Auckland, New Zealand

I met 44 year old Hemi, a warm and friendly maori (native) gentleman who is working distributing advertising leaflets to the public. He immediately recognised Srila Prabhupada's books. He already has the Gita and others but has not yet read them. He gave a donation and took 2 small books. He is working the same side of the street as me; he's been doing so from 9 until 4:30 every day for over two weeks to promote the School Uniform Shop he is working for.

A while later I meet him again. "What is a monk?" he inquires. I said, "We discuss scripture, do service, study and celibacy." Hemi used to attend the Mormon Church and told me of his being put on probation for not sticking to the "rules" eventually leading to him being asked not to come back. We talked about dealing with sin. I referenced some verses on lust from Bhagavad-Gita focusing on 2.59, and explain the practicality of Bhakti yoga.

Later he beckons me over; he's been meditating on what we discussed earlier. He had attended many churches throughout the years and was unimpressed by the knowledge they had to offer. He was spiritually tired but is now eager to read his copy of the Gita.

We again went on sankirtan. During one exchange I see Hemi waiting across from me. I chastise him jokingly for being in "my" zone and ask if he'd like to do my job. He takes it seriously and agrees. We get a mixture of books from my box and I inform him of the 'printing' price. Then I tell him to chant this certain mantra in between meeting people and he repeats the holy name line by line.

For half an hour he tries giving passersby the books instead of the advertising material. I watch his exchanges; he looks funny in his uniform (which advertises a shop that sells uniforms) but he is confident.

After 30 minutes I approach him. He chants Hare Krishna with a smile on his face. He remembers the whole mantra after having heard it only once. It was difficult for him and no books went out, but he was ecstatic nonetheless. Because of his lack of knowledge of what the books were about, he wasn't sure how to present them. He vowed to read his Gita before coming to Krishnafest at The Loft (our urban yoga lounge) this Sunday. I got his number and later sent him a text message, thanking him for his help. I also wrote: "I hope u gt som nice realisation from the books." He replied,

"I feel like a new lease of life has presented itself to me, a direction of certainty and opportunity, keep in touch."

Srila Prabhupada, his books, and his book distribution Ki! Jai!

Your servant, Jayadeva Kavi dasa

Last Friday we were out doing harinam sankirtan it was a beautiful sunny day here in Wellington New Zealand. We were about 20 devotees. Gaura Raya prabhu was leading this powerful harinam. There was a rugby tournament in town 1000,s of drunk kids making fun of us and dancing etc..

I was in the back of the harinam passing out invites to our sunday festival. All of a sudden by Krishna's causeless mercy this one young girl maybe 17 or 18 yrs old approched with tears in her eyes. She said. "Can I give you a donation," and gave a $20? She said, "You guys bring such an amazing energy into the town I cant even describe it."

I asked her (her name was Mitchelle), "Have you seen us before? Do you know anything about us?" She said, "No first time I am seeing you guys and first time I am hearing this Hare Krishna." She said she actually comes from Napier (small city in the north island in New Zealand 3 hrs from Wellington) and she was just passing through Wellington.

I was so happy to see her enthusiasm so I asked her to come later that night for some meditation and some dinner at our out reach center (Gaura Yoga). She said, "Actually I have only 5 mins my mum and brother are waiting for me in the car we are leaving Wellington in 5 mins."

I really wanted to give her some Prabhupads books and some prasadam so I requested her please come with me to our meditation center which is only few mins walk I would like to give you some of our books. She obviously didn't realize the importance of reading our books but I was praying like anything to Krishna. "Please Krishna allow her to come and get some of Prabhupada's books.

So inspired by Krishna she finally agreed to come but she said, "I have only 2 minutes." So we ran to our center and she was so impressed by our out reach center the vibration and the devotees etc. So I gave her a slice of cake prasadam and 2 books (Science of self realization and a Gita).

She gratefully left with the books and prasadam and promised me that she will visit us in the near future after reading our books. We also exchanged emails. It was amazing to see this lost soul get so much mercy in the 5 mins that she was in town.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and my eternal spiritual master H.H Devamrita maharaj for inspiring us.

