Sankirtan Adventures by Mahabhagavat Das
Dear Friends,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thanks to your blessings and prayers, the whole year past has been such an adventure. Really, I can’t get over how adventurous life in Krishna consciousness is. In the first days I thought, well it’s all new now; let’s see in a few weeks. Then I thought, well, surely in a few months it won’t be as exciting. And then I thought, well, surely in a few years I will be jaded with this. Things really kicked up in high gear once I got involved with Sankirtan. I mean, it is the most adventurous thing on the planet! Still, I thought, “once the novelty wears off…”, but Krishna consciousness and Sankirtan have continued to give me greater and greater highs each time, more and more sublime. It has been over 13 years since I got that Bhagavad Gita from the Brahmachari in Mumbai, India, and not a dull day has passed since then.
In Toronto, we had a target of 40,000 books for the year. When marathon started, we were 14,000 books short. These numbers look small when compared to so many places, but just a few years ago, we were distributing less than 10% of that number of books per year. Canada has just about 31 million people, it is a big country though, 10 million square kilometers. Contrast that with India, with a billion plus people spread over just 3.3 million square km. A simple average is that for every square kilometer you will find 303 persons per sq. km. but in Canada you might find 3 persons per square kilometer.
But fortunately in Toronto and around Toronto, there are about 5.6 million people, approximately 30% of the population of Delhi. So, looking at the averages, they distributed a million books in Delhi, some day soon we should be distributing at least 300,000 books every year here in Toronto!
I am sure some day we will be able to reach all of them. On the 26th of December, on a windy bone chilling afternoon we distributed our 40,000th book. We don’t quite track individual scores, preferring to take a full team approach. There were magical moments where individual charisma shone, for example, we distributed more books than ever in our Ratha Yatra parade this year, and His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu did a Shastra daan auction with over 2,000 Bhagavad Gitas sponsored by the congregation in less than 15 minutes. We ended up distributing over 42,000 books together.
The highlight of 2012 for me was the marathon month. Here in the cold Canadian winter, being out on the street can be a little bit of an austerity. But I resolved to do just a fraction of what stalwart Sankirtan warriors do in cold climates… I promised that I would go out on Sankirtan every day. From November 18th to December 31st, which was our “marathon month”, I resolved to be out on the street every day. In the end, I ended up missing 2 days, but on both those days I could be part of some shastra daan collections, so Krishna fulfilled my promise even when I could not. Some days I was out on the street for as little as 30 minutes, some days I had more time, but regardless of how long I was out for, there was always someone ready, willing, and interested to discuss about Krishna.
On some days I’d get home early from work, take a nice Prasadam meal, drive to my Sankirtan spot in midtown Toronto, a busy intersection called “Yonge-Eglinton”, and hit the road with my book bag. Dressed warmly with layers of clothes, I’d stand at one of the street corners and try to engage persons in Sankirtan conversations. It was a most rewarding experience each and every time. Even when I had been delayed at work, and managed to get out on the street late, like 10:00 PM, Krishna STILL sent souls to have Sankirtan conversations with.
At that late hour, people on the street are fewer, but there is a high conversation ratio, things are a bit more relaxed. Of course, there are a high percentage of crazies out too, but to be honest, the Sankirtan volunteer is a bit crazy too!
In the 42 days, there were many many overwhelming experiences in every part of the spectrum, but the experience was largely positive, people LOVE Srila Prabhupada’s books! I will try to recount some interactions I remember.
