Meeting favorable people
In Johannesburg, a devotee was walking along a street when a man outside an office asked him, “Are you a Hare Krishna?”
The devotee answered, “Yes.”
The man explained that a few years ago he’d bought one of Srila Prabhupada’s books and it immediately changed his life. He went to the temple, met devotees, honored prasada, and started chanting. He said that Srila Prabhupada’s books had all the answers about life, but because of his family on the outside he presents himself as a Christian. But on the inside, he is a Hare Krishna devotee.
At the Trade Route Mall a devotee approached a Muslim woman who said, “I’ve been looking for you guys.”
She bought two paperbacks and wanted to learn how to chant. She also wanted to host a program and invite her friends.
My comment on these exchanges: In both these exchanges the people already had books and were favorable. Going out on book distribution isn’t always about getting people started in Krsna consciousness. It includes meeting people who are already favorable and attracted to Krsna. We should pay special attention to those souls. Generally, when we distribute, we don’t spend much time with the people we speak to, because Srila Prabhupada said in a few letters, “What good is your three-minute lecture? If they take a book it can change their life.” So we focus on getting people to take a book and then go on to other people. But in circumstances like these we should take some time, encourage the people to come to the temple, answer any questions, ask what abilities they have, and maybe engage them in some service at the temple. That personal time with them may be the change in their life that brings them closer to Krsna and His devotees. I’m sure these devotees that approached these favorable people did just that, and it’s something that we as book distributors need to keep in mind. Also, when we meet people that know nothing about Krishna but show interest and are asking nice questions, take time with them, we shouldn’t have the “bums rush” mood but should give time to sincere souls.
One devotee who was previously a Jehovah’s Witness once said that the Hare Krishna devotees are good at getting their message out, but not as good at bringing people in. The JWs focus on bringing people in, and they are one of the fastest growing religions in the world.
Source : https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120501121501AAAW93r
