fact of the matter is that where Lord Krsna requires us living entities to surrender before connecting the plug, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu doesn't stipulate anything of the kind. He is offering us a free direct cable connection to the Spiritual world no matter what nonsense we are up to. All we have to do is to be in the right place at the right time. Opening spiritual doors one by one for a misguided materialistic civilization is one step closer to the dream that Srila Prabhupada and all the previous acaryas envisioned. Trying to work under Sri Caitanya in helping as many spirit souls as possible take their first steps toward the paramgati is much more fulfilling and exciting than using up valuable time and energy moving devotees from one Matha to another. Therefore, even though I really have nothing special to write about, I have witnessed spirit souls for the first time in probably many lifetimes taking direct interest in the vaisnavas, Sri Gauranga and Sri Krsna. This is what makes everything that I am doing worthwhile.
So long and thanks for the phish. July 4th; Camden, New Jersey, is thankfully the last Phish show for everyone except the Gainesville transcendental meals on wheels team who will keep baiting phish in the Midwest. If I were to go to one more Phish show I think I would need hospitalization. Nevertheless it's nice to note that at this show in Camden a few more souls found themselves more acquainted than they expected with the sankirtan movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I must admit that there were more than I expected too.
Yesterday we set up the tent with books and transcendental sound vibrations just off of shake-down due to being a little late and missing the prime spots. Today we get there on time and set up right on the main hippie freeway where at various times during the day it gets backed up. This congestion is good for the crawling masses in that it enables many ear-holes to absorb some useful sound vibrations from the bhajan band. An extremely small minority of two or three individuals show any animosity. Most happily pass by listening. Many stop to take in the bhajans and well over a hundred people come by to study the samsara poster. Purusa Sukta Prabhu has an interesting day at the book table with many people who had only visited before visiting again with the sole purpose of buying some enlightenment.
One lone boy who looks like he should be with his parents comes up to the book table. Immediately when he sees the books he shows an interest and takes one off of the display. Purusa approaches him and asks him if he has seen any of these books before? The answer; "yes, I've received a couple of books". Our young friend then goes on to explain that he is Catholic but appreciates these books because the process is just like Catholicism but also enables one to develop a deeper connection with God. With him go a Bhagavad-Gita and some tapes. Purusa notices that this boy doesn't fit in with crowd because besides being so young he is a perceptive, intelligent, and very sober person (Purusa must be getting similar realizations as me about the local beings). It very much felt like our young friend was sent here to the show and the table.
Another young man saw the bhajan a few days ago, a few hundred miles away at another show, and at that time raised his fist as a sign of victory for Lord Caitanya. Today the harinam is weaving through rows of cars when the same boy sees it, comes over and begins glorification… "It's great to see you out here always. You're always tearing it up. I love it when you do this." Many appreciate the chanting including Star, a grungy old hippie who definitely has had better material bodies in the past. He visits the devotees and tells them how much he likes to see them here.
After fixing a problem with their trailer the Gainesville Vaisnavas are back and happily serve hot transcendental 'getti to all who are being blown out at the end of the day.
When this blessed event is over Purusa Sukta, Vaikuntha Loka, Bhakta Jim, and myself are off to Traverse City in the north of Michigan, a small town that holds an annual street fair. The last scene we witness before leaving this Camden Phish show is someone falling unconscious by the portable toilets and being ambulanced away. Sums it all up!
July 5th. On the right-hand side of northern Michigan is the vacation haven of Traverse City. Every year at this time a week long festival is held in glory of the favorite local delicacy — the cherry. The imaginative name given to this street fair is the Cherry Festival. This is where we come to try to distribute some of Srila Prabhupada's books. Bhakta Corey and Bhaktin Emily live in Traverse City and run their household as a Hare Krishna temple with a morning program and Krsna seva such as prasadam and book distribution through the youth outreach programs they work with. They also teach all their friends about Krsna and invite locals over for prasadam dinners. They are our transcendentally perfect and tolerant hosts during our stay here.
