Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper Receives a Bhagavad Gita
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Yesterday Radhapriya and I went to an event put on by a Conservative MP. This event required registration, security checks and confirmation prior to the event and then photo ID with the confirmation letter to get in.
We took 2 Bhagavad Gitas with us in the hopes of getting 1 into the hands of the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
Security was intense and barricades were up blocking the front stage area from the public. We were able to get seats in the 3rd row centre as my thought was the closer to the stage, the greater chance to speak with him. Several attempts by me to get permission to present the Bhagavad Gita by speaking to security as well as his staff from the PMO were unsuccessful, with the lady from the PMO office who was organizing everything saying, "Sorry to break your heart, but it ain't going to happen". One suggested trying to get a private audience with the Prime Minister at the back of the Hall behind some black curtains in a room. However, he had already left that area to prepare for his speech and security was not letting anyone through to either area in any case. Still undaunted, I prayed to Srila Prabhupada. Another said, that after his speech there would not even be a moment's time as they were rushing him off to another event. I spoke to another assistant and another security fellow and they said the book had to pass RCMP clearance which could take weeks. Another said, give it to me, I will try to get it to him.
Because I wanted to make sure it got to the Prime Minister, I knew I had to physically give it to him.
There was no way to get to him as he entered behind the barricade and there was restrictions to standing up while he gave his speech. Suddenly, his speech was completed and security was ushering the Prime Minister out the side door behind the barricade. I ran and jumped around chairs and people and got in front of the Prime Minister. I shook his hand, briefly spoke to him about the Bhagavad Gita, including that it is a Sacred Vedic Indian Text and then handed it to him. He took it, smiled, nodded acceptance, said thanks and then security rushed him off.
So now with the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada, our humble attempt was successful and now the Prime Minister of Canada has the Bhagavad Gita As It Is!
As a bonus, everyone was rushing out the doors as the "main event" was done. I spotted, Lisa Raitt, the Minister of Transport in the Cabinet of Canada, behind the barricade. She was speaking to security as she was delayed because she dropped her Blackberry somewhere on the stage. I rushed up to her and talked to her about the Bhagavad Gita and she happily took it.
Yesterday Radhapriya and I went to an event put on by a Conservative MP. This event required registration, security checks and confirmation prior to the event and then photo ID with the confirmation letter to get in.
We took 2 Bhagavad Gitas with us in the hopes of getting 1 into the hands of the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
Security was intense and barricades were up blocking the front stage area from the public. We were able to get seats in the 3rd row centre as my thought was the closer to the stage, the greater chance to speak with him. Several attempts by me to get permission to present the Bhagavad Gita by speaking to security as well as his staff from the PMO were unsuccessful, with the lady from the PMO office who was organizing everything saying, "Sorry to break your heart, but it ain't going to happen". One suggested trying to get a private audience with the Prime Minister at the back of the Hall behind some black curtains in a room. However, he had already left that area to prepare for his speech and security was not letting anyone through to either area in any case. Still undaunted, I prayed to Srila Prabhupada. Another said, that after his speech there would not even be a moment's time as they were rushing him off to another event. I spoke to another assistant and another security fellow and they said the book had to pass RCMP clearance which could take weeks. Another said, give it to me, I will try to get it to him.
Because I wanted to make sure it got to the Prime Minister, I knew I had to physically give it to him.
There was no way to get to him as he entered behind the barricade and there was restrictions to standing up while he gave his speech. Suddenly, his speech was completed and security was ushering the Prime Minister out the side door behind the barricade. I ran and jumped around chairs and people and got in front of the Prime Minister. I shook his hand, briefly spoke to him about the Bhagavad Gita, including that it is a Sacred Vedic Indian Text and then handed it to him. He took it, smiled, nodded acceptance, said thanks and then security rushed him off.
So now with the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada, our humble attempt was successful and now the Prime Minister of Canada has the Bhagavad Gita As It Is!
As a bonus, everyone was rushing out the doors as the "main event" was done. I spotted, Lisa Raitt, the Minister of Transport in the Cabinet of Canada, behind the barricade. She was speaking to security as she was delayed because she dropped her Blackberry somewhere on the stage. I rushed up to her and talked to her about the Bhagavad Gita and she happily took it.
Your Servant,
Minakshi Devi Dasi
