Young European men take up bhakti at the Loft in Auckland
One Saturday, I had a nice exchange with a young man from France, who was interested in, though not overly enthusiastic about, our books and philosophy.
He said he wouldn't take a Gita because he'd already picked one up from someone named Bhakti in Melbourne.
A few months prior, I'd been in Melbourne and met an amazing devotee named Bhakti Sara. He is very inspiring – enthusiastic to get out on book distribution, to bring new people to our Urban Yoga center or the temple. He does this whenever he has some time off from his many temple services. I noticed that many people I met at Urban Yoga had come along from meeting Bhakti Sara.
So I immediately thought that the Bhakti he was talking about must be Bhakti Sara Prabhu, and I confirmed it with a couple of questions. I invited this young Frenchman to the Loft.
The next day, Sunday, I met a favorable young man from Germany named Tim, who was enthusiastic about the books and philosophy. He happily gave a generous donation and took a hardcover Gita. I asked him whether he had any plans for the evening. While he was saying that he may go to some sort of festival at a yoga lounge, I was pulling out a flyer for the Loft, our yoga lounge for outreach. He pulled out the exact same flyer, which a friend had given him. I didn't go to the Loft that night, but I heard that Tim went to the loft and brought a friend. They both liked it, especially Tim's friend.
Recently, I had heard about a young traveler named Simon. He had been coming to the loft regularly and taking the Krsna consciousness philosophy seriously and trying some japa. About a month later, I went to the Loft and met him: Bhakta Simon, who turns out to be the young Frenchman I'd talked to and also the friend that Tim brought along to the Loft. He's now chanting sixteen rounds, doing a lot of service at the Loft, and has moved into the contemporary men's ashrama.
More recently, young Tim, after traveling for a couple of months and finishing a vipasana course, appeared at the Loft when Devamrita Swami gave the Sunday Soulfeast talk. I caught up with Tim. He was a bit contaminated by the vipasana course and the association that comes with it. He'd been reading his Gita and is enthusiastic to keep reading. He got to have a one-on-one talk with Devamrta Swami. Unfortunately, Tim left Auckland that night, but I wouldn't be surprised if we hear more about him. Although only eighteen, Tim is seriously looking for some genuine spiritual knowledge and has a really good heart.
Your servant,
Amani Gaurahari Dasa