At the festival I stop a young Christian couple who respond to my offer of wisdom from the east with the usual "can I ask you a few questions" routine. I succumb to their request until they ask me the "What would you do if you found out that what you are doing is false" question. At this point I decide to tell my concerned friends that in order to convert someone to Christianity it's best to show respect for the intellect of the person you are preaching too in order to gain respect for your mission. Funny thing to say but it has the desired effect of encouraging them to leave. Later on they come up to me again with an even more concerned look on their faces and offer a dollar bill for an Isopanisad. On top of this I receive the Holy Bible. When I see them a third time they have an even more concerned look on their face as they tell me that they are reading the Isopanisad and liking it.
I am talking to two ladies who have just taken books from me and two gentlemen who had taken books from Purusa a short while before and want to know a little more about us. After a nice conversation they all leave and one young lady, Rachael, approaches me and asks to see the books. She has been waiting for me to finish for a while. She happily takes three books and mentions that her friend has the blue book with the four-armed Guy on the cover and that she likes that one very much. I didn't have one but I knew that Purusa, who was standing nearby, did so Rachael and I both galavant over to him for her to happily receive a 'Science of Self Realization' too. Later she comes back with a friend who had taken a 'Journey of Self Discovery' from me earlier. Rachael then convinced her friend to take one more, which didn't take much convincing. Interestingly enough all the devotees had similar experiences with people bringing over friends to buy books after they had taken books themselves.
Cherry, July 6th.
"Hey, lighten up. Mellow out old man otherwise you'll die miserable." I look around to try to find the source of this primeval yell as it echoes around the street. It's origin stemmed from an incident that occurred after Purusa had approached one man who was leaning against a railing on a bridge. As the sidewalk was narrow Purusa had stood in the middle of it, as one naturally does, only to have another individual brush past him in an obviously provocative way and make a pre-meditated brash comment about Purusa taking up more than his fair quota of the 20 yard wide, closed off bridge. Our leaning friend then uses his superior obnoxious vocal power to loudly hurl emotionally charged abusive curses at the now rapidly retreating perpetrator of brash comments in order to get the message across that Mr. Brash is a bad sport. But as all this is going on Purusa is in transcendence. He begins to appreciate how our obnoxious friend is engaging his anger in Krsna's service and is therefore making some serious spiritual advancement in one of the twelve rasas. With these thoughts Purusa becomes hopeful that this unlikely obnoxious person might there and then become qualified to receive Srila Prabhupada's books. Before this thought has even finished reverberating through Purusa's mind our man finishes his abuse, turns to Purusa, and abrasively asks, "What was it you wanted?" With a little courage Purusa presents the books and our man becomes interested, lest in an obnoxious way by mentioning how it reminded him of the movie "the golden child". Nevertheless he gives a donation, takes a book, and assures Purusa that he will read it.
Immediately after this rash engagement Purusa meets two beaming American youths in their prime. He presents them with a Science of Self Realization and a Bhagavad-Gita to which the youths then glance at each other and look at their respective books with great interest. After Purusa offers the transcendental wisdom to them for a donation they conjointly reply that they would like to make a trade with him. As you may have guessed by now, a small tract on how to know God comes out of a pocket and makes it's way towards Purusa. With the character and flavor of a classical evangelical born again Christian one of these youths now begins to explain his purpose as a missionary in being at this festival. This includes a nervous disclaimer as follows; "We really respect what your doing here even though its completely different from what we're doing. Don't think that we prejudge you — although it's completely different. Don't think that by us saying that, that there is something wrong with being different because there's only one truth. I mean we really respect you. And we're really going to read these books. Don't think I'm just saying that. I mean we really respect you. I'm not just saying that. Don't think that we disrespect you. We appreciate what you are doing out here." As Purusa listens to this he can't help but increasingly become doubtful of these two giving a donation and taking the books so he therefore prepares himself to apply the traditional book distributor's Born Again Christian protocol. When the auspicious moment arrives Purusa unleashes the long-sermon-astaka by invoking the simply mantra that we need money for the books. To his utter surprise our new friends willingly give nice donations and reassurance that they will read the books with respect and no prejudgment — even though it's not the same as what they are doing.