Cousin Nick, How are you: This lady was walking down the street when I waved to her. She stopped, came right up to me, and said “Hey Nick, how are you, it’s been so long!”. Then when I looked at her a little quizzically she took a more careful look and said she thought I looked like her Greek cousin Nick who stands the way I stood and waves the wave I waved, and smiles the way I smile. Well, thanks Cousin Nick. Your cousin, she took 7 books on Krishna consciousness with a very generous donation. And she chanted Hare Krishna with me on the street. You’re next, wait until you see me on the street, or better still, your cousin will give you a book… I’ve asked her to give you one of those books
God, show me you care: I stopped one lady and we got talking. She revealed that she’d been praying minutes ago “God, I know you’re out there, I know you care, please show me a sign”. And there I was, stopping her with “hey, have you seen these before”. She emptied her wallet and took one of each book I had with me. Then she remembered she had $20 in her jacket pocket, she gave me that too. Then, when she chanted Hare Krishna for the first time, she began to cry profusely. Not tiny tears, this was serious business. Passersby looked at me suspiciously while I stood trying to look innocent. She cried for a full 15 minutes before she gathered herself, thanked me for the books and left.
Yes! Yes! I want to connect! I want to connect!: At the end of my shift for the evening, I had a hardcover Bhagavad Gita and Chant and Be Happy in my hands. I saw this young man outside a bar with a drink in one hand, cigarette in the other, leaning against the wall at his back, head hanging down, looking down, dejected and morose. I asked him if he’d ever tried yoga or meditation before, he said he’d done “hot yoga” before (for those who don’t know, this is aerobics-style workout in a steaming hot room where they do “yoga”). I said he hadn’t seen nuthin’ and handed him the Bhagavad Gita. He took one look and said he didn’t have any money. I said, fine, at least just look, I don’t do this for money but these books help people. We got talking; I said that this was about connecting, with your self and with the Source of everything that exists. He said “yes, yes, yes I want to connect! I want to connect!” and at that moment threw away his cigarette, his drink, and actively started looking through the Bhagavad Gita. He revealed that one of his dear friend’s dad had died of lung cancer recently, that he didn’t want to go that way, but here he was, smoking and drinking. He revealed to me he had a master’s degree, and a prestigious job but still he wasn’t happy, he didn’t feel fulfilled. He then chanted Hare Krishna with me, walked me to the ATM where he withdrew some money from his account and gave me. He also took Chant and Be Happy.
I want that. I want that too. Oh! This one sounds really interesting: Have you ever met a person who makes rocks for a living? A person who travels all over the world making rocks out of concrete? This gentleman does that. He quit a high profile corporate career to “simplify” and keep his material attachments low. He was in Toronto building rocks for an Aquarium they’re building down at the Harborfront center area. As I showed him a book, he’d pull out $5, as we kept talking, I kept showing him books, and he kept giving me another $5 for each book. He’d taken one of each of all but one of the titles I had. Finally he gave me $2 from another pocket and said that was all he had. I gave him the one book he didn’t have. He showed up at the temple at least thrice before heading to Japan, and this kind soul chanted Hare Krishna in the company of devotees including Sankirtan General His Grace Srila Vaisesika Prabhu himself, and participated in Kirtan too.
What are you doing here anyway? Every evening for about 5-6 times, I saw this young man who would zoom pass me on a skateboard. He looked uninterested every day, but one day he stopped and asked him what I was doing, so I showed him a book and started talking about what was in it. He simply said “cool man”, gave me a donation, took a book and chanted Hare Krishna. And from that day on, he’d wave at me when he whizzed by. Once or twice he stopped and asked questions too, and I think took more books, but I am not sure about that.
You’re trying to help others? Me too! One young man, I practically ran into him as we both walked looking elsewhere, me looking for Sankirtan clients, and him, I don’t know. We got talking. He was amazed that I’d stand out there just to help people. He said he had a group of people who went around to public places like subway trains, stations etc., and just talk, because they think people don’t talk anymore. He was impressed that Sankirtan means “positive conversation”. He took books multiple times, including one night when it was revealed to him that a girl he was interested in had a boyfriend but hadn’t told him before. He said he’d “let go” but I could see he was very dejected. I spoke of eternal love and he was amazed. He chanted Hare Krishna many times.
