Real love
We had been distributing the whole day in Tampere Finland with Tattvavada Prabhu (our GBC). I wanted to distribute until eight P.M., and he had gone for a sauna as it had been a cold day. The day was coming to a close, when I saw a couple in a car. They looked quite well-to do. I said that they looked good, like they were in good shape. I guessed the husband had a company that he was a leader of.
It was a nice conversation, and it turned out that the wife was slightly interested about spiritual matters. She said, "And how about Amma."
Amma, or Mata Amrtanandamayi, is an Indian lady who travels around the world hugging people and speaking Mayavada philosophy.
I said, "Yes, she's nice. It's nice someone hugs even people she doesn't even know. I think that attracts many people in cold countries like Finland, where people are so lonely."
The conversation went on and eventually the lady bought TQK. She paid ten euros for her book. The husband did not want a book.
I was praying to Srila Prabhupada and the Lord to let him take also. Then I started canvassing very enthusiastically, "It's a nice book with stories and wisdom, so why not take it?"
The man replied, "But I never read."
"Maybe not for yourself, but you can read for your wife. You know, a little bedtime story or some wisdom of the day."
He responded, "I really don't read."
"But love is the determining factor. There is no ocean too wide or no mountain too high, if you have love."
The man started to melt, "So how much it is?"
I said, "You can give something, but give from your heart."
He dug some coins from his pocket. It was about eight euros. Srila Prabhupada, ki jay!
Then something extraordinary happened. The wife said, "And now comes the last part." She jumped out of the car and ran up to me and gave me a big hug.
She was smiling ecstatically and her eyes were glowing and said, "Thank you so much for meeting us. The very beginning was so great that by that you sold us the first book. But even more special was that you could sell a book to my husband. He never buys any books! Thank you once again"
Then she went to the car and they departed. Actually Tattvavada Prabhu had arrived just at the time the wife had jumped out of the car to hug me. He was really surprised to see what was happening, and I had to explain to him the whole story.
I felt the lady hugging me was like getting a hug from Krsna. I had tried that day my best to distribute. I had the goal of distributing 100 books, but I did not quite reach it. Anyway, I felt Krsna appreciated the endeavor and sent these two souls just at the right moment.
your servant,
Avadhutachandra das