Bh Jim approaches an extremely intoxicated couple out of causeless mercy. It just happens that they are trying to converse with a person who just bought a book from him. In a slurred kind of way they ask what Jim is doing and so he shows them what he's doing. From one of our friends comes the following philosophy, "Oh yesh, I'm verrry intrshted in meditashion and yowga". During the next few moments other spiritually uplifting topics are discussed including the question of giving a donation and keeping the book. "Well here, if you help me light my cigarette I'll consider it", the lady had been trying to light the thing the whole time she was slurring. Jim considers the mercy factor in this predicament and decides that the benefit of her getting a book outweighs the cigarette offence. Therefore he does the deed and immediately she pulls out a five and takes the cure.
"I feel more intelligent" were the words Jim thought he heard while walking away after one boy took a book from him. When Jim asks him to repeat what he said our friend sincerely repeats, "I read one sentence and I already feel more intelligent". Interesting folk up here.
I stop five down-to-earth looking fellows and put a different book in each of their hands. A couple of them have Native-American blood so I immediately relate with them. For some reason I relate to both Cowboys and Injuns. They all happily take a book each and go walkabout. A little later I'm looking around and my eye catches one of the same five sitting on a wall with a friend, waving for me to come over. Over I go and as soon as I get there my friend sells his friend a book by pointing to the books in my hand and telling him; "You have to take one of these books and give a donation. When you get it, read it, and get as much out of it as you can." Whatever his reason for saying this, he hit the siddhanta square on the head.
Purusa Sukta and Jim wear flat hats like golfers while out and about in the sun. Golf is a serious game in this neck of the woods and so Corey not only overhears the locals referring to these vaisnavas as the booodeeest monks and the monks with the books but also as the golfers with books.
I meet one young man who works on a rescue helicopter. His job is to jump off it and try to stop people drowning in the lake. He takes an Isopanisad and tells me that the night before he had to rescue someone twice; the first time from the water as his boat capsized almost drowning him and his girlfriend who were on a romantic cruise; and the second time from his wife who needed three grown men to hold her back from finishing off the job.
Cherried, July 7th.
Jessie and Kelly stop to look at the light of the Bhagavat I just presented to them. When Jessie turns to the inside cover and discovers a beautiful picture of Srila Prabhupada she can't hold back her excitement by saying, "Ahhhh, he's a cutie" before buying his book.
We'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Catholic Church for turning on a few people to the path of Krsna Consciousness over the last few days: One young lady buys a 'Science of Self Realization' because they tell her at her Catholic school that other religions are bad and false. But intelligent people like this lady ask "why?" and don't accept it if an answer cannot be given. Also Leslie, Luke and Emily take a 'Journey of Self Discovery' due to their two and a half hour debate with Christians yesterday. That discussion lead up to karma where surprisingly no more headway could be made. So as the illusive is attractive to the curious, Luke wants to see what Srila Prabhupada has to say on this subject.
Shane's curiosity is also aroused. When he hears that I am from London he inquires loudly but submissively if the beer is good over there. In fact he repeats the question several times over our conversation as repetition helps us understand a particular subject deeply. I don't even know if he realized that he bought a book. As we part he asks one last question about London; "they got good beer there?" Some people gain Krsna through inquisitiveness.
