A customer turned into a book distributor
Chapter One
On Wednesday, July 24th, I entered an art gallery, and a young, pretty lady with bright red lipstick welcomed me with a friendly smile.
“Good day, sir. How may I help you?”
“Good day, ma'am. How are you today?”
The sankirtan devotee will always show at least as much respect as he or she is given. But the better policy is not to miss a single opportunity to give more respect than one receives. This is part of an effective preaching strategy.
We talked about her French-Tahitian origin, the default atheistic mentality of her father, and so on. Finally, I asked her to please chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra, and I noted how confident and trained she already was. She told me that she owns a copy of “Chant and Be Happy" and had noticed that the mahamantra was repeatedly mentioned in the book. This left an impression on her mind. She had by now passed on the book to someone else.
She has a dynamic conception of the usefulness of books and feels that books should not rest on bookshelves, but be passed around and widely read.
Then, finally, in a very straightforward and graceful way, she offered a bank note and I gave her a copy of “Renunciation through Wisdom”.
“What shall I do with Renunciation through Wisdom when I finished reading it?”
I semi-joked: ” Well, just go back to the beginning and start reading it again.”
She laughed. I said it in a joking way, because to a mundaner, which she might or might not be, this may sound a little absurd. But with Srila Prabhupada’s books, there is very real and tangible benefit in reading the same book again: New meanings and new spiritual realizations emerge, owing to the dynamic, transcendental nature of His literary creations.
“In my books the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is explained fully, so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you, and by this process your spiritual life will develop.” (741122letter)
Significantly, she asked that very same question several times, and it later made me think that Ruci (her actual name withheld) is, in fact, interested in being and qualified to be a book distributor. The next day therefore, I went to see her again with a book distribution business proposal in mind. She was, however, not present at her place of work, and I met the owner of the business instead. He is a nice, half Chinese gentleman, with good common sense, and he purchased a copy of Higher Taste, our budget-edition cookbook. He also agreed to give me Ruci’s phone number.
Chapter Two
As I was unable to meet her at her place of work before my departure, I decided to call Ruci the following Monday, July 29th. As Srila Prabhupada has taught us through His words and personal example, inter-gender dealings always require caution; otherwise, they may well degenerate imperceptibly — in the beginning at least. That does not mean that in Krishna consciousness there are no boy-and-girl affairs, but that such dealings are strictly regulated and ideally culminate in one single lasting and successful marriage. The best example is Srimati Rukmini Devi, who, against her brother Rukmi’s wishes, decided not only to have a boy-girl affair with Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but took matters in her own hands to achieve her desired and cherished goal.
We met at the library, and she immediately agreed to purchase some copies of Renunciation through Wisdom at a wholesale price and to distribute them. She is a student and consequently lives on a restricted budget. She also asked to purchase some beads and a beadbag on a thirty-day account, and I showed her how to use them. I gave her a silicone bracelet with the Hare Krishna mahamantra as a gift.
She said she would chant on her way home, even though out of courtesy, I had offered her a ride, which she declined. She also mentioned that she liked walking, a first-class qualification for a book distributor. I have high hopes for Ruci. And may Lord Krishna inspire her from within her heart and make her determined in her new service of book distribution. She is a beautiful, selfless, and receptive soul and amply deserves the matchless gift of Krishna consciousness.
All glories to the wandering mendicant His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!
Your servant,
Yadavendra
