From Holland
I was distributing in Dordrecht not far from the Rotterdam temple.
I was in devotional dress. I had quite a hard start. After 2 hours I decided to take a break for lunch.
Because in the temple there was no Prasadam practical for transport, I decided to buy nuts and dried fruits in a local Albert Heijn supermarket.
While I was choosing valid bhoga for the Supreme Lord, somebody tapped on my shoulder. It was a middle-aged gentleman, with a lady.
He said, "Excuse me, can you tell me who is the leader of Hare Krsna movement after Srila Prabhupada?"
I explained briefly that Prabhupada entrusted the GBC members with leading ISKCON.
They were really nice people. They had already read Srila Prabhupada's books and were enthusiastic to take some more. He was a photographer, and she was an artist. I was waiting for the managers of the supermarket to kick me out for selling books inside the shop, but Krsna protected us. Both of them took Srimad Bhagavatam, and she was happy to receive Higher taste as well. I took their contacts and bid them farewell. After that incident the atmosphere changed, and I could meet more nice people and distribute more books, but outside the store.
I was distributing books in Dapper Markt in Amsterdam. Many Hindus and people from foreign countries move around there. I was approached by a black man wearing a sacred "Om" around his neck. His eyes were completely red and moist. He had drops of sweat on his forehead. He was smoking a small pipe which smelled strange.
He said that he is really interested in spiritual topics and Eastern philosophy and that his father is also from India. He was impressed by the Gita but didn't have enough Laksmi. Finally he said: "OK, I will give you at least this," and gave me coins without taking book. He was also offering me his pipe saying: "You can smoke Cocain?"
I politely refused. I bid him "Goodbye, Hare Krsna" and continued on my way to a tram stop because it was time to go back to the temple.
While I was waiting there the same man approached me again. He was intoxicated like anything, but was trying to have a conversation. I was moved by compassion when I saw his terrible condition. We entered the tram and he seated himself next to me. Not disturbed by people inside the tram looking at him, he continued smoking his pipe. White smoke was spreading through the air. I was trying to avoid inhaling it. Suddenly he gave me a few bananas from the market and said: "Take this."
I was moved to give him the mercy so finally I gave him a small book, the "Perfection of Yoga" because it is quite cheap but a nice book. He was really promising that he will read it and next time give at least 50 euros. I hope that this book will make a big crack in the material life of this crack man.
Begging for your mercy to continue.
Your Servant,
Mayapur Chandrodaya dasa
