SURPRISE MERCY
It was early in the day, not long after I’d begun my efforts on Auckland’s Queen Street. The street was buzzing with the usual morning energy when I spotted a man with long hair, dressed in pink pants and a matching scarf. He had a carefree, almost ethereal aura—a modern-day hippie, I thought. Unsure of his background, I approached him anyway. We struck up a conversation, and he introduced himself as Manu.
“Manu?” I responded, a little surprised. “That name is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.” I held out the 1st and 12th Cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam, just to show him what I had. To my further surprise, Manu showed genuine interest, so I invited him to check out the full set of books at my trolley. As I explained how the Srimad Bhagavatam is like an amazing encyclopedia of
spiritual knowledge, he did something even more surprising—he sat down right there on the street, next to the trolley, and started flipping through the volumes.
“This set is incredible,” I said, trying to gauge his reaction. “It’s not much, only $450.” His jaw dropped open. “Is that for everything?” he asked.
Afraid I’d overwhelmed him, I offered a little perspective. “Yeah, $450 is nothing these days—like a pair of shoes or a cheap phone. It’s a great value for such wisdom.” Manu paused for a moment, then perked up and said, “Yeah, exactly! These books are only $450?”
Seeing his enthusiasm, I ventured further, “You know, you could sponsor a set for a library or a hospital.” To my amazement, he said, “Sure, why not? Let’s do it!” He took out his card and paid on the spot.
I couldn’t believe it—after two years of working hard on Queen Street, this was such a pleasant and unexpected success. Given his laid-back, hippielike vibe, I had a further thought: “You know, it’d be nice if you took the set home with you. It will bring positive energy and create a spiritual atmosphere.”
He was intrigued.
“I can keep them in my house?”
“Absolutely,” I replied.
There was just one problem. I didn’t have the complete set on me, only a few random volumes, so I suggested we meet in the afternoon when I could give him a fresh, complete set. He agreed, saying he’d be free after 1 p.m.
At 1:30 I met Manu in the car park at Countdown and handed him the full set of Srimad Bhagavatams. As we chatted, I noticed he was drawn to the Bhagavad Gita.
Fortunately, I had a stack with me, just in case.
“Would you like a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, too?” I asked. His eyes lit up, “I’ve been wanting to read this!”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should ask for more, but I went for it. “Would you mind donating a little more for this one?”
He responded without hesitation: “Sure! How much?”
“Maybe $20?”
He smiled and added, “And a little more for your time.” I told him $25 would be fine..
As we wrapped up, I got to know more about Manu. To my surprise, he wasn’t a hippie at all. He’s actually an IT professional working in healthcare, helping develop systems for treating bowel cancer. His partner, from South Africa, is also in IT but now transitioning to yoga.
Sri Sri Gaura Nitai are incredibly merciful, yet They constantly raise the bar, pushing us to beg more deeply for Their mercy, and to realize that true dependence on Them is the way to spiritual advancement.
Picture attached of Manu with his set.
Your servant,
Dayamaya dd