Vaikunthaloka pulls up an uninterested couple and tries to show them a book but in this short and painful meeting Krsna is very merciful by sending an inquisitive young Native American young man over to see what is happening. Vaikuntha switches channels to our Native friend. Tonto is interested and mentions that he is studying theology. While Vaikuntha is talking he notices that Tonto's whole tribe have all gathered around silently and are passively watching. There's Moma, Pops, and two little sisters, one on crutches. Soon everyone is questioning Vikuntha on an array of different subject matters such as little sis's probe into what 'Vaikunthaloka' means. That is all except Papa who's standing by like a totem to the strong silent type. Tonto wants the book but when the laksmi question hit's he submits that he has none. But Papa's the boss and he silently pulls out a five and hands it over in charity. As always in these situations Moma's got the last word as she sternly but lovingly instructs her son, "when your done with this book this is for everybody else to read too!"
My favorite engagements of the day: At the end of life's long haul, retired Virgil and his wife load up with a 'Light of the Bhagavat'. Virgil still does odd trucking jobs as he's been a truck driver for 20 years and can't stop. He's even counted every single mile he's driven in his life; over two million. I don't know why I approached them or why they took the book. Krsna's the boss. At the beginning of life's journey, kids can be the best influence on their parents. Especially Arianne who grabs a 'Beyond Illusion and Doubt' right out of my hand to seal the deal as her parents, Brandon and Terra, were up until that moment insecure about whether to get it or not.
Purusa Sukta has a special day as six different people and groups of people come up to him out of their own free will to enquire about the books. Among the most memorable of these persons is Megan who approaches him and curiously asks what he is doing? She takes a book and asks many nice questions before leaving to sit by her boyfriend (who incidentally also received books the other day) and discuss the finer points of human life. Again Purusa begins to sincerely desire for Krsna to interact with a spirit soul's life. He desires Bhaktin Emily to come back, as she had been there with us and just left the vicinity to go to work, and preach to Megan. As Purusa wills, Krsna fulfills and along comes Emily who sits right next to Megan. Purusa introduces them and by the time an hour is up Megan is ready to visit Corey and Emily for prasadam and also go to the upcoming Detroit Rathayatra. Her life completely changes in a couple of hours. Vaisnavebhyo namo namaha.
The word 'hick' in the Oxford Dictionary is defined as "a provincial rustic or socially inept person". So when one hick approaches Purusa and exclaims, "Oh yea, those are the books of A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami? I need a copy of the Bhagavad-Gita. What other books do you have?" and takes a few more books, I cant help but wonder why the Oxford definition didn't mention that hicks can also be refined in character
Refilling his bag at the van with books, Purusa notices something about the lady that pulls up next to him to wait for a nearby light to turn green. As this lady looks at Purusa, a few thoughts enter his mind… "She looks like she would be favorable towards the books. She looks like she knows what I'm doing. But I don't feel comfortable about giving her a book while she's waiting at the light. If I stop her I would hold up all the traffic and it would turn into an awkward situation. I'll just fill my bag. Who is it that keeps telling me to just turn around, give her a book, and she'll give a donation. I'll just fill my bag!" Purusa surrenders, turns around, puts a book in the lady's hand and simply says, "This is for you! We just accept donations". The lady pulls out five dollars, gives it to Purusa, and simply drives off with a book that has Supersoul on the cover.
Like children pulling at a toy in their father's hand, a group of high school kids have walked over to Purusa and are pulling at the books in his hand. They are bent down, stooped over, and looking at them. Two of them already have books from the other day but when they see new titles they become enlivened. They all chip in and get a couple more.
"I'm at a point in my life where I'm trying to find myself." Before Purusa had approached him, given him a 'Science of Self Realization', and sat down to talk with him, Shane had been surrounded by attractive young ladies but had a look in his eye that stated that he wasn't into that scene. Now all of a sudden he's in the right place at the right time to connect with Sri Gauracandra's mercy. This misdirected civilization is searching for itself in so many places. We have people searching for knowledge, spirituality, happiness, beer, golf clubs, cherries, phish; the list goes on. But if all this searching inconceivably somehow or other connects us with the Yuga Avatara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then we have put the cherry on top.
YS ad
