Hare Krsna, Prabhus. This is Tapas Dasa, a disciple of HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami, serving in ISKCON Los Angeles (New Dvaraka) with His Grace Bhrgupati Prabhu. It's been so amazing and ecstatic being with him. Miracles happen all the time, and it is so inspiring to see.
Just two days ago on college book distribution, we set up our table and started approaching people. In the beginning nothing was happening at all, so we were thinking maybe we should go somewhere else, or maybe today will just be one of those rough days for distributing books. But then Bhrgupati Prabhu handed me a Bhagavad Gita and said go to Chapter 9, text 5, and read aloud where the purport says:
"We may think of doing something, but there are so many impediments, and sometimes it is not possible to do as we like. But when Krsna wants to do something, simply by His willing, everything is performed so perfectly that one cannot imagine how it is being done." And: "Simply by His supreme will everything is created, everything is sustained, everything is maintained, and everything is annihilated."
Then Bhrgupati Prabhu told me if we desire something on our own, it may not happen. But Krsna, simply by His will, can create planets and universes, sustain them, and annihilate them. If He wants something, He can do it by His own will. So if Krsna sees that a sincere devotee is putting in the effort to please and serve Him, He will think, 'Okay, you devotees are trying your hardest, you are trying to serve Me, so I will reciprocate and make things a little easier for you.' In other words, if Krsna wants, He can turn things around and make miracles.
And then Bhrgupati said: "Here, let us leave this page open on the table."
Then, immediately, an Asian professor walked straight up to Bhrgupati, spoke with him, was interested in the books, and ended up giving Bhrgupati a one hundred dollar donation. After he left, Bhrgupati looked at me with a big smile, grinning from ear to ear, and said, "See Prabhu, Krsna can make it happen. If Krsna wants, He can do anything. It is simply by His will that things happen."
Last September, when Bhrgupati Prabhu, myself, and another devotee were distributing books at the Los Angeles comic convention, a lot of people were taking books. But then it seemed like everyone was saying no and not even stopping to look at the books. Bhrgupati said we have to keep trying and pray to the Six Goswamis for their mercy.
A short time later, Bhrgupati stopped a young man who was walking by our table and spoke with him for about ten or fifteen minutes. And then Bhrgupati handed the man a stack of books and said thank you so much. After the man left, Bhrgupati turned around and told me the man had just given five thousand dollars in cash. I was in complete shock and so was Bhrgupati. He said that was the biggest donation he had ever received on sankirtana in his life.
I'm blown away at how amazing Krsna reciprocates with His devotees, especially on sankirtana. Those were two stories of many I have while distributing books with Bhrgupati Prabhu. I am so grateful for his association. Hare Krsna.
Your servant, Tapas Dasa
