A letter from a special cusotmer
Below is a letter I got from a client in 2007. I give all my clients a deluxe Gita, plus the interactive Gita CD and Science of Self Realization.
The writer of this letter is a modern American woman who surrendered to Srila Prabhupada's preaching “As It Is,” contrary to certain parties in ISKCON who contend that Srila Prabhupada's books are sexist and need to be sanitized to appeal to women. Sincere people will always be attracted to the truth.
dasa dasa anu dasa,
Shyamasundara Dasa
www.ShyamasundaraDasa.com
Dear Shyamasundara Dasa,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Nearly three years ago I ordered astromaps to find out where to go to find my guru and spiritual path, choosing you at random and not caring much that you were “in the service of Sri Sri Radha Govinda,” whose names I did not understand anyway. I pondered your words of warning, “beware of bogus gurus.” In addition to this verbal protection you gave me, you rendered more service with the gift you sent, Bhagavad Gita As It Is. I had taken it out of a public library almost ten years ago while trying to learn about yoga, but returned it due to my heart being bitter and not wanting to absorb Srila Prabhupada's purports. I went back to reading the Mayavadi-type Gitas and other similar literature, remaining very unhappy and lost. Upon receiving Bhagavad Gita As It Is from you in September 2004 I kept it by my bed and read a little each night, for almost two years before seeking out devotees. In early summer 2006, I began chanting the mahamantra on my own. Then on August 15, I decided it was now or never: I needed to hear this mantra chanted from the lips of pure Vaisnavas, as Srila Prabhupada had advised. I found out there was a center at 26 Second Avenue and took a two-hour train ride alone, not knowing what to expect. Arriving sweaty and with a rapid heartbeat, I was greeted by two brahmacharis and went to sit down for kirtan for the first time.
It is difficult for me to describe what happened to my body and mind while first hearing Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare from these devotees. All my pain and fear disappeared, and I felt that I was being held in the arms of someone who loved me very, very much. I continued attending temple programs and when asked how I came there, I told devotees it was because of a gift from you. I am indebted to you, Shyamasundara, because it was by your mercy combined with that of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada that the Bhagavad Gita was put in my hands again. This time I had a little intelligence to understand and pursue Krishna consciousness.
Your aspiring servant,
Camille
