A new lease on life in Auckland
Recently, I met Hemi, a 44-year-old, warm and friendly Maori (native) gentleman whose work is distributing advertising leaflets to the public. He immediately recognized Srila Prabhupada’s books. He already has the Gita and others but has not yet read them. He gave a donation and took two small books. He was working the same side of the street as me. He’s been doing so from 9 until 4:30 every day for over two weeks to promote the School Uniform Shop he is working for.
A while later I met him again.
“What is a monk?” he inquires.
I said, “We study and discuss scripture, do service, practice celibacy.”
Hemi used to attend the Mormon Church and told me of his being put on probation for not sticking to the “rules,” which eventually led to him being asked not to come back. We talked about dealing with sin. I referenced some verses on lust from Bhagavad-Gita (focusing on 2.59), and explained the practicality of bhakti-yoga.
Later he beckons me over. He’s been meditating on what we discussed earlier. He had attended many churches throughout the years and was unimpressed by the knowledge they had to offer. He was spiritually tired but is now eager to read his copy of the Gita.
I again went on sankirtan. During an exchange I see Hemi waiting near me.
I joked about him being in “my” zone and asked if he’d like to do my job. He took it seriously and agreed. We got a mixture of books from my box, and I informed him of the printing price. Then I told him to chant this certain mantra in between meeting people, and he repeated the holy name line by line.
For half an hour he tried giving passersby the books instead of the advertising material. I watched his exchanges. He looked funny in his uniform, which advertises the shop that sells uniforms, but he was confident.
After thirty minutes I approached him. He chanted Hare Krishna with a smile on his face. He remembered the whole mantra after having heard it only once. It was difficult for him, and no books went out, but he was ecstatic nonetheless. Because he didn’t know what the books were about, he wasn’t sure how to present them. He vowed to read his Gita before coming to the Krishnafest this Sunday at The Loft, our urban-yoga lounge. I got his number and later sent him a text message, thanking him for his help. I also wrote: “I hope you get some nice realisation from the books.”
He responded, “I feel like a new lease of life has presented itself to me, a direction of certainty and opportunity, keep in touch.”
Srila Prabhupada, his books, and book distribution, ki! jai!
Your servant,
Jayadeva Kavi Dasa
