Mind and Madness
This event took place during the recent ISKCON Youth Services Yatra to Naimisharanya and Ayodhya, arranged by Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty.
Bhakta Amit Kini says:
Our train halted at Ratlam Junction. Since the stop lasted for more than 20 minutes, devotees entered the platform to perform hari-nam sankirtan. It was boisterous, with 200 boys singing and dancing. Many waved to the bewildered onlookers, and some like Murgesh Prabhu pulled favorable members of the audience right into the dancing party. Some liked it so much that they danced with us till the end.
Many of us distributed books in the train and on the platform. I entered one compartment and showed books to a young man, who looked like an executive.
"Are you mad?" he shouted. "Give up this nonsense. These people will make you shaven-headed."
I explained that I was an engineering student and had plans to enter householder life and practice Krishna consciousness, and nobody was pressuring me to give up my job and family and join the brahmchari ashram.
"No," he persisted. "You have become mad after them. You are too young for it. You should enjoy life, earn money, eat, drink and be merry. Give up all this."
I tried reasoning with him, but he became more and more aggressive. I decided to change tactics. Whether he took a book or not, I had to represent ISKCON in the correct light.
I said, "You are talking so much about success in material life, but success in any field is possible until you have controlled your mind and senses. Do you have control over them?"
He fumbled, "No."
For the first time I was able to puncture his over-confident demeanor.
"So what mantra of success you are trying to teach me? You are a slave of your mind and senses, and a person with an uncontrolled mind can hardly be successful in any field of life. So if you want to be successful and happy in life, read this book and learn to control your mind and senses."
He was still confused.
"Sir," I said, and pointed to the hari-nam party outside, "look there. We have a group of 200 boys of which 120 are engineers and 40 are doctors. Do you think they are all fools? Not only are they good students and professionals but they are also perfect devotees. They balance both the material and the spiritual side because they read these books. So don't hesitate. Take one and you will never regret it."
"I don't have faith in these shaven-headed people," he said. "But what you are saying makes lots of sense to me. OK. Give me a book."
As he handed me the money he said, "I don't know why I am taking this book. I don't want it. But what you are saying is affecting my heart. Something from inside is forcing me to buy this book."
"Don't worry," I smiled. "Your mind is afraid of losing its independence. But your intelligence understands the benefit of the book."
