People are Our Best Friends
Do You imagine a strange person becomes Your best friend at the time You preach to him? It happens, because Krishna smiles in his heart as Paramatma, the Supersoul. Paramatma is the best friend of every living being. When You become Her instrument in preaching Krishna Consciousness the human being becomes the best friend not only with the Supersoul, but with You too, as Her instrument. When you really become humble and devoted you can see a miracle: Paramatma's friendliness with the living being. This relationship is beyond material world, therefore You swing in bliss above the mother Earth. To repeat the spectacle and get new ones you always and always desire to become the instrument, and always go out on the street to get divine nectar of being the best friend of everyone completely everyone. Divine friendship is so nectarean that You cannot live without it even a second. No matter is it 30 degrees of cold or not, because spiritual relationship makes your heart warm.
When I merely started to distribute books I got causeless Paramatma's mercy in advance, for my sincere endeavours. In the beginning of Krishna Consciousness you do not have love to God and people. You know only theoretically that it has to be, yet you do not have practice. If you want to practice it, you have to go out to fight with maya and give people Krishna. The more you fight, the more you surrender, and the more the Lord takes care of You. The more Krishna takes care of you, the more you can taste divine relationship and see how your brothers and sisters are linked with God as parts and parcels. You can even see their relationship with God, being His instrument.
When I was told to go out to distribute Prabhupada's scriptures I felt that I have special mission to do for people and God to link people with Him. Actually You become their spiritual master. At that time I have read only few books, although I was very eager to read more and more to know everything to tell to people. And really, people are the best examiners. They give you the most realistic mark for Your realisation of knowledge. They can tell you how much you love God and people, how good instrument you are.
Therefore first goes sincere endeavour. In the beginning this sincere endeavour is little bit selfish. I saw that on the last day of the Marathon I was not far away from the first place's scores, therefore I was eager to extend my day to distribute more books while my colleagues other devotees were sleeping. I packed my books first I counted how many more books I needed to distribute to win and went out on sankirtan in the deep of night. It was so cold outside, maybe minus 20, so I went to distribute books through flats in big houses. It needs hour or two to finish one house, because so many flats in it and you stay there always, not going out to the cold. Talking with people warmly, becoming friends with them. People were surprised to see You at night, but still friendly, even excited what was so important that you did not sleep and came to them, not allowing them to sleep? I was presenting scriptures, they were listening very attentively, much more attentively than during the daytime. The talk was short, most probably they wanted to go to sleep, and they took sets of books. They saw my big bag packed with books and it even deepened their eagerness and seriousness. Maybe desiring me to finish quickly and to also go to sleep I was still a child then people were taking books and emptying my big bags. Some of them asked me to leave one of my heavy bags at their flat till I need it, not to carry it up. And they did not go to sleep till I did not distribute my other books, waiting for me. That was really devotional.
I knocked at one door, the lady let me in and put me to sit on her bed with blankets and sheets from which she merely climbed out, because I interrupted her sleep. It was already midnight. I was sitting on the bed, so warm, and unconsciously I was already sleeping. Only my hands put all the set in woman's hands and the tongue was talking about Krishna. Talking, talking, the woman holding holding the books. Suddenly I realised that I fell asleep. In sleeping state sometimes opening my eyes I was still talking to that woman about Krishna. The woman did not interrupt me out of respect and friendliness, she was completely Krishna Conscious too, listening. She did not sleep, because I interrupted her sleep, but I was sleeping sitting on her bed. Finally this lady took the set of books I recommended to her and asked me: "Child, would You like to take some sleep in my bed?" She was so caring and anxious about me. "You can sleep till morning". Her words woke me up, I was thinking: it would be nice to sleep a little bit, but I did not finish my books I must finish to get the first place, to win my colleagues devotees. Also I must be in the temple before 7 a.m. to give my book scores for the marathon results. I told her: "I have to distribute all my books till 6 a.m., no time to sleep." The lady replied: "At least one hour, please, sleep. I will take more books from You, do not worry." I gave her as many books as she could take. Still one more bag was waiting for me with the neighbour. I was little bit relieved with many books this lady took that without words I fell asleep in all my dresses on her bed. I do not know where this lady was sleeping, and what were thinking the neighbours who held the bag of my books. After one hour the kind lady woke me up telling that I have to continue to distribute my books, to be in time to the temple. I woke up, told her goodbye, she accompanied me as real mother. I rang the bell to the neighbours' door downstairs to take my books from them. Immediately they opened the door it was 2 a.m. in the morning. Without any words they returned my bag full with books and wished me success. Nobody was angry at me that I disturb them at night, nobody was scared to open the door. Everyone was so supportive and I felt they were special Lord's servants to help me to fulfil Krishna's and Prabhupada's mission during the last Prabhupada's marathon night. I went upstairs to the rest of the neighbours. Although some were already sleeping they opened the door and with serious mind took the books, some of them were not sleeping, probably waiting for me? When you become Lord's instrument so many miracles happen. According to Lord's will people do not sleep and wait for you.
Finally I distributed all my two bags nearly 30 kg both. They were empty. I did my books in time and got the scores! Inside I was not so much attached to the results anymore, because I was taking part in blissful Lord pastimes.
I like so much to distribute scriptures in the villages. Those people are very rich in natural food, also money, they are very open and spiritual, I like to be in nature. When I go house to house, people let me sit next to their table, listen sincerely, give me so much natural food they have, just from the trees, from their gardens, they bring fresh milk, cheese, cream from their cows, honey from the bees. During our talk I eat eat, and become so happy and more powerful to continue. People cannot resist me, and they do not want, because we become nice friends. They issue me so nicely with so many gifts. And always take books as many as I want to give them.
By Jagat Kirti Devi Dasi from Europe, Lithuania (JPS)
