The Prabhupada Marathon is here!
Dear Maharaj’s Prabhu’s and Mataji’s,
Please accept my most humble obeisances, all glories to our most dearly beloved Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Sr Guru and Sri Gauranga, all glories to the sankirtan devotees of he Lord!
Thank for you mercy and kindness upon me, I am only trying to become an instrument to please dearest Srila Prabhupada. I am indeed indebted to you – thank you very much for your inspirational Marathon message. It is such an auspicious date on the Vaisnava calendar, Srila Prabhupada December Book Marathon.
I am seeing how this good fortune which Srila Prabhupada came to create for all the inhabitants of our planet, is being spread in a very mystical way – I say mystical because there are times when there is no explanation how his books are been given by my hands to those special souls who take them and receive Srila Prabhupada’s mercy and the blessings of Sri Sri Nitai Mayapur Candra. Sometimes I think to myself, “how it is possible, that myself with all my false ego and innumerable imperfections can receive such mercy that allows me to give the fallen and conditioned souls Krsna as presented in Srila Prabhupada’s books”. So please pray for me Prabhu’s so that I may continue to serve Srila Prabhupada and Panca Tattva to spread the glories of the holy name of Lord Sri Krsna and to spread His sankirtan movement – Lord Sri Nityanada, Lord Sri Caitanya ki jay1
I am currently here in Johannesburg since about 3 weeks now together with Patita Pavana, Mukunda Carran and Radha Ramana prabhu’s. We are doing the first 2 weeks of the marathon here and will return this Sunday to Cape Town to complete the remainder and to have the Glorious association of Bhakti Caitanya Swami Maharaj, who has been coming to Cape Town at that time to inspire us, which he has been doing for about the 4th year.
We Have been going out to mostly shopping malls here in Johannesburg, the financial capital of Africa. Johannesburg is a big city and one that thrives on passion and materialism to the extreme.
Today we went to Sandton City shopping mall complex, a center where the rich rub shoulders with each other and where they come to be seen and to shop for the most expensive items to enjoy.
Walking along the busy throng of shops, I saw approaching me, a short lady wearing dark glasses and a patterned blanket jacket – on first seeing her, it seemed to me as though she was in a time-warp from the hippy era. I approached her and said to her: “Good day, can I ask you a question please, how did you become such a peaceful person? I am a traveling monk, I have been sent to give you these,” I said as I handed her Srila Prabhupada’s books. “Where did you get that from (I pointed to a golden OM sign hanging around her neck), it’s amazing.” She told me that she was a follower of Sivanada. She asked me who sent me, as she looked through Srila Prabhupada’s books. “Srila Prabhupada,” I said. She said to me: “Oh, I know Srila Prabhupada, I have met him, I have spoken to him!” A bolt of electricity ran through my body. I asked her where she met Srila Prabhupada – she told me that herself and others had picked up Srila Prabhupada to go to Dr Misra’s Ananda Ashram for a program.
“I am indeed fortunate to have met you, and that you have had direct association with Srila Prabhupada”.
“Oh these are Hare Krsna books, I know the devotees,” and began to glorify them. She told me that she was from Montreal and that she sometime goes to the center there. She thanked me and took a “Dharma Way of Transcendence” and gave me a donation and her card.
Srila Prabhupada ki jay – direct memories of Srila Prabhupada never die in the hearts and minds of those who have met him, he lives forever with them by his good fortune and mercy which he bestows through his books and teaching –
Srila Prabhupada is alive, Hare Krsna!!!!
Yours in the service of Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees,
Hare Krsna,
Madhumangala das.
