Age is no Barrier
I saw a community Studio Gallery on Friday, July 5th, while “doing” the town, I did notice the Gallery and intended to visit, but somehow I forgot.
Even though stationed about 20 km from this small town for a physically relaxing and recuperating weekend, I happened to pass the same Studio Gallery again on Saturday morning. This time I went in, and there was Judith, a 78-year-old lady, the caretaker for the day. We talked about philosophy. She volunteered that she had studied philosophy one full year in Sydney, some time ago, and had some Buddhist affiliations.
Then, after presenting BGAII, I made the decisive step: “Why don’t you please buy a copy of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is?”
To my surprise, she simply said:” Yes, I think this is what I ought to do. This is a good idea.”
After checking her mode of payment, I went to my Sankirtan van and fetched a copy of BGAII for Judith.
The whole exchange was just smooth. From both sides, it was a perfectly understood conversation. It was not one of those conversations where the interlocutors make their respective points without caring much for the feedback from the other side. It was a constructive and enjoyable conversation and culminated in the sale of BGAII.
With no intentional flattery, I said to her that she was a wise lady. She replied in a humble manner and with a smile: “You know, I have been around for a while now.”
Humility is a sign of knowledge. Socrates used to say: ”I know that I do not know.” And BGAII 13.8-12 confirms:” Humility, pridelessness, . . . and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth — all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance.”
In contrast to her body, and to my own body for that matter, there were absolutely no signs of old age in this godly lady’s mind. Because she honestly admitted that she wasn’t quite sure what happens after death, I clearly advised her to particularly read the second chapter of BGAII about the eternality of the soul.
If I would have entered the building on Friday, I would have never met Judith and she would have not gotten a copy of BGAII, which just came into her life at the right time. But obviously the plan of the Lord was totally different, and He again had clearly manipulated me from the heart. BGAII 15.15:” I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedänta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.”
In the material world, we are often manipulated and the result may not always be in our interest, but spiritual, "Krishna manipulation" is welcome and represents a very special kind of blessing from the Lord. Let us pray and act in such a way that Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, more and more chooses to use us for His divine plans and purposes.
“The real identity of the living entity is that he is eternally servant of God. We should not understand this word servant in the meaning of materialistic servant. *TO BECOME SERVANT OF GOD IS A GREAT POSITION*. That is not ordinary position. Just like people try to get some government servitorship. Government service. That is also servant, to become servant. Why? Or people try to get some service in some established firm, well-reputed business firm. Why? That service is comfortable, there is great profit in such kind of service. So if people are satisfied by getting a government service or service in some good establishment, then just think over if you become servant of God then what is your position? Because God is the government of all government. So to become servant of God… We are servant of God constitutionally. Just like Caitanya Mahäprabhu says, Jivera ‘svarupa’ haya-krsnera ‘nitya-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109].” 680613Bg.Mon
Later on I understood that Krishna had another reason for bringing me here, as I noticed farther an unusually high number of motor vehicles parked on the side of the roads. Unknown to me, there was a Saturday morning market in full swing and on church grounds, which proved to be a good field for book distribution. Unfortunately some members of the management committee did not appreciate my presence, and after a good deal of book distribution, I was asked to leave. At that point of time, I believe Krishna had already achieved His purposes.
All glories to Srila Pabhupada!
Your servant, Yadavendra Dasa
Port Douglas, Far North Queensland, Australia
