An Essential Iten to Include in a New Backpack
While distributing, I see a tall young man walking away from me, about twenty feet away. Seeing a good quality day-pack on his back, I call out clearly, “Excuse me, are you from France or Germany?” figuring he's probably a traveler.
He turns and walks toward me as he responds, “I'm from Germany."
After he shakes my hand with a friendly smile, we begin talking about his travels. Soon he will be heading to Malaysia, which is lucky for me, as I'd had the opportunity to travel there for three weeks. We talk about the beauty of nature over city life.
Finally I ask him, “What will you do when you get back to Germany?”
“I want to study electrical engineering.”
Owing to my previous experience with Germans who want to study engineering, I fervently pray, “Krishna, please help me get this person to take a book.”
My new friend says that he wants to study particularly in the medical field, to help people with biotic limbs. Finding the strongest link yet, I introduce the SSR, explaining how I teach yoga psychology so that we can help people obtain what they really need in life. I say that the books teach a balance between material living and a internal need for peace and happiness.
At first, this German friend is not showing any inclination toward the book, either to the pictures or the themes I'm presenting, and I amp up my prayers.
Finally he says, “Actually, I'd like to take your book as I'm now really interested in this sort of thing and have wanted to learn more. I think I met a friend of yours in Wellington. She was showing a similar book, but at the time I couldn't buy one because my backpack was fully stuffed, and I couldn't go to the yoga night because I was leaving on the ferry that night. But, perhaps luckily, my backpack was stolen, and now I have a new backpack that's completely empty. So today I'll get your book.”
Hoping that we might get to see him at Auckland's yoga studio, The Loft, I ask him when he's leaving for Malaysia.
“I'm leaving tonight.”
“Well, this will be something to read on the plane,” I respond.
He kindly gave a donation and walked away with a big smile. All it took was for Krishna to arrange for someone to steal his bag and to force me into just the right place at the right time.
Sankirtana-yajna, ki jaya!
Your servant,
Gauranga Prema Dasa
