Bird watcher starts to find the “two birds within the heart”
It was another classic windy and cold day on Willis Street in Wellington. Not one book had gone out in two and a half hours. Seeking relief from the cold, I crossed the road to a small patch of sun, where I immediately spotted Jennifer coming out of the health food shop. As I waved her down, I saw the invisible wall go up between us. Noting her purchase from the health store and trying to think quick before I lost her in the stream of people rushing past, I asked her if she knew how beneficial yoga is for health. The wall went down. Yoga was the opening to her heart, and our conversation flowed. I discovered that Jennifer is an ornithologist (she studies birds) and had come to New Zealand to watch an endangered bird in the bush for five months straight. Returning to the world after being in the bush, she had found her Mr. Right, which had brought her to Wellington.
She had been teaching yoga a little, back in South Carolina. She is from that part of America and was happy to hear about the Bhakti Lounge. The following night I was cooking dinner, so I invited her to come help in the kitchen in exchange for a yoga session. She melted at the opportunity, and she was there the following afternoon and continued to come for the next few weeks. Jennifer never really made any inquiry about what was going on behind the scenes of the Bhakti Lounge, why the same mantra is played week after week on the kitchen stereo, and who the bright-faced people are hanging around the centre.
After week three she asked, “Do you have a guru? I think I need one?”
I was able to answer, “Yes I do, and he will be speaking here in two weeks.” After that discussion, two weeks later when everyone was seated in the dining room eating prasada, I was surprised and elated to see a discussion going on Jennifer and Devamrita Swami. It looked sober and serious . . . athato brahma jijnasa: "Now one should inquire.”
Soon after speaking with Devamrita Swami, Jennifer told me, “He is remarkable! He told me to read the Bhagavad-gita. Where do I get one? And guess what? He said I am meant for something more in life. I always knew I was!”
Devamrita Swami says a workshop is successful when books go out afterwards, and many did that night.
Since then, thanks to the help of the proficient devotees here, Jennifer has been reading and has started chanting. She became a vegetarian and has been involved in different services.
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Your Servant,
Gokula Lila-devi Dasi