If you have the guts to do this, then I want to read what you read man! One hefty man stepped out of the subway station and we started talking. He revealed that people are scared of him. I said he looked like a gentle man. I asked him what he was into and he mentioned a martial arts school. I said, see, this book is especially for you, it was not taught to anyone, it was taught to a warrior. It is a must for warriors. After a conversation, he appreciated what the books were all about and took the book for a nice donation saying “if you have the guts to do this, I want to read what you read man”, and parted with a smile. I stopped him to chant Hare Krishna, he said “one day you will hear from me man, I’ve got something to say, I’m waiting for my moment” and left with a mysterious smile.
You are a nonbeliever, you are an idol worshiper, and you are a fanatic: This came to me at the end of a conversation that started pleasantly but turned sour as I refuted his challenges with our philosophy. This person, an Iranian Muslim, started off real polite, real calm. He was telling me about some book written by a Hindu who converted to Islam. I responded by saying that there are so many Muslims who convert to other faiths, something that can so easily be changed cannot be true religion, but that real religion means to be a pure lover of God, not a label. Then when he said God does not have a form, I quoted “go east or go west, wherever you go, you see Allah’s face”, or the mention of “hand of Allah” or the fact that the Qu’ran talks about a personal God and gives information about His complexion. He then said that the other scriptures except the Qu’ran were all edited by man. I asked him to read the Bhagavad Gita himself and prove that these are not the words of God Himself. He started to say, yes, yes, Krishna is a prophet. I said not only is Krishna prophet, but Allah is another name for Krishna who has millions and billions of names that we don’t even know a fraction of. He got really angry, said those things, and left me.
I remember this girl who used to talk about this: One gentleman was a University classmate of Bhakti Yogi and Sankirtan warrior Mahasundari Devi Dasi. He recalled she used to talk about these things. He stopped, asked me questions, and took many books on different occasions. Always intelligent questions and he chanted Hare Krishna with me each time.
Don’t bluff me. Show me God, I want to see God: This challenge came from an elderly sickly man; he revealed he was of Greek heritage. I challenged him if he could see the Prime Minister of Canada just by casually asking a policeman who is a representative of the government. I asked him what he thought his qualification to see God was. Then he said, “But I can see the Prime Minister on TV and read about him in the newspaper”. So I said that’s exactly what I have I said, these books talk about God and if you understand what is written in them, and qualify yourself, then you will surely see God face to face. He gave me 7 cents and took home a Chant and Be Happy. He met me another time and just waved as he walked by without speaking, but on his way back, he said “you are not telling the truth”, to which I replied that actually the truth was that he only thought he was an old greek man, but the truth was that actually he was spirit soul free of his ailing painful body. He promised to read the book and if he liked it he would give me a bigger donation. I didn’t see him again.
I love India, this is about India? One girl, she said she is from Portugal. I spoke of India’s connection with the Portuguese. She said she really liked India and started speaking Hindi phrases to me. Of course, those phrases were not conducive to maintaining my Grihastha Brahmacharya status, but I could take the opportunity to say “wow, if you can say all that, you have to try this” and we started reciting the verses of the Bhagavad Gita together. I told her this was the root of all language. She took a few books and gave me a generous donation. I asked her why she was being so generous and she said “because people don’t do what you are doing, I don’t speak to strange men on the street but this is really nice. I will read these books”. Then I asked her to compose a tune for this song, and she sang an unusual tune of Hare Krishna Mahamantra and left.
The most profound thing I’ve ever heard: Once I met a girl I had seen coming to the temple with her friends a few times. This time she was alone. I didn’t know where she was from before, but turns out she was from Mumbai, India and had some kind of attraction towards Krishna. When I spoke about the temporary nature of relationships based on the body that hit a chord with her. She said she’d been to the temple so many times but never thought about what is the philosophy behind the festivals. She said she was so busy showing her friends around she never got a chance to explore herself. She took the books, chanted Hare Krishna, and we saw her at the temple after also.
