Srimad Bhagavatam, A Transcendental Road Rage Cure
by Visvambhara dasa
I met a man in a parking lot and began speaking to him about Srila Prabhupada's books. He was browsing through the Srimad Bhagavatam when suddenly a strong gust of wind blew the open door of his car into the one parked next to him. Its driver immediately got out and cursed as he inspected the dent, threatening to call the police.
The owner of the other car, still gripping the Bhagavatam, offered to give him his details and tried to calm him down. This had the opposite effect, however, and the man became even more enraged.
At this point I intervened and told the aggressor that I was to blame for the incident, having distracted the other driver by giving him some religious books while the door was open. I offered to pay for the damage. The driver who had received the books told the other driver that I was a monk, and upon hearing this he immediately calmed down. Apologizing for his angry words and addressing me with respect, he mentioned that although several hundred pounds worth of damage to his car had been caused, he would just take £20 as a token payment. I immediately handed it over. Meanwhile, the man who had received the books felt bad and said it was his fault and offered to pay for the damage.
In this way everybody humbled themselves, and the man whose car had sustained damage returned the money to me as a donation. I gave him two books, and the other man also pulled out some money and offered it to me for the books I had already given him. I said I would not accept it unless the two men forgave each other. They hugged each other in great happiness and the incident passed by peacefully. Such is the power of Srila Prabhupada's books!
