It was early afternoon when I completed my service. The whole morning I spent in meetings and doing admin work.
“Did I become a sadhu to be a manager?!” I asked myself. Dealing with management and everything else that comes with it is not very nourishing for me.
“Are you free this afternoon? Let’s go and visit the congregation and remind them about Krishna!” I asked a friend.
He didn’t hesitate even for a moment; in fact, he immediately agreed. “I will bring karatals, you organise mridanga and harmonium,” he responded.
This is how our small preaching project began. Two of us, a friend and I, would visit devotee homes, without even informing them that we were coming. We would just turn up on their doorstep. The programme is simple. We come, chant Maha-mantra, speak about Krishna for a few minutes, and then move to the next house to do the same. Sometimes other devotees would join the party also.
Two months ago, we visited one family around 8:30 in the evening. We knocked on the door and waited. When they opened the door, their jaws dropped.
“We have been expecting an Amazon Prime delivery! What are you doing here?”
“We came to deliver Krishna Prime (Prema) instead!” We replied.
As we shared Krishna Katha and Krishna Kirtan, some of the family members cried out of joy, while others kept expressing their gratitude that we had come. Encouraged by the positive response from the devotees, we began regularly visiting congregation devotees, whenever time permitted.
Sharing Krishna Katha with others not only encourages them but uplifts us also.
Bhagavata Gita 10.9.: Devotees derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
A postman, when delivering a parcel, doesn’t necessarily know the value of the package; however, his lack of knowledge about the parcel doesn’t diminish its value. He only has to deliver the parcel, then it is up to the receiver if he accepts it. How he utilises the parcel is also fully up to him.
In the same way, although my friend and I are not learned in the scriptures and are not very devotional chanters of the holy name, our lack of understanding doesn’t decrease the value of the “parcel” we are delivering. The Holy Name is always pure, regardless of who is the “postman.”
Sharing Krishna consciousness is nourishing, blissful, and the most powerful way to keep ourselves and others constantly absorbed in Krishna. Our duty as “postman” is to deliver the parcel, share the knowledge we have, and remain detached.
Caitanya Caritamrita 8.70: Pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price — the intense greed to obtain it. If it is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.
Ananta Gopal Das
30.07.2024
Bhakti Wisdom 