Always Be Ready for a Lesson
One day during the 2010 fall semester at Louisiana State University, I learned from a person who had no prior experience the proper mood for distributing transcendental books.
As I stood on campus late one afternoon, I prayed to Sri Gurudeva to be inspired to try harder to give Srila Prabhupada's books to others. Suddenly I noticed a fellow approaching and quickly recognized him as the same student wearing a tie-dyed shirt who had just taken a soft Gita only a few minutes earlier. "Oh, great," I thought, "he looks like he's in the mood to chat. Can't he see I'm busy and it's getting late?"
"Hey, any luck with those books?"
"Yeah," I replied. "Thanks again." I turned away, hoping he would keep walking. Still, a voice in my heart beckoned me to remain open. Maybe he would sincerely want to know more about Krishna's teachings.
"Why do you sell these books?" he asked. I told him, in a nutshell, the story of how I came to Krishna consciousness.
Listening closely and holding the Bhagavad-gita in his hand, he seemed confident and enlivened. I learned that his name was Derek and that he studied nuclear physics. He had recently been accepted into an elite program where he would be trained as a specialist for the Navy, a career which would take him to many places around the world.
"Can I come along with you and help?" he proposed. By now I got it through my thick head that this was Krishna's plan. Perhaps I should try not to get in the way.
"Sure! Follow me and try to catch on."
We walked into the student union, where I presented a book to a boy who listened to my presentation but wasn't interested. I assessed my attempt and told Derek my conclusion.
"If you stop them purposefully," I explained, "they become more receptive."
"Can I try that one?" Derek asked, smiling and pointing to the hardcover Bhagavad-gita in my hand. He took it and immediately approached the first person he saw standing by the cafeteria entrance.
"Do you want to learn about Hare Krishna today?" he asked the young lady. She was quiet and stand-offish. He continued: "This is an important book because it teaches the real religion. Even the Catholic God comes from Hare Krishna, so this the most original scripture, not the Bible."
When she showed no interest and started to leave, he asked, "You have time to read the menu posted on the wall, but not this great book?"
As she walked away, he didn't seem at all disappointed, but rather more enthusiastic to try again.
"Where did you learn to preach like that?" I asked Derek.
He replied calmly, "Well, the Baptists are more in-your-face than that, right? Why not tell the people how it is?"
As we continued touring the premises, it seemed that each person Derek approached would stop, at once become pleasant, and offer his or her attention. Stepping outside of the student union, Derek directed us toward a young lady sipping a coffee she held in one hand while reading a book she held in the other.
"This is Shannon," he said to me. "Shannon, do you want to learn about Hare Krishna today?" He quickly convinced her to hear my presentation and take a book. She gave a donation and decided to join our newly formed preaching yatra. The three of us ventured toward the student apartments, stopping students along the way.
We met Derek's roommate on his way to the gym and spoke to him about our books and the importance of spiritual education. Our real religion, we explained, is to live simply, without artificial "necessities," to use our energy for God's service, and to depend on God in all circumstances. He agreed that this is how one learns to become honest and tolerant, and tears of appreciation welled up in his eyes.
Next Derek stopped a Christian girl who claimed she was very devoted to studying only the Bible. He told her that Hare Krishna is actually what she was searching for, and then he looked to me for further explanation. I thanked her for worshiping the Lord and told her that the Bhagavad-gita would enrich her understanding of God's personality, which would be a great service to Christ. She agreed and gave a nice donation.
In this way, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the books quickly took their paths into the arms of so many different types of students. What brought us together was the urgent desire of Derek to wake up the sleeping souls at his school. We must have glimpsed the mood of Mahaprabhu's nagar-sankirtana in Sri Navadvipa dhama: selfless, focused endeavor for spreading Krishna's glories.
After Derek sold more books than I did, emptying my bag, he, Shannon, and I walked back to the sankirtana bus and enjoyed some light prasadam and group chanting, and I taught them how to chant japa. At the end of the day, Derek and Shannon walked back to the campus in a blissful mood while we drove away to the next engagement.
Your Servant,
Dwijamani Gaura das