Sure, I’ll give it a go: One friendly elderly gentleman, with pizza sauce all over his mouth stopped, chatted, took a book. Mostly he said he was lonely and needed some company. I invited him to the Sunday feast and he said he’d give it a go.
Can you give me some money? I am hungry: One Sunday afternoon, one beggar, she approached us on the street. Actually she approached my Sankirtan partner for the outing, Puneet, first. He pointed her to me. I said we were volunteers collecting money for the temple, all we had belonged to the temple, we couldn’t give her that money, but if she wanted to eat, we were serving a feast at the temple that evening. She agreed to go with us. Since we were both in the begging business and she lived in an apartment close by, we ran into each other a lot, and a few times she gave small donations and took books. I think she came to the temple 6-7 times for Sunday feast and even gave me a Christmas gift and card, an ornament for a Christmas tree.
Will this help me make money? Two young men I tried to stop tried to fool me into thinking they’d already met me and taken a book from me. Actually one man tried the “didn’t I give you this book for Christimas last year” thing. We had a good laugh, but I couldn’t convince them to look into the books, they were too much into money and power. They said they had no time for all this, they said it didn’t work.
Book on the street: One person, he took a book from me (Chant and Be Happy) without a word and threw it out in the middle of the street. Luckily the street was dry and no car drove over that copy of Chant and Be Happy. I yelled at the man, and retrieved the book, scaring away a few potential Sankirtan clients.
If you are ever in trouble with the cops… One gentleman, he stopped and told me that his girlfriend thought he should be more spiritual. He had a nice conversation took a Bhagavad Gita and other books, and gave me a generous donation. Then he gave me a card and said that if I was ever in trouble with the cops, I should call him. He was a criminal lawyer with a passion for defending the downtrodden. I told him we didn’t have too much trouble with the cops these days but that we could’ve used him in the 60s and 70s. He revealed a life story of being personally harassed by the police etc., I hope that the Bhagavad Gita brings him peace and joy. He did chant Hare Krishna.
I really need this, thank you for doing this: One lady in a hurry, somehow she stopped and looked at my books. She took some books, gave me a donation, and gave me her card. She was a holistic medicine practitioner and said she really could use a spiritual dimension to her life. She said she worked too much but was glad that her work brought her to meet with me on the street.
So, what is the meaning of life: Two young men didn’t want to stop, and one of them playfully threw a challenge and kept walking. I kept pace with them and said “let’s see if you know what is NOT the meaning of life”… and then proceed to rattle off “thinking I am this body, having friends who change with the seasons, always looking for something else”, and then I paused, and they stopped too “running away from that which you should not run away from”. They laughed, stopped and one of the men took some books for donations. It was a playful conversation and they loved talking about the books, particularly Science of Self Realization. They were both into philosophy and meditation, and were perfect candidates for Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Sorry, I’m an atheist, sorry though: This polite young lady kept walking. I called out “the average atheist is more thoughtful than the average theist”, she stopped, then I said “I happen to be a theist myself, but have full respect for you, here why don’t you take a look at this”, and gave her “Consciousness, the missing link”. She said she would not read it but her father might be interested. So I said, take it for your father, and I only take a donation to help with the cost. She gave a donation, took the book, and walked away.
Why are you here in the cold man? How much are they paying you? A group of young boys couldn’t believe their ears that I was not paid by anyone to do this. Well, I am paid, but not in money. One of them took a book “beyond birth and death”, gave me a donation, and started to read it as he crossed the street with his friends.
There were many many wonderful experiences, most of which I have forgotten. But during these 42 days of Sankirtan, I have become far more grateful for the gifts I have received, from my spiritual masters, from other devotees, even the persons I met on the street, favorable or not, whether they took a book or not. Many who didn’t take a book chanted Hare Krishna, so that was a tremendous thing too.
Thank you for reading, thank you for your blessings and encouragement.
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das