Harinam Fan
Every Friday night, Queen Street downtown Auckland come the happy Hare's, chanting and dancing. And every Friday night, when we pass the big sports bar comes Jerry out from the dungeon of smoke and intoxication and whatever else to chant and sway, arms reached in the air just like Lord Caitantya would dance.
About three Harinams ago Janananda Maharaja famous as he is for adventourous Harinmas led us into this bar from which Jerry always emerges. The following week on Harinam Jerry appeared not in his usual bright orange worker mans jacket but in an effulgent t-shirt with pictures of Vishnu and the demigods.
I began to really marvel about this man, and particularly if he had ever been given a book. The next week on Harinam when we got to the bar and he came to dance I turned to walk toward him to ask if he had some of our books, but changed my mind. The next morning I asked devotees over breakfast if anyone had ever tried to distribute a book to him, no one knew.
That Monday morning I was on Queen Street a little further up the street from where the bar is and who should come along…none other than Jerry! I couldn't believe my eyes. He gladly stopped, and I opened by telling him he was no stranger to me as I had seen him every Friday for the past few months I've been in Auckland. Jerry is a nice man, hitting his 50's (and…about to marry) he's been in the same job 30 years. I asked if he has every gotten any of our books, he said he had taken a number over the years in Auckland. One exchange in the 80's he remembers like yesterday. May sound familiar…he was walking along minding his own business when out popped a young lady "excuse me you look very attractive!" Jerry said he just about fell off the pavement and he of course stopped dead in his tracks, it wasn't every day a lady told him that. Next Jerry explained, "Out came the book and after such a comment how could I turn it down!"
As we talked Jerry said he didn't have the Gita but had a bit of a deep side, even tried being a vegetarian for a while. Anyway I told him I had been thinking over the past few weeks he should read the Gita and that we were meeting was quite incredible. He also was mystified and handing over $20 said, "its coz I support what you guys do." I'll give him the gita when I see him on the next Harinama.
Hare Krsna maha mantra ki Jaya!!
Your Servant
Gokula Lila Devi Dasi
