Remembering the distribution in Clondalkin, Ireland
I was remembering the times when I used to sell Srila Prabhupada’s books in Ireland. One time I was going door to to door in Clondalkin, which is a village not too far outside of Dublin. The distribution was not going so well, but after some time I came to a housing area that was very well to do. It appeared that the people living there were quite wealthy.
On approaching them, I was quite surprised to find that they were all humble, mannerly, kind and friendly. Sometimes it is experienced that when people become materially opulent, they become proud and offensive. So I was very surprised to find this combination of material opulence along with very excellent personal character. I was even more surprised when the majority of people were very happy to receive Srila Prabhupada’s books, without much persuasion from me.
I noticed that all the streets were named after a monastery: Monastery Road, Monastery Street, etc. It dawned on me that maybe there was previously a monastery here. I later researched this and found that from ancient times up until more recent times Clondalkin had been famous for various monasteries.
I thought that these people could well have been monks in their previous life, or a recent lifetime. Owing to their punya or piety they were rewarded with wealth in this life, and because of their previous religious practice they automatically had all good qualities. Because they had actually seriously and sincerely practiced their tradition, now they were given a
chance to receive Prabhupada’s books so that they could advance to a higher (or the highest) platform.
Bhagavad Gita confirms that after many lifetimes of pious activities, when one becomes free from all sinful reactions, he becomes able to accept the process of devotional service or bhakti: “Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with determination.” Bg. 7.28.
Purport
Those eligible for elevation to the transcendental position are mentioned in this verse. For those who are sinful, atheistic, foolish and deceitful, it is very difficult to transcend the duality of desire and hate. Only those who have passed their lives in practicing the regulative principles of religion, who have acted piously, and who have conquered sinful reactions
can accept devotional service and gradually rise to the pure knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then, gradually, they can meditate in trance on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the process of being situated on the spiritual platform. This elevation is possible in Krsna consciousness in the association of pure devotees, for in the association of
great devotees one can be delivered from delusion.
It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.2) that if one actually wants to be liberated he must render service to the devotees (mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh); but one who associates with materialistic people is on the path leading to the darkest region of existence (tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam). All the devotees of the Lord traverse this earth just to recover the conditioned souls from their delusion.
ys,
Premarnava Dasa
