Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 38
Pretoria to Durban, South Africa
I waited to check in for my flight to Durban and a young man was staring at me. He finally approached me, and asked me if I was a monk. I replied yes, I am a Hare Krishna. He went to say that he works at a new age yoga studio, and he had some questions for me. I sat next to him and just listened to what he had to say. He opened his heart to me; he started describing how he started practicing yoga to escape the pain in his heart from failed relationships, from the pain of disappointing his family. He expressed that he thought of suicide once. He was in tears as he was revealing this to me. He wanted to know if yoga is such a peaceful way of using your energy, then why does he feel that something is missing. He has been practicing for over six years and feels no difference in his heart.
I sat back and just listened, I could understand that this mans heart was heavy with the burdon of material life. When he finished, I asked him what does he want from life. He looked off into the distant lights and just shook his head. He said man; I just want to become happy. Can you help me please, can you show me happiness. I said Of course, that is my duty to help you. The reason your yoga has not worked is because you are missing the key ingredient, that ingredient being God. The object of yoga is to reconnect to Krsna. But better than practicing hatha yoga is to practice bhakti yoga, bhakti meaning serving Krsna with all your heart, with all the love you can muster.
The man just looked on, with tears swelling in his eyes, by now some others gathered around, and someone made a comment about this gentlemen being too emotional. I corrected the one who made the statement and said " he is only revealing what is in all of your hearts, because all your hearts are sad because you have forgotten your original relationship with Krsna. You should thank this boy for making you realize how sad your lives are without Krsna. The person just looked down. Everyone else nodded. For the next twenty minutes I answered questions and exchanged email addresses. When everyone walked away, I left alone with this man, and he said how could I thank you for your help, how can I thank you for your time. I pulled out Perfection of Yoga. Please take this book, read this knowledge and apply this into your life. If you ever need help please give me a call. With a big smile on his face, he thanked me and gave a donation.
"Go on spreading the sankirtana movement more and more. I am only one person, but because all of you have kindly cooperated with me, this movement has now become a success all over the world. Be assured that there is no more direct way to preach than to distribute Krsna conscious books. Whoever gets a book is benefitted. If he reads the book he is benefitted still more, or if he gives the book to someone else for reading, both he and the other person is benefitted. Even if one does not read the book but simply holds if and sees it, he is benefitted. If he simply gives small donation towards the work of Krsna consciousness he is benefitted. And anyone who distributes these transcendental literatures, he is also benefitted. Therefore sankirtana is the prime benediction for the age: krsna varnam tvisa krsna sango vangastra parsadam yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti sumedhasah [SB 11.5.32] – SP Letter May '77
"The living entity is the cause of his own suffering, but he can also be the cause of his eternal happiness. When he wants to engage in Krsna consciousness, a suitable body is offered to him by the internal potency, the spiritual energy of the Lord, and when he wants to satisfy his senses, a material body is offered." (Purport SB-3-26-8)
Partha Sarathi Dasa