YHS Shastra-krit das

"Chant Hare Krishna and be happy" (Text D:2263345) -------------------------------------------

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Jadu Thakur Prabhu a devotee in the Brahamchari Trainee group of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty recalls this interesting experience from last year's Marathon:

I was distributing books in the train with Pitambar Prabhu, when I saw this man reading a book. He was so absorbed in reading that he just looked up for a split second to see what Pitambar Prabhu was announcing and immediately went back to his book. I edged closer and saw that it was the bestseller, Secrets. I had read an article in BTG about this book. It is about desiring something so badly that eventually the cosmos arranges it for us. Although very simplistic in approach, the book is widely popular. I went to the man and said, "Excuse me sir, may I have a moment, please?" He looked up. "I see that you are very interested in this book. It is nice to see someone so spiritual." He smiled. "But," I continued, "There is a fundamental flaw in this book." "What is it?" he asked. "It ignores a very basic law of this cosmos-the law of karma. You see, so many people in this world want things, some of them really do so desperately-they may even pray for them-yet they do not get them. Do you know similar people from your life?" He pondered for a moment, and then nodded in affirmation. "Why don't they get the things that they so badly desire for?" Everyone wants happiness and no one wants distress. Yet we don't get happiness all the time and we keep on getting distress. Who decides this allocation of joy and sorrow? Is our quota of pain and pleasure destined by some higher authority, or is it under our control?" He was listening intently. "Here is a book," I handed him 'Laws of Nature,' that explains karma in a lucid and simple way. It teaches you the laws that bind us and what is the process that will free us. Give it a try. It will teach you the real secret of success, and even give you a mantra for achieving it." He took the book gave a donation and asked for my phone number. (Text D:2263015) -------------------------------------------

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I took blessings from Caru Candra Prabhu, North American sankirtana record holder, and launched into my best, most enthused, book distribution session that I can remember. For 30 minutes down in the home-base of the Broadway-Lafayette subway station in New York City, I was in flow. It was unmistakable. And then.... Krsna just pulled the plug.

Why, I could not understand. I did not see myself as particularly prideful or independent-minded. I was grateful and happy to serve Srila Prabhupada in a manner that is, frankly, so much nicer than I am accustomed. And I slowly began to suffer more and more through the pain of rejection and my previous successes. Was there such a thing as suffering without meaning in Krsna Consciousness? I thought that was the difference between material and spiritual suffering. But alas, I could not understand why Krsna was treating me in this haphazard way. Krsnaaa! How can I approach people and be normal when I can predict exactly what each one is going to say before he even speaks a word? This is surely an unreasonable task.

After some time of trying to keep my mind together, my friend, Doyal Gauranga Prabhu spontaneously showed up on the scene. When he asked me how I was doing, I told him the truth, but somehow my tone had subtly shifted. Bewilderment and frustration had turned to acceptance and realization. It then occurred to me that for the last 45 minutes or so, I'd not really minded the suffering. I'd somehow struck a pinch of liberation without my even noticing! Delighted and enlivened, our conversation revealed to me how Krsna was working on me, sculpting me determinedly, without even my slightest awareness.

My results remained meager as before, but my consciousness cleaned up. This was special mercy that I could not afford to take for granted in my present state. Then suddenly, *again*, Krsna pulled the plug! Dissatisfaction began to subtly seep through the cracks of my consciousness. And as it reached a second-wind of crescendo, I called out with fervor, "Krsnaaa! No one wants Your books out here! No one! What am I supposed to do? You can compel people better than I. But You're not doing anything. Krsnaaa! Is this really what You want?"

At that very moment, I approached a young bearded man with an air of hipness. "Hey, I'm from Long Island, where are you from?"

"Alabama"

"We're just showing these books to nice folks. Check it out. It's a classic of Eastern wisdom. You've heard of karma, right? What goes around comes around. These ideas originate in this book. Thoreau and Emerson said this book changed their lives, Gandhi said it gave him inspiration in his darkest hour. I'm a monk, my name's Ari, what's yours?"

We spoke for but a moment before he exclaimed, "You know, I've been looking for this."

He took a Gita and gave me a generous donation. As he walked into the train that arrived on the platform, he turned to me slightly and said, "What you're doing. it's not easy." He paused a moment. "Keep doing it."

And the train swept him away.

My jaw dropped, but there was no surprise in me. It's said in sankirtana circles that if you perform the service for long enough, you meet Krsna out there. It's unavoidable.

Your servant,

Bhakta Ari (Text D:2261618) -------------------------------------------

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