Hare Krishna dear devotees! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Please allow me to share with you two nectar days from the last marathon. Both of them took place in Taupo, a town on the northeastern shore of Lake Taupo, near the center of New Zealand's North Island.
In the first one, just a few days into the marathon I was fortunate to be able to present Srimad Bhagavatam to three different individuals in less than two hours, with interest and rapport increasing.
First I met Danik, a French-Canadian physiotherapist and avid reader, who claimed he read one book a week. His claim made me hopeful, so I went on to show him a stack of books, for which he agreed to give a donation. I introduced him to Srimad Bhagavatam and could tell he was quite impressed with its sheer scope. But he was on his lunch break, so I took his number and we parted. I got one response after texting him a week later. He hadn't started reading any of the stack books yet. I hope they rise to the top of his list soon.
I pray for increased purity and focus so that I can deeply communicate the importance of Srila Prabhupada's books, even in a short encounter.
Next there was Larry, a laid-back Maori dad sporting dreadlocks, at the end of a family visit with wife and kids from Brisbane, Australia. We didn't speak long before he happily handed me 50$ for a stack. Was he really interested or was he simply being generous? Later, when he strolled past me again, I took the opportunity to find out. I showed him the Bhagavatam set, and he sounded like he wanted to get it. But after he asked me how much it cost, the reality of his situation set in. He was far away from where he lived in Australia, so he suggested I ship a set to him, and that he would be back in two weeks. That sounded risky so I demurred. Later, I tried to contact him via text and call, but I never got a response.
I pray to be able to show more initiative on the back end, follow up while the person is still "warm," staying in touch, and showing up.
Finally, there was Kim, who struck me as dishevelled and eccentric. His voice was loud enough to attract a good amount of attention from the nearby bakery. I quickly handed him a stack. He showed definite signs of interest and said he would donate. Before I got a chance to ask him to actually do that, though, he began enthusiastically sharing his fascination with UFO sightings and government cover-ups, as well as ancient cultures and knowledge in general. He kept on talking for what felt like a long time. While thinking that this whole exchange might just blow up, I looked for an opportunity to stop him and link what he had just shared to the immense Sanskrit wisdom available in the books right in front of him. When I finally got a chance to show him the set, his eyes widened with amazement and reverence. The next challenge was to remind him of his desire to actually give a donation. I had serious doubts whether that would be possible at this stage. Luckily it was. After a total of 15 minutes, he proved that his interest was genuine, giving 30$ for a stack. If it wasn't for 3,000$ bill payments he had just made that day, he might have been quite the candidate. I was able to catch him on the phone once since that encounter. He told me he's building a new house which will include a "yoga space." He also said April would be a good time for me to get in touch with him about the Bhagavatam set. I pray to be able to reach him soon.
Though I was not able to sell a set of Srimad Bhagavatams during these encounters, they energized me for the rest of the marathon.
In the second story, which took place just a couple days before Christmas, I set a personal record for set presentations within 60 minutes, all while walking from the CBD to the residential street where our sankirtan bus was parked.
Wheeling around a Bhagavatam set on a trolley, I felt Krsna sweetly reciprocating with me for trying my best during the marathon. For the first time since I recorded my marathon podcast about being generous, I felt my heart opening up to actually being generous. And sure enough, Lord Krsna allowed four out of six people I met to receive a stack and a good impression of Srimad Bhagavatam. I could see how showing and glorifying Srimad Bhagavatam brings out more nectar, even though none of them took the set. In their own way, they were generously appreciating the Bhagavatam.
A Maori teacher appreciated the Bhagavatam's wisdom and shared some of his own. An elderly lady got off a bus and shared her appreciation for the Krsna consciousness movement. I could see how even the two persons that didn't receive stacks at that time offered something very valuable--an opportunity to reflect and learn.
Returning to our sankirtana vehicle, I saw that my partner, Hriman Krsna Prabhu, wasn't back yet, so I decided to attempt a final push for the day. A push of the whole trolley, including a Bhagavatam set, down toward the Chemist Warehouse made me smile inside. Hriman Krsna Prabhu came back. After I presented the last stack and set, as we drove off, I felt inspired to write the following lines. Please proof them, dear reader, to purify my sankirtana mood.
Rolling around sets. I can't go without the set. Getting used to carrying a set. An energy descends from focus on each mantra. Please, my Lord, let me be careful and patient. Let me feel joy, and bring smiles to faces. A lightheartedness that intrigues people. Please allow me to inject a potent drop from Your bhakti vault. Let me pray that this individual takes a stack or gives a gift, or both. That sets are sold and future purchases secured. Payments made with conversations about You. With innovative ways of expression, reaching youth, teaching Truth. Where will we next meet? In what arena will we converse? It depends on when I will hear Your holy name again. It is heart to heart. It is hard to hear! Deep gratitude depends on it, and only then can there be an opening into compassion. I want to be grateful for those moments too, of someone not understanding our offering because of hardship. I want to soften my heart and others', and suffer when my speech blows it. I cry when someone turns away because of my disconnected heart and mind. Isn't all of this familiar talk and reading for the atma? A dark night. Time to get up. And, last but not least, I will be able to be generous! I will let everyone take a set. It makes sense. Please, O Lord, infuse me with urgency. Please keep me in the association of Your devotees.
Feeling forlorn for want of an activist sankirtana spirit, Nitai-jivana dasa
