With the devotees from the San Diego temple I was distributing books at a table at Mesa College recently when a person who was apparently a rabbi came over and began looking at the pictures I had on display --
the famous picture of the man with a cow's head about to slaughter a cow with a man's head, along with a reincarnation picture and a meditation picture. As he studied the pictures I thought, "What's going to come
of this? Is he going to tell me how far I am from the truth and make a scene, or what?" He was decked out in Orthodox garb, with a yarmulke (little hat), strings hanging down the side of his body, strands of
hair on the side of his head, and black clothes -- a serious man of faith. Then he looked at me and said, "Is that the Bhagavad-gita you have on the table?"
I said, "Well, yes it is. Have you heard of it?"
"I've read some of the Mahabharata, and there is mention of it there. Are you selling it?"
"We ask a donation for it."
"I've wanted to have the book for many years. Would $20 be OK?"
"Yes, that would be fine."
Krishna surprised me.
An hour later, as I was talking to two students, a middle-aged lady walked up and began listening. When I distribute, I tell a few jokes to put the people at ease. As I made the presentation, the students laughed and found the book interesting. The lady, however, was very grave. She had a hard look -- even scary. I thought, "She definitely won't take a
book." So I handed a book to each student. But they had no money, so I gave them some free literature and they left.
Then I heard the lady say, "Would fifteen dollars be enough?"
I said, "Sure, that's fine."
She turned out to be a really nice lady and happily walked away with her Bhagavad-gita.
Surprised again.
I guess the moral is: You can't judge a book-buyer by his or her cover.
Your servant,
Vijaya das
Comments
Hare Krishna! _/\_
that was very nice......